We Started in a Room in Accra. We're Still Here.
SmartQix has been building software since 2014. Through name changes, continent changes, and a full AI pivot. We're still the same team with the same standard: build it properly or don't build it at all.
From Accra to Columbus, Building What Matters
In 2014, Ricky Nkansah started a software company in Accra called Nakroteck. He was in his early twenties. He'd been coding since he was 15, and he was tired of watching Ghanaian businesses struggle with software that didn't fit them.
The early years were bootstrapped and scrappy. Small websites, custom builds, learning what clients actually needed versus what they said they needed. In 2018, the vision outgrew the name. The company became SmartQix.
In 2020, Ricky opened a US presence in Columbus, Ohio. Not because it was easy, but because the market demanded it. Today SmartQix sits in the middle: African roots, American reach, global delivery.
The Story Behind SmartQix
Ricky Nkansah
Founder & CEO
Ricky started coding at 15. Not in a school computer lab, but at home, pulling apart websites to figure out how they worked. By university, he was already building for clients.
He founded what became SmartQix in 2014. His logic was simple: there were businesses in Ghana, and everywhere, that needed good software but couldn't afford a 10-person engineering team. SmartQix fills that gap.
Ricky still reviews code. He still jumps on calls with new clients himself. At 50+ projects in, he hasn't handed the details to someone else. The details are where the work lives. He splits his life between Accra and Columbus now. Both cities shaped how he thinks.
“Technology should solve real problems. If the software doesn't make someone's life or business measurably better, we've wasted everyone's time.”
- Ricky Nkansah
Mission & Vision
Our Mission
Build software that works. For businesses that can't afford to hire a full engineering team but can't afford bad software either.
Our Vision
A world where geography doesn't limit what a business can build. Whether you're in Accra or Atlanta, you should have access to the same quality of software.
What We Stand For
These principles guide every decision we make and every line of code we write.
Quality Over Speed
Shipping fast is good. Shipping broken is expensive. We scope honestly, build properly, and test before we call something done.
Client Partnership
We've been working with some clients since 2016. We give straight feedback, flag problems early, and stay in your corner after launch.
We Use What We Build
In 2023 we rebuilt our entire workflow around AI agents. QixOS runs 19 AI agents in real-time. We offer the same architecture to clients.
Global Perspective
We've shipped products for clients in Ghana, the UK, and the US. We know payment systems, local regulations, and user behaviour across markets.
Transparency
If your project is over budget, you hear about it before it happens. If a technology choice isn't right, we'll say so even if it means a smaller contract.
Continuous Growth
We don't rest on what worked in 2018. When Ricky decided SmartQix would go AI-first in 2023, the whole team pivoted within months.
Meet the Team Behind SmartQix
A distributed team of engineers, designers, and strategists united by a passion for building great software.
Ricky N.
Founder & CEO
“Codes before coffee, every morning”
Kofi A.
COO
“The glue that holds everything together”
Elon K.
CTO
“Turns impossible requirements into elegant solutions”
Mavis D.
Senior Developer
“Full-stack wizard who thinks in algorithms”
Richard O.
Frontend Developer
“Makes pixels dance with purpose”
Davis A.
Frontend Developer
“Obsessed with smooth UX transitions”
Kelvin M.
Backend Developer
“API architect with a love for clean schemas”
Rose T.
QA Lead
“If there's a bug, she will find it”
Our Culture
We build more than software. We build a community where people do their best work.
Remote-First, Global Mindset
We work across time zones, embracing diversity and building bridges between continents.
Learning Never Stops
Weekly tech talks, conference sponsorships, and open-source contributions keep us sharp.
Ship & Iterate
We believe in getting working software out fast and improving continuously based on real feedback.
Fun is Fuel
Game nights, hackathons, and team retreats keep us energized and connected.
Key Milestones
Founded in Accra
Ricky Nkansah starts Nakroteck in Accra, Ghana. First clients: small businesses needing websites that actually worked.
Rebranded to SmartQix
Four years in, the vision outgrew the name. The shift reflected a bigger ambition: building complex software products, not just websites.
US Office Opens
SmartQix opens in Columbus, Ohio. Now operating across two continents, serving US clients while keeping deep roots in Ghana.
Portfolio Hits 30+ Projects
Shaxi, Vadera Capital, Nayak Afrik, IT Guardian Systems. The portfolio grows to 30+ live projects.
AI-First Pivot
SmartQix commits early to AI. Builds QixOS, an internal agent management system orchestrating 19 AI agents. Starts offering AI development to clients.
10 Years, 50+ Projects
A decade of building. 50+ shipped projects. Teams in Ghana and Ohio. Still taking on new clients, still reviewing every line of code.
Scaling the AI Stack
Helping businesses build their own AI agent systems. Sankofa Library launches with AI-powered book chat and 3D visualisation. Q1 2026 projects are open.
Global Presence, Local Impact
United States
175 South 3rd Street, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43215
Ghana
Ashale Botwe Nmai Dzorn Rd
Accra, Ghana
Have a Project in Mind?
We take on a limited number of projects each quarter. If you want to talk through an idea, no pitch, no pressure, get in touch.
Get in Touch