Mekdes Mesfin, a proudly Ethiopian fashion designer and manufacturer

May 11, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Demii Design, an Ethiopian clothing design and manufacturing business creating beautiful, high quality cotton garments

Mekdes Mesfin's story begins in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she was born and raised. Today, she stands as the founder and ceo of Demii Design, a clothing line that represents a significant chapter on her entrepreneurial journey, which also includes her involvement in two other ventures within the fashion sector. While her academic background is rooted in civil engineering and business management, disciplines she pursued at university, Ms. Mesfin's professional path diverged from the conventional corporate trajectory those degrees might suggest. She launched the business during the Covid pandemic in 2019.

Samrawit Fikru, a visionary leader in transport transformation

March 16, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Hybrid Designs PLC (RIDE), a revolutionary business redefining urban transportation in Ethiopia

Samrawit Fikru is the visionary co-founder and ceo of RIDE Transport Ethiopia, Ethiopia’s electronic-transport unicorn startup. With more than a decade of transformative leadership in the mobility sector, she pioneered RIDE 11 years ago to redefine urban transportation through safe, reliable, and tech-driven solutions. Under her stewardship, RIDE has grown into a workforce of 400+ professionals and serves as a catalyst for regional connectivity, bridging gaps across Africa’s evolving transport landscape. Recognized among BBC’s 100 Women and WeAreTech.Africa’s 100 Global Tech Changemakers, Samrawit, combines strategic innovation with a steadfast commitment to economic empowerment, creating scalable opportunities for drivers and communities alike. Her forward-thinking approach continues to position RIDE at the forefront of Africa’s digital transportation revolution.

Selam Wondim Gebremedhin, a serial entrepreneur building a tech business that turns gaming into more than entertainment

March 2, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Selam Wondim Gebremedhin, founder, Gomida Solutions (Ethiopia)

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.

Genet Kebede, a pioneering Ethiopian fashion & textile brand builder

October 6, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Paradise Fashion, a business celebrating Ethiopia’s proud hand-woven textile heritage and creating sustainable employment for local craftspeople

Genet Kebede, founder of Paradise Fashion, was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From a young age, she loved fashion and the rich Ethiopian textiles she found in her own culture, yet she appreciated the inspiration coming from other countries and specifically the rich design heritage of Italy. In pursuit of her dreams, she took the opportunity to study fashion design and garment construction in Italy and then Argentina. However, Genet always knew she would return to her home. Living through the significant political disruptions that led to near famine for much of Ethiopia during her childhood, she believed she had an opportunity to contribute to her country. She wanted to help the many people, particularly women, she saw in difficult circumstances in her city. She also wanted to share the beauty of her country’s rich weaving traditions with the world.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Pan-African lifestyle brand, Afropian, launches its exciting new website

March 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

In March 2023, Afropian, the Pan-african lifestyle brand founded by Ethiopean entrepreneur Hortense Mbea, is launching its brand new website which is a window into everything Afropian: products, processes, artisans, and stories. The business is focused on showcasing 100%, proudly hand-made in Africa clothing, fashion accessories and home decor. The mission is to make you Wear Africa Proudly!

Ararat Tamirat, an Ethiopian ethical lifestyle brand-builder creating jobs

October 30, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Tuba by Ararat, an ethical Ethiopian lifestyle brand, specializing in hand-woven basket-ware for home accessories and textiles.

Ararat Tamirat is an architect and basket weaver, and the founder and ceo of Tuba by Ararat in Ethiopia. She established her business in April 2020, but has already won recognition by the Female in Business Acceleration Program 2022. The focus of the business is on improving the lives of the local women by using their skills and establishing a viable, high quality basket production industry in Ethiopia. Ararat has already created sustainable job opportunities for almost 40 women in rural areas, and has a big vision to employ up to 500 women by the year 2030.

Yoadan Tilahun, an entrepreneur turning eventing passion into profit

August 21, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Flawless Events, an award-winning market-leader transforming Ethiopia’s events industry

Yoadan Tilahun is the founder and CEO of Flawless Events in Ethiopia, a company specializing in conceptualizing, organizing, and executing corporate and government events. Yoadan is a seasoned entrepreneur and award-winning business leader who has transformed Ethiopia's events industry. She founded the business in Ethiopia in 2008, turning her passion that was ignited in 2004 in Washington, DC into a successful business on the continent. Flawless Events employs 14 staff with the majority of young women. Yoadan has an MBA in International Business, is fluent in three languages, is married to a supportive husband, and is raising three sons.

Lioness Launch / Ethiopian ready-to-wear clothing brand, Kunjina, launches new concept collection

June 26, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Kunjina Tesfaye, founder, Kunjina (Ethiopia)

Kunjina, a unique Ethiopian ready-to-wear clothing brand that mainly caters to women within the age range of 25-40 and founded by Kunjina Tesfaye, is launching its new concept collection this month. The collection named UDET, a Geez word meaning cycle, is Inspired by Kunjina's personal experience. The collection revolves around topics like fear, productivity guilt and growth. It shows the process of self-doubt, transformation and self-actualization using the metamorphosis cycle of a butterfly as a metaphor.

