This Ethiopian B2B Marketplace Offers Cures for Fragmented Pharma Supply Chain

Falcon System Technology, an Addis Ababa-based “Fintech Solutions” provider, has made its debut in the digital health space with the launch of a B2B Pharmaceutical & Health Supply Chain Marketplace called Tenadam.

Co-founded by a duo of computer science graduates and software developers, Issac Frew and Leulseged Tariku, the platform connects pharmacies, wholesalers, and importers. 

Launched at the beginning of the year after nearly 18 months of development, Tenadam connects pharmacies, wholesalers, and importers on a single platform that facilitates medicine procurement, inventory management, and communication.

“The aim is to bring structure and transparency to Ethiopia’s fragmented pharmaceutical distribution network,” says Issac Firew, co-founder and CEO of Falcon Systems Technology. 

He recalls that the platform was born out of real-world challenges pharmacists and wholesalers faced while using Telegram and informal broker networks to trade pharmaceuticals.

"Many wholesalers use Telegram to post their inventory. But if you're subscribed to only one or two groups, your access is limited. Posts also get buried quickly, making it difficult to trace older listings,” Issac told Shega. "We created Tenadam to solve this information gap and streamline communication between sellers and buyers." 

Ethiopia’s pharmaceutical supply ecosystem features predominantly sole-owned retailers and a mix of nearly 5,000 wholesalers, importers, and manufacturers. Most sectoral interlinkages rely on informal networks, brokers, and sales representatives, often contributing to the uneven supply of pharmaceutical products across the country.

Yordanos Gebeyew, a pharmacist running a drugstore in Addis Ababa, noted that suppliers often go door-to-door, sharing contact details or relying on phone-based ordering. "Platforms like Tenadam potentially simplify this process by giving us direct access to multiple wholesalers in one place," she told Shega. 

Tenadam also offers a separate inventory management platform that grants a one-month free trial for pharmaceutical products. It includes unlimited item tracking, expiry date tracking, and sales monitoring with constant customer support services. Tenadam is different from another health platform of the same name which hosts traditional healers.

"Our vision is to build a full-fledged ecosystem," Issac says. "We plan to integrate fintech tools like digital payments, verified business accounts, and AI-powered forecasting that will help wholesalers track demand trends and automate inventory replenishment."

Currently, the app operates on a freemium model, charging users based on post frequency and value-added features. While over 100 users have already signed up, Falcon System Technology acknowledges that growth is constrained by financial limitations and a lack of marketing resources. "The app is bootstrapped. We've had no external investment and are covering server and operational costs internally," said Issac.  

With no verification in place currently, anyone can log into their app and create a profile as well as post a listing. The founders hope to introduce a Know Your Customer (KYC) feature that requires TIN numbers and business licenses in a bid to improve user trust.

Their broader ambition is to position Tenadam not only as a pharmaceutical logistics platform but as a gateway into digital financial services tailored for the health sector. Still, they continue to struggle with changing behavioral patterns of market players accustomed to traditional procurement methods.

With Tenadam being among the dozens of health tech-startups that have come about in recent years, long-term success may depend on market understanding, customer trust, and integration into the broader digital ecosystem.