Spotlight Ethio Digital Magazine: Issue 2 : simplebooklet.com

INSIDESPOTLIGHT ETHIOVOLUME1 ISSUE 2CONTENTS03STACKSHARE: A COMMUNITY OF +1 MILLION DEVELOPERSpg. 03 SPOTLIGHTETHIO.COMINSIDEA secret weapon for start-up developers and tech leaders.TRADING CRYPTO IN ETHIOPIABinance users in Ethiopia can now buy and sell crypto using Birr..Check out the details here.pg. 04HOTEL PICKSpg. 05pg. 06ETHIOPIA’S 3-TRILLION BIRR DIGITAL ECONOMYDigital economic activity in Ethiopia is expected to increase nine-fold by 2025. See which sectors will take the lead.pg. 07SELF-DEVELOPMENT GUIDE: NETWORKINGThe chances of successfully building your network lies in when you’re going to start one. Take this time to start building now using these tips. pg. 08DINING PICKSThe first audio streaming platform for Ethiopian podcasts and audiobooks.TERAKI APP: DIGITAL AUDIO PIONEERSpg. 09Ethiopia’s bonds are the best-performing sovereign debt in emerging markets this year.BOND MARKET RALLYpg. 10pg. 11COLLATERAL-FREE DIGITAL LENDINGMeet Michu, Ethiopia's first digital lending platform that provides loans without collateral.Our selection of Top 5 Leaders and the results they produced within their business ventures.BUSINESS LEADERSpg. 12FEATURE STORY: MAHLET “MAFI” AFEWORKpg. 13pg. 15A selection of four trailblazers across the African continent.AROUND AFRICApg. 16EVENTS TO WATCHpg. 17ACHIEVERSOur selection of Top 5 Achiever’s in their respective fields.pg. 18DIAMOND CLASSpg. 20CONTACTMAY 2022

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10STARTUP STORYStackShare is becoming a go-to platform for numerous players in the startup ecosystem. Founded by Yonas Beshawred, StackShare is a community-driven platform that let’s you see all the best Open Source, Software as a Service (SaaS), and Developer Tools in one place, ranked by developers and companies using them. Even major companies such as Air BnB, Dropbox and Spotify are allowing their developers to publicly share what software they use and how they use them, through the StackShare platform.As the fastest growing community for SaaS tools, over 1 million developers, engineers, CTOs, and VPEs regularly use the platform to make tech decisions and discover the best software tools.Yonas had the idea for StackShare after working in IT strategy consulting at Accenture. The job gave him insight into how large companies made decisions about technology and software and he felt the process could be improved for large and small companies as well as start-ups with a professional directory for developers.Initially starting as a side project on a WordPress blog, StackShare has now managed to raise $7 million from firms including 500 Startups.STACKSHARE: A COMMUNITY OF + 1 MILLION DEVELOPERS 03 SPOTLIGHTETHIO.COMMAY 2022

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12INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITYBinance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume, recently announced that users in Ethiopia can now purchase and sell crypto using Ethiopian Birr, with no fees via BinanceP2P and other payment methods.Users can use the Binance platform to trade cryptos, as well as receive or send payments through TeleBirr, CBE, Abyssinia, Dashen, and Awash bank.Binance is the leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, processing more than $1 billion on a daily basis. With one of the largest crypto offerings, global presence, and platform offerings, the exchange is a global leader in the crypto space. Peer-to-peer exchange (or P2P exchange) is a marketplace where people can trade crypto directly with each other on their own terms, in virtually any country. Here, investors and traders can buy and sell with other users across the Binance network.TRADING CRYPTO IN ETHIOPIA WITH BINANCE P2P 04 SPOTLIGHTETHIO.COMMAY 2022

