@EthiopiaFinance – Ethiopian Business Review

Ethiopia is set to host the fourth edition of the Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Summit & Awards (ASEB 2025). The event, organized by the Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Society, will bring together entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers from across the continent to Addis Ababa from October 1-3.

Originally planned for Cote d’Ivoire, the summit was relocated due to scheduling conflicts with that country’s national elections. The theme for this year’s gathering is “Empowering Africa’s Startup Ecosystem Builders: Tools, Funding, and Global Visibility for Sustainable Growth,” focusing on strengthening support systems for emerging businesses.

McKevin Ayaba, founder of the ASEB Society, explained that the change in venue presents an exciting chance to highlight Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial potential. “Every good story has moments where the unexpected creates new opportunities,” Ayaba said. “Ethiopia represents an exciting frontier with tremendous entrepreneurial potential.”

Local firm Sahan Advisory Services will serve as the host partner for the event. The company’s co-founder Dr. Jibril Mohamed Ahmed was previously honored as ASEB’s Startup Mentor of the Year in 2022. Sahan CEO Dr. Kassahun Delene Deyassa emphasized the summit’s importance for Ethiopia’s innovation landscape, noting it will help amplify the voices of those building the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The three-day program will include an awards ceremony recognizing Africa’s top startup supporters, practical workshops on business development topics, and tours of Ethiopia’s innovation hubs. These activities aim to connect Ethiopian entrepreneurs with continental networks and potential investors.

This event comes at a pivotal time for Ethiopia’s technology and startup sectors, which have seen rapid growth in recent years. The summit provides a platform to attract international attention and investment to local innovation efforts while strengthening Ethiopia’s connections to pan-African business networks.

Organizers expect the gathering to highlight Ethiopia’s emerging role as a hub for entrepreneurship in Africa. As Ayaba noted, the event will contribute to “the broader narrative of an Africa whose economic future is shaped by those who enable entrepreneurship.” The selection of Addis Ababa as host city reflects growing recognition of Ethiopia’s potential in the continental startup landscape.

Ethiopia and the European Union (EU) today signed a major €240 Million (USD266.7 million) grant agreement under the 2024 Annual Action Programme (AAP-2024), reinforcing their five-decade-long strategic partnership. The agreement, inked at the Ministry of Finance, targets critical development areas, including agribusiness expansion, digital skills training, post-conflict recovery, and governance reforms.

The funding will support agribusiness initiatives to enhance productivity and create jobs for smallholder farmers, while also strengthening digital skills within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to drive economic growth. Additionally, the program will bolster democratic institutions, restore basic health services in conflict-affected regions, and provide psychosocial support for survivors of gender-based violence. Another key focus is improving economic opportunities for displaced populations through integrated solutions and boosting private sector engagement in vital value chains.

Finance Minister Ahmed Shide hailed the EU’s support as pivotal in addressing Ethiopia’s pressing challenges. “This financing package is crucial for stimulating private sector investment, modernizing our tax and customs systems, and enhancing services in agribusiness, health, and education,” he said. “It reinforces our longstanding partnership and contributes significantly to our ongoing reforms.”

The minister also stressed the importance of regional integration under the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative, highlighting the Horn of Africa’s untapped potential for economic cooperation. “As we navigate evolving economic landscapes, our focus on regional cooperation is more critical than ever,” he noted, referencing collaborative frameworks like the Horn of Africa Initiative (HOAI).

EU Ambassador to Ethiopia, Sofie From-Emmesberger, underscored the agreement’s broader significance, stating, “The AAP 2024 reflects our collective commitment to advancing sustainable development in Ethiopia. This is not just a financial agreement; it is a manifestation of our shared values and goals for a prosperous future.”

Ethiopia Set to Lead Africa’s Startup Dialogue as Host of ASEB 2025

Ethiopia Secures USD266.7M EU Funding for Agribusiness & Digital Skills