Triopia
An e-tourism marketplace dedicated to marketing and promoting local experiences and destinations worldwide.
Stage: Early · Needs: <$500KVictory Re-imagined!
1888EC
We are a venture studio. We create startups, provide expertise, co-invest and rapidly launch ideas to market.
Founded in 2020 by Solomon Kassa (TV Personality, tech consultant, strategist, author, and public speaker), we aspire to be the fastest launch pad for disruptive innovations and businesses from Ethiopia that will champion wealth creation, digital transformation, and employment.
“
I created 1888EC to make it a platform that I wish I had when I was younger. The studio aspires to empower so many youth tech innovators!”
Our Founding Story
1888EC is named after the historic Battle of Adwa. The “EC” holds multiple meanings, including, Entrepreneurship Center, Equity Central and Ethiopian Calendar.
This multi-layer representation of our past victory is adopted to inspire new victories against poverty and other challenges of the future — through entrepreneurial grit and equity-based development.
Our
Vision
To be the launchpad of successful startups.
Our
Mission
To solve society's grand challenges through entrepreneurship.
Our
Value
We commit to creating sustainable ventures.
Our Approach
Our venture studio offers a repeatable approach where a valid problem statement is identified, a team built around it and investments are made to quickly enter the market. As of now, we are sector agnostic, however, we require that a startup has a clear path to profitability and scalability to be hosted in 1888EC.
We raise investment from multiple sources including equity (local + international), proceeds from professional services offered by our sister entities and grants provided by developmental partners.
Ideate
We maintain an open ideation process where all ideas are welcomed and heard — whether they are generated internally or externally.
Validate
Every idea sounds good at first. We put an idea through validation to assess demand, feasibility, unit economics, marketability, investor interest, and more.
Create
We build a team around the project and rapidly develop a prototype or MVP (minimum viable product) to take to market and assess our customers' feedback.
Spinout
Successful startups require top talent and investment. We will provide all support needed to ensure rapid incorporation.
Scale
Once a company is established, our role transitions into governance to realize the full potential of the startup.
Repeat
Yes, we will ideate, develop, grow, exit, and repeat!
Our Projects
Portfolio companies being built, backed, and scaled through the studio.
LinkPharm
A robust pharmaceutical marketplace for businesses that connects the pharma supply chain in Ethiopia.
Stage: Early · Needs: $2.5M – $5M
LoanLink
A dedicated financial services company that delivers loans to policy projects in Ethiopia.
Stage: Early · Needs: <$500K
Enibla
A network of outlets that serve lightning-fast Ethiopian cuisine for the working-class urbanite.
Stage: Early · Needs: <$500K
EthioSpare.com
A trusted source for retailing top-quality vehicle spare parts, delivered straight to your door.
Stage: Early · Needs: <$500K
Limar
An ed-tech platform that leverages crowdsourced content to distribute quality, affordable educational content.
Stage: Early · Needs: $5M – $10M Why 1888? 
Network
Through our vast network of partners, management and advisory board, we are best positioned to facilitate meetings with the right people.
Resources
We offer initial investment, office space and shared administrative resources to ensure low-cost operation of our startups.
Governance
We ensure sound governance practices are in place early on.
Impact
Sustainability
Create young entrepreneurs driven by critical problem-solving thinking and "can do" mindset.
Job Creation
Provide employment opportunities for the youth in Ethiopia and beyond with emphasis on women.
Ecosystem Building
Contribute to a startup ecosystem development through our venture building.
Digital Economy
Produce a tech/knowledge-based economy and bring digital transformation.
1888EC Consulting 
1888EC Consulting is a boutique consulting firm which is part of 1888EC.
1888EC Consulting is home to experienced business and technology consultants and offers a wide range of services: including software/systems development, strategy consulting, business process improvement, technology planning and implementation, as well as data analytics.
Our team brings over 10 years of diverse experience in the consulting industry globally, and we are passionate about helping our clients to achieve their business objectives. We specialize in adopting cutting-edge technologies to develop innovative solutions that drive our clients' success.
As part of a portfolio of the first of its kind venture studio, working with us means supporting innovative startups that we are investing in to advance economic growth and development in Ethiopia.