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ECONOMIC UPDATE The market size of digitally transacted economic activity in Ethiopia will show a nine-fold increase by 2025, reaching just above Birr 3 trillion (roughly $58 billion USD) or 39% of GDP, according to Cepheus.Given initial starting positions in 2020, the largest growth areas are expected to be in e-commerce (17x increase in the next five years), digital finance (11x), digital media (8x), delivery services (6x), software/BPO services (4x), and e-classifieds (4x).However, the largest revenue pools will likely remain within digital finance and telecom services, followed by marketplace platforms, transportation, and digital media. Several companies in the digital finance, ride-hailing, and digital media space could see Birr 1bn valuations in a few years’ time, by their estimates.07ETHIOPIA’S DIGITAL ECONOMY TO REACH 3 TRILLION BIRR BY 2025 06 SPOTLIGHTETHIO.COMThese figures take into account multiple and mutually reinforcing drivers of digital growth and adoption over the coming years: low initial starting positions (unpenetrated markets in most areas), strong macro drivers (good growth, rising incomes), improving infrastructure (being enhanced with new entrant/investments), and a notably improving funding infrastructure.MAY 2022

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SELF-DEVELOPMENT TOOLS08Spending ample time with like-minded people from time to time is beneficial for your development and growth. The more you build your network, the more immersed and dynamic you can become in your community, company, or organization.Importance of Networking in Self DevelopmentBuilding relationships, however, is just the beginning of what networking could do in your life. It offers a myriad of benefits that can impact your life in different aspects, such as health, wellness, and productivity.1. Build ConfidenceNeedless to say, networking is the most effective way of building your confidence since you will practice meeting and communicating with people from outside your circle.2. Improve Social InteractionThe confidence you’ve built as you continually practice networking will help you improve your capacity for social interaction and refine your social skills. Over time, you’ll notice the significant changes in how you communicate, relate, and cooperate with other people around you in your professional and personal life.3. Impacts Your PerspectiveAs you seek new interactions and listen to others with an open mind, you’ll find opportunities to learn from people's ideas, insights, and outlooks. Some conversations can provide a wealth of knowledge and information that can help you gain a new perspective or even navigate your own life.How to Effectively NetworkHere are some practical and easy ways to develop a solid network connection.1. Make a List of Your ConnectionsIn making a list, keep in mind that you only need to create two major lists of connections. The first will be the people you already have in your circle or those you’ve met before. Meanwhile, the other list will be the people you want to become part of your circle.2. Strategize Your ApproachReview the lists you created and try to determine what kind of approach you’re going to make. If possible, try to check the background, hobbies, or interests of those people you’ll meet. Make it organic and intentional.3. Improve Your StrategyOf course, your strategy might not be practical every time. That’s why you need to regularly check and assess for areas of improvement. Networking is a process. Sometimes it takes time to develop.4. Follow UpThere’s no better way to show your interest and sincerity in being relational than calling or messaging the person you engage with after a couple of days or weeks. That way, you’re solidifying your newly built relationship.Start Building NowThe chances of successfully building your network lies in when you’re going to start one. Take this time to start building. There’s no better opportunity than starting everything today. Bear in mind that you are made not to walk alone but to walk with someone with the same values as yours. 07 SPOTLIGHTETHIO.COMBUILDING A STRONG NETWORK 101MAY 2022

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT08La Nouvelle Cafe & RestaurantGusto Restaurante & Fine DiningBole behind Millenium Hall, next to Ambassador Hotel, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThis modern and trendy restaurant is known for its pleasant ambiance and international dishes, cocktails and brunch specialties.Tracon Tower, Third Floor, Churchill Ave, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThis upscale restaurant impeccably presents Mediterranean cuisine with a touch of French and Italian delicacy. The fine menu is prepared by culinary award-winning Chef Gari Abdel.Bole Medhaniyalem Area, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaGet a glimpse of Ethiopia, with historical paintings on the wall and traditional dance performances from around the country all week long. The food, too, is some of the best traditional meals with a wide variety of plates to choose from. Yod Abyssinia Cultural RestaurantSar Beyt and Kerra, Worke's Promise Building Complex, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaFrequented by the Ethiopian diaspora and expats, this iconic, American-style restaurant tops all other places when it comes to burgers and sandwiches in Addis Ababa.SishuDINING PICKS

