Warka Tech Competition Announces Winners 

WARKA Tech, an incubation program focused on climate solutions, has announced its ten winners.  Organized by the, Center for African Leadership Studies (xHub Addis) in partnership with the British Embassy, the program mainly focused on ideas relating to climate change, education, mobile money and women’s leadership.

The program, which opened its call for applications, received more than 280 startup competitors, and 30 have passed to the second round, of which ten were selected as winners.

The winners will receive a four-month incubation program with xHub Addis and secure 100,000 birr seed funding for their business.

The winning ideas revolved around biotech, renewable energy, recycling, and bamboo. Among the winners are Mahi Energy Weed Charcoal, and THUR Biotech.

Mahider Solomon founded Mahi Energy to produce and distribute charcoal from an invasive weed called Prosopis julilora.

The use of Prosopis juliflora for charcoal can deter the weed from occupying lands that could be utilized for farming and grazing.

Three biotechnologists co-founded THUR Biotech in February 2021 to supply Ethiopian farmers with productive bio-fertilizers and healthy bio-control agents.

They aim to reduce the consumption of chemical inputs that are causing environmental, health, and productivity problems.