Our clients
Our Team
Founder and CEO of 1888EC, the first venture studio in Ethiopia. Solomon brings 16+ years of international technology consulting, strategy, media, authorship, and public speaking experience.
Solomon Kassa
Founder
Leads consulting and venture studio operations at 1888EC, overseeing ventures across e-commerce, food, education, finance, and delivery teams for consulting projects.
Teshager Amare
Head of Operations
Full-stack developer in charge of the technical team of 1888EC. Kibru has experience building web-based and native software and previously co-founded a startup.
Kibru Demeke
Tech Lead
Leads finance at 1888EC and manages the company's financial operations. She has a background in accounting and several years of field experience.
Hulubanchi Banthihun
Head of Finance
1888EC Advisory
Amrote Abdela
Regional Director, Microsoft 4Afrika
Amrote is Regional Director of Microsoft 4Afrika Initiatives. One of the initiatives she leads is Innovation 4Gov, a program that helps deliver innovative public-sector services through digital support & co-funding.
Dr. Azarias Reda
Engineering Manager, Uber
Dr. Azarias is an Engineering Manager at Uber where he leads experimentation APIs for ridesharing and food delivery. He was previously CTO of the US Republican Party.
Bahiya Robinson
Founder & CEO, VC Include
Bahiyah is the CEO & Founder of VC Include, a platform designed to build and support diverse, institutional-grade emerging managers in venture capital and impact investment.
Bernard Laurendeau
Managing Partner, Laurendeau & Associates, Co-Founder, Ethiopians in Tech
Bernard advises clients in digital transformation and startup ecosystem building. He previously led Africa operations for a Silicon Valley big data analytics startup.
Bethelehem Tilahun
Founder & Managing Director, SoleRebel, Garden of Coffee
Bethlehem is the Founder & Managing Director of soleRebels, one of Africa's fastest-growing footwear companies, and founder of Garden of Coffee.
David Solomon
CEO, Good Machine
David has a 20-year history developing new technology in Silicon Valley and is an expert at building collaborative ventures and new markets for impact businesses.
Ermais Eshetu
Advisory Partner, Grant Thornton
Ermias runs Ethiopian advisory services at Grant Thornton. Previously he was CEO of Ethiopia Commodity Exchange and helped build technology-led banking and trading systems.
Henok Assefa
Managing Partner, Precise Consult
Henok is a leading advisor in business strategy & economic development in Ethiopia. He is the founder of Precise Consult International and has led 200+ strategic engagements with investors.
Kommy W/Mariam, PhD
Master Inventor & Chief Scientist of IBM Research - Africa
Dr. Kommy oversees scientific and technical direction at IBM Research - Africa, advancing BigData, AI, and blockchain toward Africa's grand challenges.
Melissa Sassi
Chief Penguin of IBM Hyper Protect Accelerator, Founder at MentorNations
Melissa is the Global Head of IBM Hyper Protect Accelerator focused on empowering early-stage startups through technology and business acceleration.
Mirafe G. Marcos
Ethiopian Country Director of Africa Leadership Group (ALG) - ALX Addis
Mirafe is the Ethiopia Country Director for the African Leadership Group and General Manager for ALX Addis, investing in youth talent development, entrepreneurial leadership, and incubation.
Samuel Alemayehu
Global Managing Director of Cambridge Industries Ltd
Samuel is a Global Managing Director of Cambridge Industries Ltd, a company with a vision to implement pioneering infrastructure projects in Africa. Samuel started his career in Silicon Valley as a serial entrepreneur.
Selam Ayele
Director, Antler
Selam is a director at Antler. Before joining Antler, she worked as a tech startup scout, business development consultant, and Country Manager across multiple countries.
Stephen Ozoigbo
Venture Catalyst, Managing Partner, LIONS@FRICA CEO, The Africa Technology Foundation
Stephen is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and advisor to multiple technology startups. He is CEO of the African Technology Foundation.
Yoseph Ayele
Co-founder, Edmund Hillary Fellowship; Co-creator, Global Impact Visa
Yoseph is co-founder and former CEO of EHF, a global network of world-class entrepreneurs and investors leading positive impact.
Partners 
