Oromia Innovative Startups Competition Reaches Televised Pitch Stage

The Oromia Innovative Business Startups Competition has successfully advanced to its televised pitching stage after attracting strong participation from aspiring entrepreneurs across the Oromia Region.

  The initiative is being implemented through a partnership among the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), the Oromia Job Creation and Vocational Bureau, Ethio Telecom, and Oromia Broadcasting Network (OBN). The collaboration aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation throughout the region.

  Registration for the competition was conducted through Technical and Vocational Training (TVT) institutions and Oromia Job Creation and Vocational Offices. More than 900 startups submitted business ideas and applications to participate in the competition.

  Following a rigorous five-day screening process conducted by EDI, 122 of the most promising startups were selected to attend an intensive 10-day boot camp.

  During the boot camp, participants received comprehensive training and coaching on business model development, customer needs assessment, prototype refinement, entrepreneurial competency and mindset development, pitching skills, business coaching, and industry exposure visits. The program was designed to strengthen the startups’ capacity to transform innovative ideas into sustainable and viable businesses.

  At the conclusion of the boot camp, participants competed in two rounds of pitching sessions evaluated by a panel of trainers, business consultants, and industry experts. Based on their performance, 30 outstanding startups advanced to the televised pitching competition hosted by OBN.

  In this week, the 30 finalists officially began recording for the televised competition. Through two rounds of televised pitching, the number of competitors will be narrowed from 30 to 20 startups in the first round and from 20 to 10 startups in the second round. The final five winners will be announced during a live OBN broadcast program titled “Dhaweeyyii Oromia Innovative Startups Competition.”

  The five winning startups will receive seed funding to accelerate the growth and expansion of their businesses. The award package is among the most attractive startup support schemes available within the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem.

  Beyond the competition, all 30 televised finalists will continue to receive support from TVT institutions and ecosystem partners within their respective localities. This support includes facilitating access to finance, business development services, mentorship opportunities, and workspace facilities to help them grow and scale their ventures.

  The televised competition will be broadcast weekly as a special OBN program, showcasing innovative business ideas and inspiring entrepreneurship across Oromia. The program is expected to highlight the creativity, resilience, and potential of emerging entrepreneurs while promoting a vibrant startup ecosystem throughout the region.