Promoting and supporting startup technologies is critically important in this digital era especially for developing countries like Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s economy is among the fastest growing economies and the country is working to realize prosperity. To accelerate its economic development, Ethiopia has been making the technology sector among the key pillars of its economic development especially during the past five years.
To inspire startup businesses and innovations in the technology sector, the government creates suitable ecosystem for the sector. As part of the efforts to promote startups and new innovations, ‘Startup Ethiopia Exhibition’ was organized at the Science Museum here in Addis Ababa. “Startup Ethiopia Exhibition”, a national startup exhibition that hosted over 900 participant startups from across the nation, kicked off on 08 April 2024. It will remain opened for visitors until April 28.
In the three-week fair that has hosted startups in various stages, ranging from initial to advanced level, participants are displaying their innovations, ideas and products. Visiting the exhibition on 11 April, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) stated that “Startup Ethiopia showcased the aspiration, ingenuity, and innovation of participants in the ecosystem.” Appreciating the efforts and creativity of the startup innovators, PM Abiy called the public to visit the startup exhibition. “I highly recommend everyone to visit the exhibition and interact with the exhibitors,” PM Abiy said after visiting the exhibition.
EPA journalists visited the ‘Startup Ethiopia Exhibition’. Among the exhibitors portraying their products at the exhibition is found Fekadu Diriba (PhD). Fekadu created an Automatic Electric Power Regulation Device. As to him, this innovation aimed to solve electric interruption as it remains a serious problem.
Citing documents, Fekadu stated that around 35 percent of energy lays wastage during transmission from the grid to every beneficiary. In industries and factories, challenges related to energy interruption remain a problem adding his innovation targets to solve this problem. The product helps to solve electric loss and interruption.
The Automatic Electric Power Regulation Device performs three basic tasks, controlling electricity, increasing voltage and by increasing system capacity it helps to reduce energy consumption. According to Fekadu, he started innovating this product in 2016; despite he stopped it at the interval.
Inspired and attracted by the attention given to startup businesses and technological innovations by government in recent years, Fekadu resumed and strengthened his innovation and creative works. Currently, his invention is registered and granted a patent right by Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA). In addition, with the help of Ministry of Innovation and Technology, his product is equipped with software program and other technologies, he stated.
Currently, Fekadu is founder and CEO of Jangel Power Engineering Industry and is on process to start producing his invention product. As to Fekadu, with the financial support from Startup funds, his company is on the way to start production of the product soon. “The new technology can serve for over 20 years without maintenance and will benefit all energy consumers. It helps companies and customers to save power,” Fekadu said. According to Fekadu, the technology is new for Ethiopia adding that companies that installed this technology can save energy wastage that allows them to use the saved energy for other machines.
Fekadu reiterated that it needs importing an electric device to produce products, while a machine is available at home to design the PVC board. “Ministry of Innovation and Technology has authorized me to design the PVC board at home,” he added. As to him, if a manufacturing machine to the PVC board and the Surface board is imported, the other part of the product can be fully produced at home.
For Fekadu, when the technology starts operation, during the initial operation, it would create some 500 job opportunities. And after five years, by covering the local demand, he has a plan to export to African countries. He is working to realize his dream and he believes that the technology will have a tremendous benefit in the sector.
“I started this innovation three years ago at startup level. But, as I didn’t find supports during the early years due to less attention to the startup businesses, it delays the operation,” he stated. However, currently there is a conducive ecosystem for startups and he is working to realize his project and Fekadu calls those engaged in the startup business to use the current opportunity.
Samuel Getnet and his friends are showcasing their products producing materials from different wastages. Using wastages of grass, paper, water hyacinth and Inset, they have managed to produce different products. By recycling wastages, Samuel and his friends are producing two types of products, packaging and cake plate.
Samuel noted that the packaging products are products to carry different products and can replace plastic bags. Not only replacing plastic bags, the products are suitable for soil fertility and environmental protection. As to him, the products are strong and can serve for long period. “In Ethiopia, the demand of plastic bags is high” Samuel said adding that on the average from 600,000 to 800,000 plastic bags are used in a month. Samuel and his friends are working to exploit this market potential as plastic bags are polluting the environment. They are dreaming to replace these plastic bags by renewable product.
The second product that Samuel and his friends produced is a cake plate, used to serve product during cake making. As to Samuel, cake plate is among the challenges for cake producers in Ethiopia. Samuel said that their product can solve this problem. As to him, the price of the imported cake plate is 120 birr while the price of the product they manufactured is only 45 birr. Hence, those engaged in producing cake can find the product easily at lower cost.
Currently, their company creates job opportunities for seven youths and they are dreaming to export their product in the long run. Samuel said that they were initiated after realizing the plastic bags pollution in their surroundings to start the project. They started the project 15 months ago and currently, their products are on the market. Especially, the cake plate product is loved by customers in Bahir Dar and Gonder cities, according to Samuel.
According to Samuel, his team is receiving continuous trainings to equip them to develop their startup business. By using the training and other opportunities, they are working to develop the manufacturing machines to digital machines so as to produce quality and competitive products.
Nardos Alemayehu also presented her product, AfroRead Mobile Application at the exhibition. According to Nardos, AfroRead is a digital publishing platform and mobile book-reading app providing easy access to Ethiopian literature in both eBook and audiobook format. According to Nardos, the application was started in 2020 by four Ethiopian youths.
For Nardos due to the soaring up paper price, it has become difficult for authors to print books and customers are unable to accommodate the price of printed books. Hence, the new application targets to find solutions for the issue. As to her, the application helps to read digital books. The application, so far, uploads over 500 books.
The startup exhibition helps these youth and exhibitors displaying their products to the public. The government’s attention to the sector is initiating them to develop their inventions.
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2024
