MPedigree Network

mPedigree Network is a social enterprise founded in 2007 by Ghanaian entrepreneur Bright Simons. Initially established as an NGO to combat counterfeit medicines in Ghana, the company has since transitioned to a for-profit model, expanding its reach across Africa and into South Asia. The impetus for its creation was the significant public health crisis posed by fake pharmaceuticals, which cause hundreds of thousands of deaths annually in Africa. Simons, an innovator and researcher, pivoted from a failed organic fruit certification project after realizing the underlying technology could be repurposed to verify the authenticity of products and build trust in supply chains.

The company provides a technology platform designed to protect consumers and manufacturers from counterfeit goods. The core service involves labeling product packaging with a unique, random code hidden under a scratch-off panel. Consumers can text this code free of charge to a designated number and receive an instant message verifying the product's authenticity. This system empowers end-users to become active participants in quality control. The business model involves charging manufacturers for the secure labels, a cost typically representing a small fraction of the production cost. Clients include major pharmaceutical companies like Sanofi, AstraZeneca, and Roche, as well as manufacturers in sectors such as agricultural inputs, cosmetics, and electrical products. mPedigree partners with numerous telecom operators to ensure the SMS service is free for consumers.

Beyond simple authentication, mPedigree's platform has evolved to offer a suite of supply chain transformation tools. Its Goldkeys technology provides brand owners with real-time control and visibility over their distribution networks and retail points. The company also leverages the data generated from verifications to offer market intelligence and predictive analytics, helping companies identify counterfeiting hotspots and understand consumer behavior. This data-centric approach is also extended to government regulators, who can use a dedicated dashboard for market surveillance. The company's service portfolio has expanded to include Agrotrack, a platform for authenticating agricultural products like seeds and fertilizers for clients such as Bayer and Syngenta, thereby enhancing food security.

Keywords: anti-counterfeiting, supply chain security, product authentication, mobile verification, pharmaceutical safety, brand protection, track and trace, supply chain analytics, emerging markets, social enterprise, Africa technology, consumer empowerment, SMS verification, food security, agricultural technology, market intelligence, last-mile verification, public health technology, Bright Simons, Goldkeys