Startup Story

Selam Wondim Gebremedhin is the founder of Gomida Solutions in Ethiopia, a gamified super-platform that seamlessly integrates gaming, brand engagement, and interactive experiences. The business, launched in 2024 and creating jobs for 11 people, develops hyper-casual games that entertain, educate, and reward players while providing brands, influencers, and developers with innovative ways to engage and grow their audiences. The platform transforms gameplay into impact—enabling users to play, learn, and earn within familiar social media and messaging ecosystems, eliminating the need for additional downloads.

LoA spoke to the enterprising founder, Selam Wondim Gebremedhin, about her entrepreneurial journey, her passion for business, and her hopes for the future.

What does your company do?

Gomida Solutions is a gamified super-platform that seamlessly integrates gaming, brand engagement, and interactive experiences. We develop hyper-casual games that entertain, educate, and reward players while providing brands, influencers, and developers with innovative ways to engage and grow their audiences. Our platform transforms gameplay into impact—enabling users to play, learn, and earn within familiar social media and messaging ecosystems, eliminating the need for additional downloads.

What inspired you to start your company?

Gomida Solutions was inspired by the idea that gaming can be more than just entertainment—it can be a tool for engagement, education, and opportunity. We saw how brands, influencers, and developers struggled to reach and retain audiences in meaningful ways, and how users rarely benefited from their time spent online.

By combining gamification with real-world impact, we built a platform that bridges the gap—where users can play, learn, and earn, while brands and developers gain deeper engagement without the barriers of traditional apps. Our mission is to connect the dots between gaming, business, and community, creating an ecosystem where everyone wins.

“I transitioned from agritech to gaming, recognizing the untapped potential of digital entertainment in Africa. This led to the creation of Gomida Solutions, where I now focus on building a gaming ecosystem that integrates play-to-earn, brand partnerships, and community engagement.”

What makes your business, service or product special?

What makes Gomida Solutions special is its ability to seamlessly integrate gaming, brand engagement, and real-world rewards into a single, gamified super-platform—all without requiring users to download new apps.

Key Differentiators:
1. Embedded in Existing Platforms – We operate within social media and messaging apps, making access instant and frictionless.
2. Play, Learn, Earn – Our platform rewards users while providing brands and developers with new, interactive ways to engage audiences.
3. Scalable & Adaptable – Our gamification model works for brands, influencers, and businesses, creating custom experiences that drive growth.
4. No Traditional Barriers – Unlike many gaming platforms, we remove the need for downloads, complex onboarding, or high costs, making participation easy.

At Gomida Solutions, we’re not just building games—we’re building an ecosystem where entertainment drives engagement, education, and opportunity.

Tell us a little about your team

At Gomida Solutions, we are a passionate and dynamic team committed to building a gamified super-platform that transforms engagement into opportunity.

I am the Founder and CEO, leading the vision and strategy of the company, alongside my two co-founders who specialize in software and technology, ensuring seamless development and execution. Together, we are a team of three, supported by a talented group of senior and junior developers working to build and optimize our platform.

Beyond our core team, we collaborate with strategic partners, integrating different pillars of our company to ensure our solutions are scalable, impactful, and future-ready.

What sets us apart is our energy, passion, and commitment—not just to technology, but to creating real impact. We believe in empowerment, engagement, and connecting the dots—bringing together brands, influencers, developers, and users in a way that benefits everyone. With diverse skills, experience, and a shared vision, we are building an ecosystem where entertainment drives meaningful connections and opportunities.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

I have always been entrepreneurial at heart. From a young age, I was drawn to problem-solving and creating solutions, constantly looking for ways to connect opportunities and turn ideas into something bigger. Even before graduating, I was involved in multiple business ventures, always seeking ways to be financially independent and build something of my own.

I wouldn’t say I come from a traditional entrepreneurial background, but I was always resourceful and driven to create. My studies in Marketing Management helped shape my strategic thinking, but my real entrepreneurial journey started when I joined BlueMoon, an agritech incubation hub. That experience introduced me to the startup ecosystem, where I co-founded a company focused on urban farming solutions.

Over time, I transitioned from agritech to gaming, recognizing the untapped potential of digital entertainment in Africa. This led to the creation of Gomida Solutions, where I now focus on building a gaming ecosystem that integrates play-to-earn, brand partnerships, and community engagement.

