The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, in partnership with iCog Anyone Can Code (iCog-ACC), has launched Solve IT 2023, a nationwide innovation competition in Ethiopia.
The winners of the Solve IT 2023 Innovation Competition will receive seed funding from iCog-ACC to bring their innovative ideas into reality.”The project encourages Ethiopian youth to make contributions to their community and society through innovations in science and technology. Solve IT helps young entrepreneurs realize their ideas of sustainable startups and businesses. This third round of competition will reach six cities in Ethiopia: Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, Jimma, Dessie, and Wolaita Sodo,” stated the press statement from the Embassy.
At the launch event, Ruth Anne Stevens-Klitz, Counselor for Public Affairs of the U.S. Embassy noted, “The aim is to nurture and energize the startup ecosystem of Ethiopia. The program will provide hands-on support for startup business ventures by providing opportunities in areas such as business training, mentorship, seed funding, investment networking, and bootcamp events. The plan is to benefit 1,800 Ethiopians from six cities across the country.”
Solve IT 2023 encourages the use of local innovative solutions and entrepreneurial approaches to address challenges in the society through training in business, mentorship, seed funding, investment networking, and bootcamp events. In just two years since its foundation, the project has reached and supported 3,700 youth, and this year, the iCog-ACC team plans to register over 1,800 more.