Future Champions

Ethiopia: Iceaddis, Mastercard Foundation partner on e-commerce start-ups

By David Whitehouse

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Posted on April 28, 2023 04:00

© Ethio Telecom employees stand next to a billboard during the launch of the 5G Internet service in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri — Ethio Telecom employees stand next to a billboard during the launch of the 5G Internet service in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

Start-up incubator Iceaddis has partnered with Mastercard Foundation and the Ethiopian ministry of innovation and technology to back start-ups in the country.

The agreement makes $4m in funding from Mastercard Foundation available to early stage start-ups over the next five years, Iceaddis CEO Markus Lemma tells The Africa Report. ICE stands for Innovation, Collaboration and Entrepreneurship.

The government in 2020 launched its 2025 digital transformation strategy, which makes digital identity, digital payments, e-governance, e-commerce and cybersecurity priorities.

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