Hiruy Amanuel on the Top Five Startups in Ethiopia

Tech startups in Ethiopia are bringing a new wave of change to the African continent, which is enabling the country to become highly competitive on a global scale. Here, one of the co-founders of Gebeya Inc, and Gebeya Media, Hiruy Amanuel talks about the top five startups in Ethiopia and how they are blazing a trail for others to follow.

1. Qene Technologies: AsEthiopia’s and East Africa’s first premiere gaming startup that is behind the smash hit “KukuluGame” and many other games, Qene Technologies is a software company that concentrates on instilling local culture and heritage into their games. Their games are available for both iOS as well as for Android platforms, and their newest game “FETA” will be released in early 2019.

1. BeBlocky: A coding game for kids that teaches them to code early by solving coding puzzles, BeBlocky is a phenomenon that has taken Africa by storm. This startup encourages children to learn about science in a fun and interactive way. It creatively engages their programming skills and applies what they learn into creating their very own robot, BlockyBot. This game also teaches the important lifelong mechanisms for creative thinking, persistence, and problem-solving.

1. ETM Software: One of Ethiopia’s youngest and most reputable private software companies, ETM Software is a startup that is leading the way in web development, digital marketing, and mobile development. ETM packages customizable e-commerce, booking engines, HR and inventory management system platforms utilized by over 30 businesses within Ethiopia alone. They ensure that their digital products lead to excellent experiences and their growth certainly shows that they are committed to their clients’ success.

1. RIDE: A ride-sharing business in Ethiopia that was started in Addis Ababa as an SMS-based service, RIDE uses existing taxi services and relays the location of their customers to the taxi drivers that are closest to the relative user. The heart of RIDE is to encourage the growth of the taxi industry that is already present and not to disrupt the current system. RIDE is becoming an increasingly popular enhancement of taxi services and is sure to be a startup that keeps growing.

1. Deliver Addis: Deliver Addis is a food delivery service in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that offers food from some of the best local restaurants. This startup is similar to GrubHub—patrons select a restaurant, browse the menu and place the order. Deliveries are charged in accordance with the distance of the patron’s location to the restaurant. Deliver Addis is quickly growing in popularity and has partnered with What3Words to make delivery even more expedient.

The competition inherent in maintaining good business practices, reliability and accuracy is palpable as startups in Ethiopia are being created at an unprecedented pace. The five startups mentioned above have curated a following based on the interests of the local Ethiopian people and their ability to meet the demand of online business. As the startup sector continues to advance in Ethiopia and more money becomes available from outside investors, the list of who’s on top will certainly change, though ultimately the startups with the most innovative solutions for everyday inconveniences almost always achieve a seat at the top.