Issue 138: 130 Million & Counting

Hello

We recently discovered a malfunction on our platform that prevented around a quarter of our subscribers from receiving Shega Weekly for the past few editions. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.The issue has been fixed, so if you're one of those affected subscribers and are now seeing Shega Weekly in your inbox, please know we haven't gone anywhere!We're committed to keeping you informed. Let’s dive into the latest updates from Ethiopia’s innovative ecosystem from the past weekIf you are here because someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here to get future newsletters.

UN: Ethiopia's Population Reaches 129.7 MillionThe United Nations Population Fund has announced that the population of Ethiopia has reached 129.7 million in 2024 and will double in 28 years. Read More.

Ethiopia Cuts Costs with Local Aerial Survey Partnership 

The Space Science and Geospatial Institute has partnered with National Airways, a private airline based in Addis Ababa, to capture aerial images using local planes, saving millions of birr annually. Read More.

R&D Group Scales Business Support with New Platform 

R&D Group, a veteran outsourcing and enterprise development organization, has developed a new digital support hub called SHARE, targeting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Read More.

The History of Ride-Hailing in EthiopiaReqiq Insights, an Addis Ababa-based data visualization firm, covered the evolution of ride-hailing services in Ethiopia in its latest article and visualization. Read More.

New App Dire MFI Brings Non-Collateral Loans to Eastern EthiopiaMobile money service provider Kacha Digital Financial Services and Dire Microfinance Institution have partnered to launch Dire MFI, a digital saving and lending platform that enables residents of the eastern region to access two types of non-collateral loans. Read More.

Addis Ababa’s Vital Registration Embraces TelebirrThe Addis Ababa Civil Registration & Residency Service Agency (CRRSA) is transitioning to a cashless system accepting payments only through telebirr starting next year. Read More.

Safaricom, Gebeya to Train Ethiopian University Students Offering PerksSafaricom, in partnership with Gebeya Inc., has announced the launch of the Safaricom Talent Cloud, a platform designed to empower tech professionals and entrepreneurs in Ethiopia. Read More.

Addis Ababa’s Startup Ecosystem Climbs to 10th in Africa: StartupBlinkThe startup ecosystem in Addis Ababa has grown “considerably”, rising to 10th place in Africa in this year's Global Startup Ecosystem Index by StartupBlink. Read More.

Here is what we've been reading:

Ultra-cheap meals from China’s delivery giant are hugely popular. Drivers are bearing the costsNigerian fintech startups could spend over $1 million on KYC address verificationNvidia overtakes Apple to become world’s second-most valuable companyIf you are here because someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here to get future newsletters.