Tigist Kebede, a passionate media entrepreneur showcasing great Ethiopian content

February 20, 2022 Melanie Hawken

habeshaview Technology and Multimedia, a fast-growing entertainment and multimedia business in Ethiopia

Tigist Kebede, co-founder of habeshaview Technology and Multimedia, is an experienced entrepreneur specializing in the media, entertainment and telecommunications sectors. Throughout her career she has been driven by a passion for the Arts and Culture and combining this with emerging technologies and the best possible user experience for customers. Tigist is responsible for leading habeshaview, one of the fastest growing entertainment services in Ethiopia and with the Ethiopian diaspora community worldwide focusing on promoting and developing the culture and skills of Ethiopian content creators and bringing them to the global community.

Betelhem Abebe, an Ethiopian entrepreneur building a high street fashion brand

January 9, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Betelhem Abebe, founder, ZEWD Design (Ethiopia)

Betelhem Abebe is the founder and creative director of ZEWD Design based in Ethiopia, a growing high street fashion brand. She studied electrical engineering at Addis Ababa University and also fashion design at SITAM Fashion and Design School in Addis Ababa to sharpen her skills in fashion design after having partially developed the ZEWD concept in her final year at the university.

Kunjina Tesfaye, an Ethiopian creative entrepreneur building a proud ready-to-wear fashion brand

August 8, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Kunjina Tesfaye is the founder and creative director of Kunjina, a fashion brand established in 2017 in Ethiopia while she was a university student studying construction technology and management. The brand mainly caters to women and also makes some unisex items. Kunjina’s main sales outlet is the physical store located in Addis Ababa, and the business is also on its way to launching an e-commerce site soon. Kunjina currently has five employees working for the brand.

Abai Schulze, Africa’s champion of economic empowerment for artisans

January 31, 2021 Melanie Hawken

ZAAF, a luxury handcrafted leather and accessories brand creating economic opportunities for Africa’s artisans

Abai Schulze is the Founder and Creative Director of ZAAF, a collection of premium leather goods and accessories handcrafted by artisans across Africa. Her life journey has taken her from an orphanage in Addis Ababa to the United States and the rest of the world. Abai is committed to using her academic background in economics and fine arts from her alma mater George Washington University to create unique and practical expressions of beauty. Abai founded ZAAF in 2014 with the goal of creating economic empowerment to African artisans and a new perspective and standard of global luxury. Her vision is to create unique products people love and want to buy, as this is the most sustainable of approaching economic development.

Bitania Amare, an entrepreneur in Ethiopia helping her clients to keep their businesses and finances in good order

March 17, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Bitania Amare, founder of Orbit Consulting PLC (Ethiopia) — **Bitania Amare**, founder of Orbit Consulting PLC (Ethiopia)

Every successful business needs great advice and support in order to be sustainable and to grow. In Ethiopia, that’s where specialist consulting firm Orbit Consulting PLC, founded by local entrepreneur Bitania Amare, comes in.

Abai Schulze, founder of a new generation artisan enterprise taking Ethiopia's luxury leather craft heritage to the world

September 1, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Abai Schulze, founder of ZAAF (Ethiopia) — **Abai Schulze**, founder of ZAAF (Ethiopia)

The world’s fashion conscious buyers are increasingly interested in knowing where the luxury goods they purchase are made, and by whom. For entrepreneur Abai Schulze, founder of growing brand ZAAF, her company’s strong backstory and ethos is resonating with these buyers, who are rapidly becoming fans and brand ambassadors with each purchase they make.

Bitania Amare, an Ethiopian entrepreneur building an online platform to help customers in Addis Ababa order their food online

April 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Bitania Amare, founder of WeDeliver (Ethiopia) — **Bitania Amare**, founder of WeDeliver (Ethiopia)

If you have ever experienced that feeling of being in the work environment and feeling hungry, but not being able to leave the office or workspace because things are just too busy, then WeDeliver, a startup business founded by entrepreneur Bitania Amare has the answer. Her new online ordering platform is making it easy for consumers to get their purchases delivered directly to them.

SoleRebels founder Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu demonstrates the power of thinking big with her new Garden of Coffee venture

February 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, the pioneering and enterprising creator of the inspirational SoleRebels ethical footwear brand, and Republic of Leather, her business venture that puts Ethiopia’s handcrafted leatherwear and accessories on the global map, believes the future of a truly sustainable specialty coffee market can be found in coffee’s birthplace, her native Ethiopia. After more than a decade of building SoleRebels into a global footwear and leather goods brand that combines traditional Ethiopian craftsmanship and materials with fresh new designs while also paying top dollar throughout the supply chain, Alemu late last year launched an equally ambitious new coffee venture called Garden of Coffee.

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