Making Space for Fintech Innovation in Ethiopia

Hello,

Welcome to this week’s edition of Shega Weekly Newsletter ( Issue # 23 ) –  A recap of major stories from the Ethiopian Innovative ecosystem.

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Africa 118 Gets A Grant from GSMA To Build Ethiopian SMEs Digital Presence

GSMA Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion has awarded to fund five African companies including Africa 118 from Ethiopia.

Africa 118  has become one of the grantees of this award with its digital starter pack solution for SME’s.

GSMA Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion is a fund that aims to increase mobile internet adoption and usage for the underserved. The fund was launched in April 2020.

Africa 118 is a company founded in 2010 with the mission to help African startups and Small & Medium Enterprises(SMEs) get discovered online.

The program that will be run by Africa 118 will offer 10000 SME’s in Ethiopia with a digital starter pack that will provide them with a digital presence on Google & Facebook, eCommerce, and Mobile payment integration, and in-person training. Bethel writes more about this.  Read More.

Addis Ababa City Traffic Management Agency  Introduces an Online Traffic Fine Payment System Through E-birr 

Addis Ababa City Traffic Management Agency launched a mobile app that allows it to collect traffic fines.  The agency introduced the app to the fine collection process to avoid long queues and ensure a speedy service.

Using the app drivers can pay for their tickets immediately. Traffic fine payments will be processed through E-birr.  Drivers will have to sign up for an E-birr account in one of the E-birr’s partner Banks like the Cooperative Bank of Oromia. Read More.

A Kenyan Based AgriTech Platform Appoints Ethiopian Yebeltal Getachew As The CEO Of Its East Africa Operation

Twiga, a Kenyan-based tech-enabled B2B food distribution platform that works to bridge the gap between farmers and vendors, announced the appointment of Yebeltal Getachew as the CEO of Twiga, East Africa.

Yebeltal has over 20 years of experience in commercial & franchise leadership and will be responsible to lead Twiga’s growth and expansion throughout the East African market according to Twiga. Read More.

Bank of Abyssinia Acquires an Islamic Banking Solutions Software

Bank of Abyssinia has partnered with Path Solutions. Path solutions provide banking software to Islamic banks & financial institutions. The software is a Shariah-compliant profit calculation and distribution system that addresses a business pain financial institutions suffer from. BoA is Path Solution’s first Ethiopian customer. Read More.

TeleBirr, Ethio Telecom’s Mobile Money Solution To Be Launched In Two Weeks 

Upon approval of the National Bank of Ethiopia to venture into digital financial services, Ethio Telecom has announced it will be launching the long-awaited Mobile Money Service in the coming two weeks. Read More. 

MTN and A Consortium of Vodafone, Vodacom & Safaricom Revealed as the Bidders for the Two Telecommunications Licenses.

The Ethiopian Communications Authority has announced the two bidders for the nationwide telecommunications licenses.

It is remembered that in an effort to increase the accessibility of telecom services and enhance its digital economy, Ethiopia has opened an international competitive bid for the liberalization of telecommunication services.

MTN and Global Partnership for Ethiopia (a consortium of telecom operators made up of Vodafone, Vodacom, and Safaricom) are the two official bidders. Read More. 

A List of Co-working Spaces in Addis Abeba

Co-working spaces are growing to become a popular choice of working place in recent years. The Shega team has looked at the list of co-working spaces in Addis Abeba. Read more. 

Opportunity Alert :

Application for Orange Fab Ethiopia 6 Month Startup Acceleration

Application for blueMoon’s GreenTech Incubation Program

Application for xHub Addis AHUN Incubation Program with Seed Funding

Offshoring to Ethiopia Factsheet 

Offshoring to Ethiopia’ factsheet developed by Laurendeau & Associates and Briter Bridge.

Here is what have been reading :

Interview with Hatoumata Magassa on Orange Digital Center Joining Ethiopia

Ethiopian Developer’s Endless Creativity – Dawit Abraham CEO of Qene Games, Comments on Forbes Africa

Mobile Banking Service is Booming in Somali Region – The Reporter Ethiopia

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