New Platform Connects Addis Ababa Residents with Handwashing Service

A local startup is attempting to wash up the capital’s laundry service through a platform that links service providers and prospective clients. Endod, named after the pokeweed plant in Amharic, traditionally used for cleaning, looks to link clients with both handwashers and laundry service providers.

Addis Ababa’s inhabitants comprised primarily of a young population just beginning to earn an income is frequently confronted with affordable access to services.

Endod’s founders hope to significantly decrease the costs of doing one’s laundry by offering affordable options tailored to locations and specific services. It has customized options for clients, hand washers, and laundromats.

Falma Garedow, co-founder and CEO of Endod, says customers can have their washed clothes delivered home or pick them up themselves depending on the package they use. He expects the market share of handwashers who are mostly women to significantly increase via Endod.

“Each home can be a center of operations,” Falma says. “No need to worry about the rent.”

Endod was formed by four friends who discussed the troubles of finding an affordable washing machine for personal use or a fairly priced laundry service. Yonathan Wube, one of the founders proposed a business that would be able to solve their imminent concerns. They recognized a market demand for mostly middle-income earners who were struggling to find hand washers while not affording to buy machines.

“We proposed ideas for an app and conducted a feasibility study,” Falma recalls. “In two months we progressed with legal and technical works.”

The app currently in development will allow for registration through a phone number and uses location to track nearby service providers depending on the requested package. Until the app goes live Endod is for now connecting the two sides via its call center.

Endod has registered close to two hundred service providers and onboarded nearly 1,000 users into its service.

“Most service providers are women,” Falma says.

The CEO hopes to have close to 50,000 women service providers registered by year’s end as a unique gig work marketplace.

Laundry services are undergoing a transformation. In early 2024, Zmall Delivery introduced an on-demand laundry service, offering users a hassle-free experience with doorstep pickup and delivery. Several businesses have emerged on social media, providing similar services, with some charging customers based on weight rather than pricing each item individually. Additionally, self-service laundry cleaners have opened their doors.

However, fraudulent operators are taking advantage of this opportunity by advertising laundry pickup and delivery services, only for customers to find themselves abandoned after handing over their clothes. Platforms like Endod can play a crucial role in this evolving market by establishing trust and thoroughly vetting their service providers.