Ethiopian Freelance Platform Skills.et Raises Seed Investment from Venture Addis

Skills.et, an online platform dedicated to connecting Ethiopian freelancers, has successfully raised a Seven-figure ETB in a seed round from Venture Addis.

The investment aims to accelerate the platform's growth and unlock the potential of Ethiopia's freelance workforce, according to Haileab Aradom, Co-Founder and Operations Manager at Skills.et.

“This milestone marks a significant step in empowering Ethiopia's skilled professionals and connecting them with local and international clients,” Haileab told Shega. “It is more than just capital; it’s a vote of confidence in Ethiopia's immense talent pool.” He added.

Venture Addis, an angel VC firm based in Dubai, specializes in early-stage investments in internet companies disrupting key sectors, primarily in Ethiopia. The startup has declined to disclose the exact funding amount to the public.

According to Haileab, the newly acquired seed funding will be allocated to enhance platform functionality, broaden market reach, and establish key partnerships. This includes investing in advanced technology for improved features like AI-powered matching algorithms and secure payment gateways, expanding Skills.et's presence across Ethiopia to connect more skilled professionals with opportunities, and collaborating with local training institutions to boost employability.

Launched in late 2023, Skills.et has grown its user base to over 160,000 across its website and Telegram. The platform functions as a key intermediary, facilitating connections between businesses seeking skilled professionals and a diverse pool of Ethiopian freelancers.

These freelancers offer expertise in a wide range of fields, including graphic design, digital marketing, writing, translation, and software development. Notably, Skills.et leverages Telegram's capabilities to streamline the hiring process. Employers can post job openings, while freelancers can conveniently apply directly through the messaging platform.

The platform also utilizes an escrow system to ensure secure and transparent transactions for both freelancers and employers.