Shega Weekly – Young Team Of Ethiopian Entrepreneurs Win BeChangeMaker Africa and More

In this week edition of Shega, we brought you the top innovation, startup, and technology updates from last week.

Young team of Ethiopian entrepreneurs Win BeChangeMaker Africa

Invicta, a technology startup that identifies highly skilled refugees and internally displaced people and with job opportunities around the world. won the BeChangeMaker Africa which was launched with the support of WorldSkills International, the HP Foundation, the African Union, and other international organizations.

Invicta led by Eden Tadesse won the competition from 315 applications from 42 countries. The top five teams will continue to receive customized coaching and the top three will receive EUR 2,000 cash award. HP is also providing all the teams with laptops. Read more here.

Abyssinia Bank Starts Virtual Banking Terminals

Bank of Abyssinia, one of the high-profiting banks in the country, launched the first virtual machines that enable customers to open new accounts, deposit and withdraw cash alongside local money transfer.

The service named as Interactive Teller Machine (ITM) or “bank in a box” that enacts most of the Bank works with just the machine. The ITM has been deploy in three major areas in Addis Ababa serving local banking industries. The launch is part of the five-year strategy of the Bank, which mainly focuses on digitizing its operations. Read more

New Car Rental App In Town

MACAFEL, designed as a car-sharing marketplace app where travelers can book a car with their preferences at any time from local hosts across Ethiopia online and pay either via Bank of Abyssinia’s digital payment system or in cash based on their preferable car type and category is launched last week. Read more

Across Express Closed An Investment From Addis Abeba Angels Network

Across Express, a logistics tech company that provides a platform that connects users with delivery and freight shipment needs with service providers using mobile & web apps and call centers, closed an investment from Addis Abeba Angles Network. Read more.

Kenya’s Safaricom Continue To Eyes Ethiopian Telecom Sector

Safaricom, Kenya’ Teleco giant, with a successful product like Mpesa continues to look Ethiopian Market. It already expressed Interest for one of the two Teleco License to be given. Read More.

Gooday Online, a B2B2C Digital Marketing & Data Analytics Startup Launches It’s Gig Platform

The digital marketing and Data Analytics company Gooday Online, which is set to create a digital space that unleashes the possibilities of the gig economy for a wide range of services in Ethiopia, launched a new app.

The new app called Goodayon enables users to find a wide range of independent service providers (gig workers) based on location and interests with a length from domestic workers/ maids, nannies, hairstylists to auto-mechanics and more.

The services will be the building blocks of a scalable platform that will enable the digital presence of small-to-medium size business and independent service providers. Read More.