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STARTUP STORY04The app has a growing list of hundreds of audiobooks and podcasts, with more being added on a daily basis. Users can subscribe, directly purchase or listen to their favorite audio content for free. Additionally, its production arm, Teraki Studios, connects authors and content creators with professional narrators and publishers and rights holders to create audiobooks and podcasts.Teraki was founded by Nahom Tsegay and Abel Engida. Teraki is Ethiopia’s first audio streaming platform that produces, streams and distributes original Ethiopian audio content. The app enables users to have and discover Ethiopian/Eritrean audiobooks, podcasts and radio shows anytime, anywhere.No matter what your preference, Teraki aims to cater to everyone by offering content in different genres and languages. It’s the only app that brings interactive and entertaining content for the Ethiopian and East African Diaspora Community, for the young generation, adults, children and visually impaired. TERAKI : ETHIOPIA’S DIGITAL AUDIO PIONEERS 09 SPOTLIGHTETHIO.COMMAY 2022

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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY 11CoopBank (Cooperative Bank of Oromia) and Kifiya Financial Technologies recently signed an agreement to launch Michu, Ethiopia's first digital lending platform that provides loans without collateral.Michu will enable Micro, Small and Medium businesses (MSMEs) in Ethiopia to access loans of up to 150,000 Birr with a repayment period of up to one year. Meanwhile, microenterprises can access loans of up to 30,000 Birr with a repayment period of one to four months. The uncollateralized digital lending platform is expected to increase CoopBank's loan portfolio by 30% during the pilot period.The Michu platform is powered by Kifiya's Qena, an AI driven digital lending solution that provides cutting-edge credit-score ratings easily and swiftly. Typically, financial institutions in Ethiopia place high requirements for loan MSME loans, partly due to a lack of credible credit rating. THE FIRST COLLATERAL-FREE DIGITAL LENDING PLATFORM SPOTLIGHTETHIO.COMWith Michu, users can apply for loans and receive a decision based on credit scoring logic. The loan application process, from eligibility and verification to analysis, scoring and loan disbursement is completed within a few minutes.MAY 2022

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12TOP LEADERSTOP LEADERSANNA GETANEHAnna Getaneh is a fashion-cultural enthusiast, designer, humanitarian and acclaimed former international model. As the founder and creative director of African Mosaique Design Center and Manufacturing Hub, Anna promotes her vision to unlock Africa’s potential in the fashion industry with a focus on three elements: sourcing, manufacturing and developing talent in the continent. “Today, there is awareness of the huge potential for economic growth if we invest correctly in the fashion industry.”“If you know what you’re doing and you trust your knowledge then you can push past the naysayers and get past the no’s”.YOADAN TILAHUNYoadan Tilahun is the Founder and CEO of Flawless Events, a leading corporate event planning firm that hosts many of the most successful events in Ethiopia and across Africa. Their client base includes household brands like Coca Cola, IBM and Google as well as front-runners in global development such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, UNDP and the World Bank.MARCUS SAMUELSSONMarcus Samuelsson is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, author, philanthropist, and food activist. As one of the most famous chefs in the world, Marcus wears many hats: an entrepreneur and culinary media star with a long list of TV and book credits as well as ownership of a global hospitality group that includes 12 restaurants worldwide. He was the guest chef for President Obama’s first state dinner and has won multiple James Beard Foundation awards for his work.FELEG TESFAYEFeleg Tesfaye is the founder and CEO of Deliver Addis, the first and leading online food delivery service in Ethiopia, which has revolutionized the eCommerce and delivery industry in the country. Beginning with just himself and one driver as the only employees, Feleg managed to grow his company’s daily deliveries by over 630% since receiving its initial investment.“The private sector is increasingly playing a significant role in the development of infrastructure projects in Africa more than any other time and it’s exciting to build something that impacts people’s lives positively.”MIMI ALEMAYEHUMimi Alemayehou's extensive career spans both the public and private sectors across emerging markets, and includes a recent appointment as an Independent Director alongside Twitter's Board of Directors. Additionally, she currently serves as Senior Vice President for Public-Private Partnerships at Mastercard. “The more data you have, the more trust you’re probably going to build with you investors...they give you a real track record of what the experience was like and what people say.”“Given the vast scope of opportunities in the tech/eCommerce industry, I think we are just beginning to tap into something remarkable.”AFRICAN MOSAIQUEFLAWLESS EVENTSWORLD ACCLAIMED CHEFDELIVER ADDISSVP, MASTERCARD INC. SPOTLIGHTETHIO.COMMAY 2022

