Invest your Time and Talents to Fight Poverty

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There are hundreds of entrepreneurs in Ethiopia that want to learn from successful business people like you! Your skills and experience could help build the ventures and create the jobs that end poverty in Ethiopia. We want to invite you to make a powerful impact on Ethiopia’s economic landscape.

After many decades of natural disasters and political upheaval, Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Even though there are over 150,000 graduates from Ethiopian universities every year, most of those graduates move into almost 60% unemployment. The people of Ethiopia need more than just charity... they need economic change.

Main Event

We will host an ECatalyst Conference, centered around your skill set, for entrepreneurs in Addis Ababa to learn from successful American business leaders like you through workshops and life-on-life interactions. We will also hold a pitch competition featuring ECatalyst entrepreneurs and others from around the city.

Cultural Exploration

Participants will also have the opportunity to experience some of the many wonders of Ethiopian culture and heritage while building relationships with Ethiopian entrepreneurs. We will take at least two trips into the country and have other experiences in Addis. These may include (depending on season and availability):

• The Ethiopian Coffee Experience - travel down to the coffee plantations (managed by our entrepreneurs) to tour Ethiopian coffee country and experience REAL Ethiopian coffee straight from the farm in a traditional Ethiopia coffee ceremony.
• Lalibela - travel to the North of Ethiopia where there are eleven spectacular churches carved out of the rock (no bricks) from the 12th and 13th centuries.
• Cultural Dining and Dance - Opportunities to experience traditional Ethiopian cuisine and cultural music/dance performances
• Merkado Market - Traditional Ethiopian market in Addis with thousands of vendors and traditional products
• Other possibilities: Blue Nile Falls, Bishoftu, Unity Park, Meskil Square, or other attractions and events in Ethiopia are also possible (depending on the season).