Afropulse Social Enterprise with tangible impact

What started as academic research has grown into a social enterprise with tangible societal impact. Elisabeth Obeng, founder of Afropulse, Italian Born and daughter of Ghanaian diaspora parents, experienced the inequality between Africa and Europe early in life. After completing her studies at Wageningen University & Research, she saw agriculture as a bridge, connecting continents through honest food and fair trade.

Local farmers

Afropulse is now a joint effort led by two co-founders: Lydia Madintin, who oversees local sourcing and processing in Ghana, and Boaz van Driel, who focuses on end markets and product valorisation. Afropulse collaborates directly with Ghanaian farmers, especially women, to promote equity and empowerment. The company locally processes the cowpea, a highly nutritious legume rich in protein and minerals, into protein-rich and starch-rich flour ensuring farmers receive a share of final product sales, helping shift the balance in global trade.

WUR Spin-off

In 2025, Afropulse received the WUR Spin-off Label, recognising its role in translating research into real-world value. In addition Afropulse received ‘The Lizzy Grant’. Elisabeth says: “The Lizzy Grant enabled us to process and package protein-rich and starch-rich cowpea flour samples for distribution and first connection to potential customers; an important step forward in building our brand and exploring new markets. Afropulse also won the Naomi fund grant, including a connection to a broader network of value-driven entrepreneurs. “It’s great to see that our mission is recognised, I hope we continue to grow further and further.”