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13MAHLET “MAFI” AFEWORK:Fashion Pioneer, Social Entrepreneur and Leader “Fashion is big business. It's a multi-trillion dollar global industry that involves a lot of people and creates a lot of jobs across the fashion supply chain. In Ethiopia, where poverty is still prevalent, fashion has huge potential for economic growth and development. Unfortunately, Ethiopia’s fashion industry is still small, and industrial growth is focused more on manufacturing for global fashion giants,” says Mahlet Afework in an exclusive interview with Spotlight Ethio. However, Mahlet—affectionately known as Mafi—believes that Ethiopians and Africans in general, have the capacity and talent to bring something new and authentic to the fashion conversation, while creating millions of jobs in the process. And needless to say, Mafi has accomplished that and much more. As one of Africa's top designers and the Founder and Creative Director of MAFI MAFI, a sustainable fashion brand that blends the richness of ancient Ethiopian heritage with ready-to-wear clothing, Mafi has successfully put Ethiopian fashion on the global map. Established in 2011, the contemporary brand has gained international acclaim for its cutting-edge designs, winning several awards and showcasing its work at the Addis, Paris, New York, Berlin, Milan and Porto runways. Recently, it was also among the six finalists of the 2021 Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge.Mafi, being the fashion pioneer and self-made entrepreneur she is today, credits being inspired as a child by her seamstress mother’s artistic craft and natural entrepreneurial spirit. As a teenager, Mafi was an emerging rapper in Addis Ababa’s underground hip hop scene. There, she began designing clothes for music videos since urban streetwear wasn’t as prevalent in the Ethiopian fashion market at the time. It wasn’t long until MAFI MAFI was born, and as the business flourished, she decided to forgo nursing school to pursue fashion seriously.As a creative person, Mafi tries to make her everyday life a source of inspiration for creativity—whether its listening to music, going to art galleries, being around creative people, or spending alone time with nature. Exploring Ethiopia has inspired her tell stories through fashion; each MAFI MAFI collection reflects the patterns and styles of an Ethiopian ethnic tribe. SPOTLIGHTETHIO.COMAn Exclusive Interview with Spotlight EthioMAY 2022

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Growth and Staying True to the CultureDespite being guided by different American and European organizations that put MAFI MAFI on huge platforms, Mafi is more determined than ever to build a brand that caters to an authentic African lifestyle rather than fitting into western ideals. “Now that I have the financial backing to dream freely, I have realized that I want to focus on expanding the brand in African markets and local economies. I want to create a global brand with an African home.” According to Mafi, the most successful African fashion brands stay true to the culture while also considering the modern consumer, a concept she calls “futurizing heritage”.With MAFI MAFI’s success over the years, expanding production capacity has presented new management obstacles—and Mafi candidly admitted that balancing different roles is still a challenge. Through the support and guidance of businesswomen she met through various business associations, alongside taking short business courses, Mafi learned an important strategy: how to delegate tasks effectively. Although her brand has grown to employ over 50 full-time staff and 25 weavers and seamstresses, restructuring her company has allowed her to focus on overseeing the business and the design process.Empowering Marginalized WomenAnother important cornerstone in the MAFI MAFI brand is supporting marginalized women in Ethiopia. "Impacting women like my mother has always been my intention as a businesswoman. Women operating in Ethiopia’s male-dominated informal textile weaving trade are commissioned less, paid less, and often forced into exploitative and low paying contracts with merchants." MAFI MAFI’s ultimate goal is to empower women by providing employment opportunities and personal development programs, lifting hundreds of marginalized African women out of poverty. In fact, 90% of the company’s employees and artisan weavers are women. “I try to make my everyday life a source of inspiration.”“I think the most successful African fashion houses have a similar outlook to fashion; we offer authenticity and stay true to our culture while also thinking about the modern fashion consumer. I call it ‘futurizing heritage’; preserving and honoring Ethiopia’s rich history of textile design by making it accessible for daily wear.”Advice for Youth on Building a BrandTo become the leader and entrepreneur that Mafi is today, she revealed the top three skills that helped along the way: vision, passion and faith. “When I started this journey, people were very critical of my idea of marrying ancient tradition with modern aesthetics.14FEATURE STORYI trusted my vision, and now we are here. I have so much more faith for the future, and that drives me to keep going.” She also offered a piece of advice for youth who aim to build a brand or business of their own: stay focused, learn and just do it. “If possible, go to school for your passion. But if school is not accessible, dedicate yourself to doing your research and having a strong foundation. Knowledge is power, and of course it needs to be applied." After all, Mafi relied on Google and YouTube before formally establishing her brand. Ending the interview, Mafi reflected on the impact she hopes to have on the world, as someone who was “kind, loving, and understanding loving, and understanding and left everything a tiny bit better than it was before me.” SPOTLIGHTETHIO.COMRead the full interview at www.SpotlightEthio.com MAY 2022

