GRV Summit Recap

The inaugural Great Rift Valley Innovation Summit, presented by the Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund (EDTF), convened over 500 attendees from across the entrepreneurial, philanthropic, and investment ecosystems for a dynamic two-day gathering in Addis Ababa.

View RecapVisit Summit Site

  • 500

    +

    Summit Attendees

  • $

    750,000

    in grants

  • 18

    innovative startups funded

01.About The Summit

The summit showcased 18 high-impact startups, selected for their innovation in health, education, and agriculture. In total, $750,000 in non-dilutive funding was awarded to help accelerate these ventures and scale their impact across Ethiopia.

All grantees are now entering a 6-month accelerator program, launching on April 4, designed to provide strategic mentorship, business development support, and investor readiness training.

02.Meet the Innovators

As part of the 2025 Great Rift Valley Innovation Summit, 18 startups received a combined $750,000 in non-dilutive grant funding and will participate in a 6-month accelerator program launching April 4, 2025. These ventures represent a diverse range of impact-driven innovations across healthcare, education, agriculture, and climate resilience.

03.Two Tracks, One Mission

The Great Rift Valley Innovation Summit welcomed applications under two distinct categories designed to reflect the diversity of Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial landscape: Legacy Builders and Young Innovators. While both groups are united by their commitment to impact, each track offers tailored support based on the company’s maturity and the founder’s experience.

MEET THE GRANTEES

Legacy Builders

Legacy Builders represent ventures that are beyond the MVP stage, with proven traction in the market. Legacy Builders receive advanced technical assistance focused on growth, investment readiness, and strategic expansion.

  • Led by first-time or student entrepreneurs
  • Focused on validation, testing, and refining their ideas
  • Positioned to grow with the right mentorship and foundational support
Grand Prize Winner

Lifeline Addis

A home-based healthcare service that has reached 6,000+ patients across Addis Ababa, with a growing team of 18 professionals. Their tech-enabled care platform ensures dignified, accessible care for the aging and chronically ill.

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Infra Protocol

An AI-driven education platform that enables individualized learning. Though pre-revenue, they’re valued at $3M and are piloting across secondary schools and with development partners.

Muyalogy

A SaaS edtech company that leverages AI for tailored learning journeys. Currently generating $50K in revenue with a user base of 5,000+, the platform emphasizes performance tracking and digital literacy.

GlobeDock Academy

An AI-first training institution preparing Ethiopia’s youth for a global tech economy. With projected revenues exceeding $125K, they offer career-aligned programs in software, design, and data science.

Hulu Cares

An insurtech platform providing community-based healthcare coverage to underserved populations. With 3,500 enrolled members, they’ve partnered with clinics across Addis and are valued at $10M.

EASE Mindcare

A digital mental health platform combining in-person services and teletherapy. Currently serving 3,000+ users, they focus on trauma-informed care and workplace mental wellness.

Guaro Farms

A sustainable essential oils and spice venture that supports 500+ smallholder farmers, particularly women. With climate-resilient practices and traceability tech, Guaro is creating value from seed to shelf.

MEET THE GRANTEES

Young Innovators

For founders 25 and younger, Young Innovators are early-stage startups often in the prototype or pre-seed phase.

  • Led by first-time or student entrepreneurs
  • Focused on validation, testing, and refining their ideas
  • Positioned to grow with the right mentorship and foundational support
Grand Prize Winner

Green Glow Briquettes

A clean energy startup tackling deforestation by producing eco-friendly briquettes from recycled biomass. They serve schools and businesses with an affordable, sustainable alternative to charcoal.

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Ethio-Thickener

This biotech startup addresses malnutrition through locally manufactured thickening agents for people with swallowing disorders—particularly in post-stroke and elder care populations.

ENKOY Technologies

An edtech venture developing affordable digital learning tools and school management systems, serving thousands of students in Ethiopia’s public and private sectors.

Kuri Mother's Health

A maternal health initiative offering digital education and monitoring tools for expectant mothers in rural areas, supported by midwife-led community partnerships.

Awud Tech

A precision agriculture platform helping smallholder farmers optimize planting and irrigation using satellite data and predictive analytics.

Diboraitsolution

An assistive tech company building AI-powered hearing and speech tools for individuals with disabilities, enhancing communication in educational and professional settings.

Today Technology

Focused on smart farming solutions, Today Technology is working on affordable IoT-based soil sensors and climate tracking systems for small farms.

Curious Eyes

An education company developing augmented reality-based learning tools for children in underserved communities, integrating play-based learning with digital literacy.

IRIF

An agri-fintech startup using AI to help farmers access credit, manage risk, and plan for climate-related disruptions. Their tools support more informed decision-making across the agricultural value chain.