Issue 114: Bitcoin & Apollo & Public Transport

Dear SubscribersWelcome to the 114th edition of Shega WeeklyIn this edition, we bring you exciting news from Shega. We have been honored with the title "Startup Media Platform of the Year 2023" in Ethiopia by the Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Summit & Awards (ASEB). Your engagement and follow-up contribute significantly to our success. We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to continuing this journey together.If you are here because someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here to get future newsletters.

Russian Bitcoin Mining Company to Build Hub in EthiopiaBitCluster, a Russian Bitcoin mining company, has announced that it is initiating the construction of a 120 MW Bitcoin mining data center in Ethiopia.According to a press release issued last week, the facility will be located in the capital city of Addis Ababa, on the territory of the Kilinto high-voltage substation, and will comprise 30,000 square meters. Read More.

Bank of Abyssinia Integrates Apollo with Digital IDBank of Abyssinia has integrated its Apollo app with Digital ID to streamline the onboarding process for its customers. This integration allows for basic KYC information to be readily available after authentication, enabling a more seamless and efficient account opening process. Read more.

Public Service Transport Service to Get Digital IDThe Public Service Transport Service has imported 150,000 IDs, which are set to undergo a trial implementation in the coming two months. Kalkidan Gebeyehu, the IT director of the Public Service Transport Service, revealed to the Ethiopian Press Agency that these digital IDs utilize NFC technology and operate through sensor-based contactless systems. Read more.

FSD Ethiopia Announces CEO Ermias Eshetu’s ResignationFSD Ethiopia has announced the resignation of its CEO, Ermias Eshetu, who is stepping down to pursue other interests after serving two years at FSD Africa and FSD Ethiopia. FSD Ethiopia is an agency with a mission to support the development of accessible, inclusive, and sustainable financial markets for economic growth and human development. Read More.

Ethiopian Startup Lssya Unveils Online Psychotherapy Platform Promising Stigma-Free Healing With the aim of enhancing accessibility to therapy and mental health support, a local start-up has introduced an online psychotherapy platform called Lssya, that connects users with psychologists virtually. Read More.

Survey: Ethiopian E-Commerce Ecosystem ReportThe Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation & Technology and iceaddis have partnered with Shega to survey the Ethiopian e-commerce ecosystem.As part of this initiative, a questionnaire has been created to gather data from e-commerce businesses operating in Ethiopia. If you own an e-commerce business, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take 5 minutes to complete this questionnaire. Survey for Ethiopian E-Commerce Ecosystem Report 

Addis Ababa’s Crackdown on Betting Shops Sparks Public Support, Confusion The betting industry has experienced significant growth in Addis Ababa with almost no interference until now. The past two weeks have witnessed the closure of over 3,000 betting shops in the capital. However, those in the business say the closures feel more like a campaign than a proper rule of law enforcement. Read More.

Unlocking Education for Students with Disabilities in Ethiopia through Technology.Innovation has led to the development of various solutions aimed at removing accessibility barriers for people with disabilities. Dubbed assistive technology, these include screen readers, voice recognition software, and communication devices. However, in Ethiopia, the adoption of inclusive technology is a road yet to be traveled. Read More.

Ethio Telecom Announces Telebirr-Based Digital Financial Marketplace, Digital Securities Trading Platform Driven by the goal of becoming a leading digital solutions provider, Ethio Telecom has introduced a telebirr-based digital financial marketplace and a digital securities trading platform. Read More.

Here is what we've been reading:

M-Pesa has been huge for Kenya’s economy — and for scammersNigeria flips the script: Crypto transactions resume with stringent customer checksTwo of Africa’s largest B2B e-commerce platforms, MaxAB and Wasoko, in merger talksIf you are here because someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here to get future newsletters.