EDI Launches Women Founders Program

A training, mentorship and networking program for female startup founders capped off by financial assistance was started two days ago at the ICT park. Spearheaded by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), the Bruh Women Startup Founders Program attracted 157 applicants in three weeks with 74 women qualifying for the 10-day boot camp.

Ten women founders who successfully complete the program get a share of the 1 million birr financial prize to springboard their businesses.

Powered by support from the Ministry of Labor and Skills, UNDP, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOIKA), and the Next Ethiopia Startup Initiative (NEST), the program looks to bridge the gender divide in the technology entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Elham Mohammed, Program Specialist at EDI, expects the program’s design to help foster growth and innovation while contributing to the alleviation of gender disparity plaguing the sector. The immersive boot camp looks to equip female founders with skills for successful venture launches by providing a curriculum that includes field visits, mentorship, and experience-sharing events.

“The support extends beyond a one-time financial reward,” Elham told Shega.

Opportunities to participate in pitch competitions, exhibitions, and additional financial support are also part of the program according to the program specialist.

A 2024 report by Disrupt Africa, titled Diversity Dividend: Exploring Gender Equality in the African Tech Ecosystem, highlights a concerning trend in the gender divide among Africa’s startup founders. It indicates a declining trajectory in the portion of total funding received by the continent’s female founders even while the total number of women-led enterprises increased.

EDI’s inaugural program attracted nationwide attention with Addis Ababa leading in the number of applicants, followed by Oromia Regional State, and no submissions from Gambela, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz. A varied selection of startups ranging from those at the idea stage, to some at early development and a few with licensed businesses, are included in the program.

Through continued annual iterations of the program, the initiative hopes to tackle some of the barriers faced by women tech founders by creating market linkages across multiple sectors including logistics, e-commerce, and fin-tech.

The Program is now part of the Next Ethiopian Startup initiative - NEST, launched in October 2023 as a joint effort between the Labor & Skills Ministry alongside the Ministry of Innovation and Technology.

Launched in 2021 by the then Job Creation Commission, now the Ministry of Labor and Skills, the Bruh National Entrepreneurship Competition marking its fourth year, hosted a two-week boot camp last August for 150 finalists. It managed to draw participants from across Ethiopia who were looking to get the 100,000$ prize money, loan facility, and ongoing business support from the Development Bank of Ethiopia.