EDI and Founders Live Strengthen Pathways for Ethiopian Startups to Global Opportunities

ADDIS ABABA (July 18, 2026)— The Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), in collaboration with Founders Live Addis Ababa, hosted a Startup Pitch Competition and Ecosystem Meetup today at the EDI Headquarters. The event expands institutional support for the nation’s innovation sector.

Early-stage startup Arifget emerged as the audience's top choice, securing a global resource package designed to accelerate its international growth.

By winning first place, Arifget walks away with the Founders Live Booster Pack, a prize valued at more than $1 million in cloud storage, software credits, and essential business tools. Additionally, the victory earns the company an official spot in the upcoming Founders Live Global Pitch Competition, providing the startup with international exposure and direct access to global investment pipelines.

The competition spotlighted five innovative local startups representing the vanguard of Ethiopia's emerging business landscape: Emebte Jobs, DungooPrep, Galaxy Composite Manufacturing, Afriuz, and Arifget. Each founder delivered a strict 99-second pitch, presenting scalable business models that demonstrated the creativity, resilience, and technological potential of Ethiopia’s next generation of entrepreneurs.

A key highlight of the program was an interactive fireside chat featuring Bereket Shimekit, founder of StriveIn. As a former Founders Live Addis Ababa winner who represented Ethiopia regionally and advanced to the global stage, Bereket shared insights from his personal entrepreneurial journey. He outlined practical strategies for local startups to navigate cross-border networks, refine their value propositions, and effectively leverage international pitch platforms.

The event's impact extended far beyond the main stage, doubling as a framework for ecosystem-building. Participating entrepreneurs engaged directly with senior mentors, industry professionals, and ecosystem leaders, gaining targeted feedback to optimize their operational frameworks and scale their ventures.

Through collaborative initiatives like the Founders Live partnership, EDI continues to strengthen Ethiopia's economic foundations. By actively opening doors to global mentorship, technical resources, and professional networks, EDI remains committed to developing the human capital and support systems required to sustain an inclusive, competitive, and resilient national innovation ecosystem.