Alkemia empowers startups through tailored business enablement solutions

At a time where every cent and second can mean the difference between startup success and failure, Alkemia has emerged as a crucial partner for entrepreneurs across Africa. The business enablement arm of Aions Creative Technology, spearheaded by Jarrod Rohland, Alkemia has been designed to help startups and small businesses thrive in a highly competitive market by providing them with services that extend beyond typical agency offerings.

“Founders don’t want to work with an agency that just bills hours,” says Rohland. “They want someone who understands that every cent counts and wants them to succeed as badly as a biological parent. This is the essence of Alkemia’s ethos. The company positions itself not as just another service provider but as a true partner. We offer tailored solutions to startups, accounting for the limited resources that entrepreneurs often have, whether they are bootstrapping or just starting to gain traction.

“Agencies don’t care if they are small businesses. They think in terms of hours, and they run it like a big corporate project. Founders are often left feeling like they weren’t treated as an individual or with the true understanding of what startups need.”

This disconnect is what Alkemia aims to address by working on a project-based model, ensuring its clients get exactly what they need without the fear of runaway costs or the loss of intellectual property (IP).

The importance of building trust

One of the key differentiators for Alkemia is its focus on IP protection. Rohland emphasises that many startups initially go for off-the-shelf products, only to later face the challenge of migrating to new systems when their needs outgrow the product. Worse, they often find they no longer have control over their software or data.

“Many businesses put all their IP into a product, only to have licences taken over when software companies are bought out or updates, support and security are discontinued. Then they have to buy a new system and migrate everything. If they had built from the beginning, we could have helped them with a solution they would always own,” says Rohland.

Alkemia takes a more thoughtful approach. By offering custom solutions from the start, it ensures its clients are in control of their software and can scale it as needed. This control is critical in a world where startups often rely on third-party services, which could be discontinued at any time.

A multidisciplinary offering

Alkemia’s services are diverse to meet the unique demands faced by startups today. The division provides everything from software development to multimedia production and digital media management.

“We play across industry sectors. We do web design, photography, animation, UI/UX, front-end and software development. Alkemia goes beyond being a one-stop shop and delivers a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to grow, innovate and scale,” adds Rohland.

For example, Alkemia rejuvenated the website of Tubby’s Kitchen, a startup that ended up landing an international contract with a client in France, based solely on the site’s restyling.

In another case, Alkemia worked with Level Finance, a fintech startup, to build its front- and back-end, which helped the business grow and expand into new markets.

Alkemia also collaborates closely with Aions Ventures, offering a unique three-year partnership model where it establishes a close relationship with the startup’s founders and the team that has been invested in.

The Alkemia formula

Alkemia also works with startups on their marketing strategies, creating corporate videos and multimedia content including podcast services.

“We are the enabler. Think of us as the operations that drive startups, leaving founders to focus on playing to their strengths and realising their vision,” adds Rohland.

Looking ahead, Alkemia is positioning itself as a long-term partner for startups, not just helping them in their early stages but supporting them as they scale.

“Once a startup enters the three-month post-revenue phase, we offer services that help them expand and refine their operations,” says Rohland.

Alkemia plans to continue evolving its services to meet the ever-changing needs of the startup ecosystem, particularly as more African businesses look to establish themselves on the global stage.