Ethiopian Entrepreneurs Share Insights at Story Night Program During Global Entrepreneurship Week

Ethiopian entrepreneurs gathered for an inspiring evening at the Story Night Program, a prominent event during the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) of Ethiopia. The program, organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS), focused on the 2024 GEW theme, “Entrepreneurship is for Everyone.”
The event featured prominent speakers, including Samrawit Fikru, founder of Hybrid Design (Ride) and a 2022 BBC 100 Women Influential honoree; Nerash Naiker, founder of Bejai Ethio Industrial and Engineering Solutions; Tihitina, who leads WARYT Mulutila International Plc. with over 24 years of experience; Ashenfafi Taye, a life coach and public speaker; and Solomon Ayenew, founder of Diraddis Engineering PLC and a rising entrepreneur in Ethiopia.
Other distinguished speakers included Rahel Moges, founder of Dr. Ale; Kibret Abebe, founder of Tebita Ambulance and president of Social Enterprise Ethiopia (SEE); Amakelech Lulu, founder and CEO of Gishen Pharmacy with over 10 branches; Dr. Grima Ababi, founder and CEO of Liyana Healthcare Plc, and Ezedin Kamil, a 23-year-old software developer and founder of Hex Labs.
These entrepreneurs shared their personal journeys, the challenges they faced, and valuable advice to strengthen Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Discussions focused on key issues such as access to finance, the development of skilled manpower, and the importance of government support. Intellectual property rights and fostering a culture of innovation were also highlighted as essential elements for the growth of the entrepreneurial sector.
Dr. Hassen Hussen, CEO of EDI, acknowledged the critical issues raised by the speakers and participants and pledged to present them to the government. He emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and experience-sharing, announcing that future events of this nature would not only be held annually but on a quarterly basis moving forward.
The Story Night Program was hailed as a success, offering valuable insights and actionable solutions that are expected to contribute to the growth and strengthening of Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial landscape.