Inaugural Ethiopian Startup Awards 2024 to take place in June

The first-ever Ethiopian Startup Awards, a Global Startup Awards Africa event, will be held in Addis Ababa on 3-4 June by the Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG) to raise awareness of Ethiopia’s growing startup scene.

There were 11,900 entries in this year’s Global Startup Awards Africa competition from 54 African countries. Of those, 24% came from Ethiopia, which is the host country for Africa and one of the 120 countries that take part in the Global Startup Awards programme

Empowering Ethiopia’s Tech Startups

The two-day event hosted by GIIG Ministry of Labour and Skills (MOLS), Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MINT) and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) will feature “Training session” – industry specialists will facilitate hands-on training sessions, equipping participants with skills and knowledge to succeed in the startup ecosystem. “Pitching opportunities” will give Startups a chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of investors, incubators, and accelerators, potentially securing funding and support.

There will be a series of “workshops” that will engage participants in workshops focusing on innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, led by industry experts and thought leaders.

Furthermore, “Networking of participants” will encourage connecting with like-minded entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry experts, fostering valuable connections and collaborations.

In addition, the event will culminate in an “Awards show”, announcing the Ethiopian finalists and celebrating their achievements in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Celebrating Ethiopia’s Tech Startup Successes

Next week’s events will begin on June 3rd to 4th, 2024, at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) with an awards ceremony celebrating the best Ethiopian startups who made it to the regional finals by advancing through the various competitions that make them stand out.

The successes and innovations of these outstanding companies will be honoured at this esteemed event, which will also celebrate their commitment and dedication to entrepreneurship and technical growth and development in Ethiopia.

The two-day event is fully packaged with the activities mentioned earlier, all aimed at empowering and supporting Ethiopia’s startup ecosystem.

Ethiopia is becoming more and more known as a centre for tech innovation, and this is partly due to the country’s selection as the 2024 GSA Africa Awards host.

According to HE Ms Muferihat Kamil Ahmed, minister of labour and skills, “The youth category’s focus on youth entrepreneurship is a unique aspect that highlights Ethiopia’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators and job creators, and I look forward to celebrating their successes.”