Issue 185: Fuel Foray

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In the past week, Oromia Bank has launched a digital fuel payment system dubbed MILKII, while DSTV faces mounting backlash from its Ethiopian users over rising costs and poor service. Meanwhile Kenya is seeking to increase electricity imports from Ethiopia to meet growing demand while Yango signs an EV ownership deal for drivers.

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Oromia Bank has introduced a new digital fuel payment system aimed at streamlining fuel purchases and promoting the use of cashless transactions across Ethiopia. Read more.

A left-out Champions League broadcast became the breaking point for many Ethiopian DSTV subscribers, triggering backlash over rising costs, content limitations, and unanswered service complaints. Read more.  

Kenya is negotiating an increase in electricity imports from Ethiopia by 50 to 100 megawatts (MW) to address rising domestic demand and avoid potential power rationing, officials at Kenya Power said on Thursday. Read more.

A new DARS and Ethio Post partnership is reshaping document services in Addis Ababa, cutting out intermediaries who have established businesses providing contract drafting services to DARS customers. Read more. 

Have you ever come across global or continental startup reports on Ethiopia, only to find that the numbers and insights just don’t quite add up?

Often, the reported funding amounts for Ethiopia fail to reflect the true capital flowing into businesses and lack the nuance needed to capture what’s really happening on the ground.

The consequences go far beyond underreporting investments; they risk deterring potential investors by portraying the Ethiopian startup ecosystem as stagnant, ultimately undermining investor confidence and limiting future capital inflows.

At Shega, we’re working to change that.

We are producing a flagship report that captures a more accurate and detailed picture of Ethiopia’s startup investment landscape, among other critical aspects.

And we need your help.

To ensure we don't miss any important deals, we’re inviting innovative business and startup owners/investors to participate in our survey.

Your input is critical to shaping a report that truly represents Ethiopia’s innovation and entrepreneurship scene.

All responses will remain confidential and will only be shared with your consent.

👉 [Take the Survey]

Thank you for helping us create a stronger, more connected ecosystem.

A landmark piece of legislation that could allow foreigners to own real estate in Ethiopia has received unanimous approval from the Council of Ministers. Read more.

Can you rent software in Ethiopia? Yonet Systems, a local software startup, looks to introduce a SaaS model starting at just 5,000 birr/month, built for Ethiopian SMEs. Read more

Over the past three years, over a dozen digital lending platforms have entered the market in Ethiopia. However, their portfolios have largely remained unchanged, with only a few exceptions.

Credit caps have stagnated at the levels set during their initial launch, and most digital lending products are tailored for personal use or salaried employees.

Now, a bold shift is underway, led by a new bank that emerged from a micro-finance institution. Last week, Siinqee Bank and Ethio telecom launched a range of digital financial services through telebirr, offering personal loans of up to 30,000 birr, non-collateral business loans of up to 130,000 birr, and collateral-backed loans reaching as high as 2 million birr.

In addition, the device financing service, which includes the provision of SIM cards alongside smartphone financing, is one of the new offerings launched by the two partners.

Yango Ethiopia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amigos Saving & Credit Cooperative Society to support its partner drivers in purchasing electric vehicles (EVs). Read more.

Save the Children readies for second round of applications for its $1 million accelerator program supporting up to seven innovative solutions from Ethiopia and Nigeria targeting 'Zero Dose' children. Read more.

Askari Metals has acquired 100pc of Rift Valley Metals, gaining five gold exploration licences covering 460sqkm in Ethiopia’s Adola Greenstone Belt, part of the southern Arabian-Nubian Shield, a mineral-rich but underexplored region. Read more.  

Ethiopian Tech Startups: Secure $100K Pre-Seed Funding and Mentorship with Blaq Ventures

Win Up to €150K: Apply for the 2025 Digital Energy Challenge

Apply Now: UNICEF Offers $100K Equity-Free Funding for FemTech Startups