Second Batch of Ecommerce Startups Join Venture Meda Acceleration Program

Venture Meda, a local support program for high-growth e-commerce businesses, has selected seven startups for its second cohort.

Launched by the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and iceaddis in 2022, the program aims to create 100 e-commerce startups and benefit thousands of small businesses through its incubation and acceleration initiatives.

In its first cohort, Venture Meda accelerated 11 startups, including Mogzit, Taywan, and Yetem Delivery.

The newly selected startups will embark on a program designed to help them scale their ventures and achieve success. “We are incredibly excited to welcome the new group of startups to Venture Meda,” said Lensa Kebede, project lead at Venture Meda.

Participants in the program will gain access to mentorship from industry experts, potential funding opportunities, and workshops covering business development and marketing.

The startups selected for the second Venture Meda acceleration cohort are:

1. Arada Mart: a membership-based retail and e-commerce platform offering a wide range of high-quality products at competitive prices.
2. Betty’s Organic: is a vegetable and fruit delivery business that strives to get fresh and clean vegetables from small farmers on the outskirts of Addis Ababa.
3. Buy2go: is a platform that focuses mainly on automating the distribution channel in the FMCG industry using its B2B platform.
4. Blu delivery: a pioneering food delivery service in eastern Ethiopia currently operating in the Dire Dawa region.
5. JEMLA: a platform that empowers informal retailers (“Souqs”) by connecting them directly with manufacturers and importers for affordable goods, while also offering access to digital financial services.
6. Muyalogy: is an innovative full-service learning platform that offers a comprehensive suite of online courses in a number of different areas.
7. Kabba Transport: a transportation company that uses a technological platform to manage demand-based route planning, scheduling, and booking.