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AROUND AFRICA15Olugbenga GB AgboolaAdaora Mbelu-DaniaOlugbenga is the co-founder and CEO of Flutterwave, a Nigerian fintech company that builds payments infrastructure to connect Africa to the global economy. As one of the top fundraisers in 2021, the startup secured $170 million in equity funding during a Series C funding round. As the founder of A2 Creative, a thriving brand management company, Adaora’s track record includes being behind Guinness’ recent new product launch in its second largest market, Nigeria.Berita Khumalo is a Zimbabwe-born musician, who founded Women of Music Business. In a partnership with Sony Music Africa, the Wits Business School, and the Southern Africa Trust, Women of Music Business is training female artists, creators and managers in financial management, philanthropy and social investment. Berita KhumaloPeter is the co-founder and CEO of Twiga Foods. Since 2014, Twiga Foods has been using technology to build supply chains in food and retail distribution on the continent, starting with Kenya. After raising an impressive $50 million last year, the company is aiming for a valuation of $1 billion within the next five years.Peter NjonjoAROUND AFRICA

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BOARDWALK EVELeadership Club 2022: Exploring Global MarketingThis free seminar and training is for export businesses in Ethiopia that desire to expand globally. The seminar will touch on basic ingredients for a successful global business and the event will include an Introduction, Business Sessions, a Testimonial by a Start-Up, Speech by a successful global trader, a presentation by a brand specialist and more. It will take place at the Ambassador Hotel on May 21, 2022.AddisBuild: International Building and Construction Industry Trade ShowAddisBuild is the longest standing construction event in East Africa. Due to the regular increase in exhibitor and visitor numbers, it has a lot to offer for networking and finding business leads. Being just right in the action, it has always been the primary choice of international companies seeking to make business in Ethiopia.The annual trade show will take place from May 26 to 28, 2022 at Millenium Hall in Addis Ababa.International Medical Trade Fair Held at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Center from May 12 to 16, 2022, the International Medical Trade Fair aims to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in the medical sector, facilitate the exchange of experiences and information among the medical business community, set up B2B relationships between international and local medical companies, link together Medical Technology, Pharmaceutical Industry, and create for buyer-seller meetings to enhance immediate trading opportunities.How to make your accelerator/incubator programs gender-smartThis interactive workshop will take place on April 28, 2022 at the ADORE Addis, where it aims to tackle the challenge at hand. Together, accelerators and incubators will explore the topic of gender, and how you can play a role in creating a more inclusive environment for entrepreneurs. This training is specifically made for accelerators and incubators, and adapted to the context in Ethiopia.16BOARDWALK AVE SPOTLIGHTETHIO.COMMAY 2022

Spotlight Ethio Digital Magazine: Issue 2

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