“The biggest satisfaction I get as an entrepreneur is creating something from nothing—seeing an idea turn into a real, impactful business. There’s a unique thrill in identifying a problem, connecting the dots, and building a solution that people actually use and benefit from.”

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

My vision for Gomida Solutions is to revolutionize the gaming industry in Africa and the Middle East by building a vibrant, sustainable gaming ecosystem that goes beyond entertainment. We focus on skill-based, hyper-casual games, deliberately avoiding gambling, betting, and other models that don’t align with our values. There is a huge potential in the Middle East, where demand for ethical, skill-driven gaming experiences is growing.

In the near future, my focus is on:
1. Scaling House of Chewata – Expanding our play-to-earn gaming platform to reach millions of users across Africa and the Middle East, making gaming more accessible, rewarding, and engaging.
2. Supporting Game Developers – Creating a hub for African and Middle Eastern game developers to publish, monetize, and distribute their games through our platform.
3. Web3 & Tokenization – Exploring blockchain technology to integrate digital currencies and NFT-based gaming rewards, enabling a decentralized gaming economy.
4. Brand Partnerships & Gamification – Helping brands leverage gaming as a marketing and engagement tool, creating interactive and rewarding experiences for users.
5. Expanding Our Gaming Hackathons – Encouraging more game developers to tackle real-world challenges through gamification, ensuring gaming is not just for fun but also for impact and education.

In the long run, I aspire to make Gomida Solutions the leading gaming and digital engagement platform across Africa and the Middle East, bridging technology, entertainment, and financial empowerment.

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

The biggest satisfaction I get as an entrepreneur is creating something from nothing—seeing an idea turn into a real, impactful business. There’s a unique thrill in identifying a problem, connecting the dots, and building a solution that people actually use and benefit from.

I love the freedom and creativity that come with entrepreneurship. It allows me to innovate, take risks, and explore new opportunities without limitations. I also find great fulfillment in mentoring and empowering others, whether it’s helping small businesses grow, guiding young entrepreneurs, or supporting game developers in bringing their ideas to life.

Most of all, impact matters to me. Knowing that my work is changing lives, creating jobs, and shaping industries—whether in agritech, gaming, or digital engagement—drives me forward. Every milestone, every challenge overcome, and every success story from my platform gives me the motivation to keep pushing boundaries.

What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?

The biggest piece of advice I can give to women looking to start their own business is to just start. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, perfect plan, or perfect funding—start with what you have, where you are, and learn as you go.

Women often feel they need to be 100% ready before they take a step, but the truth is, entrepreneurship is about execution, not perfection. Test your idea, get real feedback, and refine it along the way.

Also, be bold and take up space. The business world can be challenging, but you deserve to be here. Speak up, trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid to take risks.

Another key point is networking. In the business world, many deals happen in spaces that are not always accessible or comfortable for women, like late-night gatherings, bars, and exclusive social circles. As women, we need to create our own networking spaces—places where we feel safe, comfortable, and empowered to collaborate and support each other. We need stronger networks that work for us, where real business conversations and opportunities can happen in an environment that aligns with our values and lifestyles.

Finally, build a strong support system. Surround yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs, mentors, and supporters who will push you forward. Collaboration is powerful, and the right connections can open doors you never expected.

Above all, believe in yourself. You have the vision, resilience, and capability to succeed—so take that first step and own your journey.

Find out more

Email: selam.wondim.g@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15cdyvW5si/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Twitter: https://x.com/houseofchewata_?s=11&t=4WwEkHbpbzPn5ZRUvVNvuQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofchewata/profilecard/?igsh=MXZ3bnE2eWFxYWQ4Ng==

Pinterest: https://t.me/houseofchewataBot

LinkedIn: Selam Wondim

Why LoA loves it….

Serial entrepreneurs know that to build a business that is geared for success, you have to find the gap, find the market, find the product to fill the need. For Selam Wondim Gebremedhin, she saw a gap in the digital entertainment market in Africa, and is now building a business that seamlessly integrates gaming, brand engagement, and interactive experiences. A serial entrepreneur to watch over the coming years. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa