Issue 129- Unified System & Amharic Speaking Robots

Hello,  

This week's round-up brings you scoops from events unfolding at Ethiopia's one-month-long national startup exhibition. Additionally, we introduce you to a new startup and share updates from the nation's digital landscape.If you are here because someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here to get future newsletters.

AI-Powered Robot Desta Debuts at Ethiopian Science MuseumAn AI-powered robot named Desta has been placed on display at the Startup Ethiopia event,. Developed by the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute and iCog Labs, in collaboration with other institutions, Desta speaks Amharic. Watch Desta.

Government Responds Loud, Clear to Startup Policy Reform SkepticismIt’s been two weeks since the recent policy reforms targeting startups were announced in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) himself.The reforms have inspired critical discussion in the startup ecosystem, where stakeholders and startup founders took their views to social media to share both their support and doubts. Moreover, many were concerned about its implementation.A panel discussion held last week delved into the recently announced startup policy reforms. While attendees anticipated details on the implementation timeline, they received a different and stronger response.  Read More.

Electric Utility, Huawei Sign Mou to Provide Alternative Electricity to Communities in Off-Grid AreasThe Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) and Chinese telecom giant Huawei signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last week to provide alternative electricity to communities living in Ethiopia’s off-grid areas including EV charging stations for electric vehicles. Read More.

Inside Look into Ethiopia’s National QR Code StandardIn Ethiopia QR Code transactions have been confined to specific bank accounts or wallets, resulting in a fragmented system and hindering wider adoption. The new interoperable QR codes leverage a standardized format, enabling them to function seamlessly with any participating payment app. Read More.

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Why Banks Should Eliminate Charges for Technology Services In an opinion piece on Addis Standard, Demessie Girma, a technologist specializing in digital transformations, advocates for Ethiopian banks to eliminate charges to customers for technology-based services such as ATMs and online banking platforms.His central argument is that these digital services effectively offset substantial human resource costs for financial institutions, hence customers should not bear additional fees to access them. Read More.

An Overview of Ethiopia’s First Digital Education StrategyThe five-year strategy and implementation plan aims to tackle long-standing challenges in access, equity, and quality of education through the strategic integration of technology. Read More.

Ethiopian Investment Firms form Alliance to Connect Local Startups with Global Investors Five Ethiopian investment firms have come together to establish the Madeg Partnership, which aims to source investment opportunities on behalf of a Japanese venture capital (VC) firm. Read More.

Childhood Mechanic Turns Entrepreneur Manufacturing Eco-friendly Brake Pads Researchers worldwide are actively exploring the use of industrial and agricultural waste for brake pad production. Behailu Seboka, co-founder of Askema Engineering, has navigated his own path and is producing eco-friendly brake pads made from crushed bones. Read More.

Here is what we've been reading:

The startup offering free toilets and coffee for delivery workers — in exchange for their dataNigeria leads in musical hits; South Africa rakes in streaming cashGoogle looks to AI paywall option, claims reportIf you are here because someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here to get future newsletters.