High-fidelity voice data classification, analysis, and processing for next-generation ASR, TTS, and LLM systems. Studio-grade. Legally indemnified. Built from Africa.
Nigerian Pidgin is spoken by over 120 million people. Yet less than 21 minutes of usable public speech data exists for it. Global LLMs experience 30%+ error rates on African accents. The models can't speak for a continent because nobody built the data.
Blacklist Labs manufactures legally compliant, forensic-grade African voice datasets. We classify, annotate, and process high-fidelity audio to train the next generation of speech AI.
From hyperscalers training foundation models to African fintechs deploying voice agents, our data infrastructure serves the entire AI value chain.
Michael Ugwu is a seasoned operator with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of finance, entertainment IP, and technology. As the Founder & CEO of Freeme Digital, he built Nigeria's premier digital distribution company and a multi-million dollar physical infrastructure hub utilised by global stars including Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy.
Previously, he served as GM of Sony Music West Africa, brokering landmark global deals, and currently sits on the board of the Merlin Network in London, representing the African independent music sector globally.
Today, his career culminates in a 15-year synthesis of banking, culture, and technology into AI systems architecture. At Blacklist Labs, Michael is building the definitive bias-correction infrastructure for the global AI stack — manufacturing forensic-grade African voice datasets for the Large Language Models that will serve the next 50 million digital banking users.