From Supply Chain Researcher to Blockchain Innovator

Emmanuel Acho was studying export problems in Uganda when he realized something: blockchain could revolutionize African agriculture. Today, he leads a project tokenizing Ethiopian coffee, connecting farmers directly to European markets. Here's how Cyfrin Updraft helped transform his vision into reality.

My path to blockchain

My academic journey started with an Economics degree from the Sorbonne in Paris, followed by a Master's in Supply Chain and Operations Management from the University of Nottingham in the UK. Then, I worked in Biotech for five years before pursuing a PhD in Business and Management, focusing on transparency versus outcomes. 

My PhD research revealed a critical problem in Uganda's export supply chain. Quarantines often halted exports due to harmful organisms, but the real issues ran deeper. Fraud, a lack of data integrity, and infrastructure problems created a chain reaction. Small farmers struggled to access finance, and exporters faced delayed or missed payments.

Blockchain emerged as a solution to preserve data integrity and build a beneficial ecosystem for everyone involved. This led to collaboration with Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture to explore implementation possibilities. I wanted to move beyond theory into practical solutions to help these farmers. But frankly, the closest I ever came to technology was using Minitab for statistical analysis.

Starting with zero programming experience, I systematically built my technical foundation. First, I pursued a CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) certification to understand network operations. Next, I followed up with a Red Hat certification for system administration. Then, I learned Python before discovering Solidity through Patrick's courses on Cyfrin Updraft.

‍

My Updraft experience

I found Patrick's content on YouTube during the 2021 lockdown while writing my thesis. His Hardhat video caught my attention, but I needed to build foundational coding skills first. To boost my motivation, I tried to convince friends to join me in learning, but no one did. So, I started on my own. Two years later, after establishing my coding foundation, I returned to Updraft with a better technical understanding.

Updraft differs fundamentally from platforms like Coursera, Datacamp, and Udemy, which feel like supermarkets. Updraft focuses specifically on web3, smart contract development, and security. As a researcher, I typically compare content across platforms, but Updraft's quality and community validation through CodeHawks made the whole comparison thing unnecessary.

Patrick's teaching breaks complex concepts into practical steps. For example, his explanation of re-entrancy attacks didn’t just dwell on the theory but showed real-world implications. This structured approach helped me overcome my initial fear of coding. Updraft's "zero to hero" methodology proved particularly effective for someone who is non-technical like me.

But what amazes me, and even my wife can't believe it, is that this top-quality material is completely free. This accessibility creates massive opportunities, especially for students in sub-Saharan Africa, where blockchain solutions could revolutionize existing systems. For example, I'm helping two people in Ghana through Updraft courses with plans to create an incentive program for more students.

So, I completed the entire curriculum from Blockchain Basics through Advanced Foundry. The security course proved particularly valuable - I'm currently finishing its final two projects. Beyond that, the Uniswap v2 course helped me better understand Decentralized Finance (DeFi) mechanics and their practical implementation.

If I were to summarize, I’d say Updraft taught me critical tools and practices, including:

• Smart contract development fundamentals
• Advanced security principles
• DeFi protocol mechanics
• Formal verification methods
• Invariant testing

So, I’m both inspired and grateful. 

‍

How updraft changed my life and career

Through Updraft, I gained the skills to bridge the gap between my academic knowledge and practical implementation. This led to an internship at Nethermind, where I progressed from smart contract security auditing to leading an innovative project.

Crucially, the skills I gained enabled me to launch a coffee tokenization project with the potential to transform the Ethiopian coffee industry. As legend would have it, Ethiopia happens to be the birthplace of Coffee. We're building a platform, called Waga Token, with DeFi integrations, a coffee-backed stablecoin, and a strategic coffee reserve. 

The project aims to sustain Euro market access for Ethiopian coffee through blockchain-based traceability while providing direct market access for small farmers. Our initiative has grown into a team of 15 developers people with strategic partnerships in Ethiopia. We're sharing information on progress with the Ethiopian security agency on digital transformation initiatives and working to implement a blockchain-based standard for coffee production.

The project incorporates organic, fair trade, and rainforest alliance certifications to ensure equitable distribution throughout the supply chain. That said, we hope a blockchain standard for coffee production becomes more accessible to production systems in sub-Saharan Africa. We're building a user interface, growing the community, and connecting with major European coffee buyers and roasters.

So far, we've already: 

• Developed a clear roadmap and MVP
• Created a detailed project backlog
• Established strategic partnerships in Ethiopia
• Started registering with Ethiopian regulatory authorities
• Hired volunteers from the Ethiopian community
• Begun training team members through Updraft courses

There’s still much more to be done, but we’re progressing well. 

Our immediate focus is launching the coffee tokenization platform. But our goals extend beyond creating a successful project - we want to demonstrate how blockchain can transform traditional industries and create equitable value distribution.

By sending volunteers to the Updraft courses, we're building local technical capacity and creating a model for sustainable development through blockchain. So, Updraft has not only helped me but now continues to upskill the people we’re building with.

My advice for blockchain enthusiasts

Just start with Updraft! I recommend it to family members seeking career opportunities and fellow researchers exploring blockchain solutions. Even if you don’t plan on becoming a developer, Updraft gives a clear, practical understanding of blockchain's potential for solving real-world problems.

For researchers and professionals from the African diaspora looking to invest back home, I want to emphasize one thing. Blockchain is not about cryptocurrency speculation. It offers practical solutions for many longstanding challenges. Instead of burning billions on meme coins, we can use this technology to transform traditional industries and create real value.

So, I hope my journey shows you how Cyfrin Updraft enables applicable blockchain innovation. Whether you're a researcher seeking practical applications or a developer wanting to create real-world impact, Updraft provides the foundation you need.

‍

If you’d like to continue following my journey, feel free to connect or drop me a message. 

‍