Ariob, an incubation program aimed at launching African-centered startups into blockchain ventures, is graduating its first cohort on 04 April 2023. The program, a collaboration between leading decentralized technology solutions provider, Input Output, and Ethiopia’s pioneer tech incubator and accelerator, iceaddis, will graduate eight early-stage ventures, working on sectors like health, savings, and money transfer.
The program gets its name Ariob from the ancient language of Ge’ez, which symbolizes the energy and promise of the high potential startups as well as the African continent. The Demo Day event, which will be streamed on YouTube at 12pm EAT, will feature start-ups founders representing over 8 countries, namely Thrift, Hippocrades, Ekival, ABCD, DirectEd, Kaydor, Delivery Chain, and CheCha.
The program’s inaugural cohort received professional business consulting, training, business, and market linkage opportunities, over a course of six months. Selected from Project Catalyst, the innovative arm of the Cardano blockchain, the startups are either African-based or focused on the African market which has shown high potential in solving real-life challenges on the continent.
“Supporting high-potential blockchain startups is the pillar of our industry. The entrepreneurs in this program solve real-life challenges, launch beautifully crafted products and increase adoptions within the market they operate,” said Markos Lemma, CEO of iceaddis.
“The incubation program only brings the startups to the level where they can be in the spotlight so that others would provide more support to upscale the businesses. This includes further investment, commercialization, and taxonomies support which are key to bringing the startups to the next level. I believe DEMO day will act as a stepping stone toward building long-term relationships.”
Short and intensive training tailored couples with one on one meeting with the entrepreneurs and mentorship meetings were part of the incubation program which took off last year. With the bootcamp now behind them, these eight start-ups are putting the finishing touches on their decks as they prepare to pitch to investors worldwide. Demo day will be attended by iceaddis CEO, Markos Lemma, Project Catalyst Product Manager, Kriss Baird, and John O’Connor, Director of African Operations for IOG.
About iceaddis:
Iceaddis, (ice stands for Innovation, collaboration, Entrepreneurship) is Ethiopia’s first innovation hub and tech startup incubator established in 2011. Iceaddis is a co-creation space that accelerates high-potential startups, facilitates technological innovations, and works with a multi-partnership approach to activate youth to gain economic empowerment.
About IOG:
IOG is a technology and engineering company that builds cryptocurrencies and blockchains for academic institutions, enterprises, and government entities. Founded by Charles Hoskinson and Jeremy Wood, IOG is contracted to design, build, and maintain the Cardano platform. A fully decentralized company, IOG is comprised of dynamic, innovative teams – based all over the world, collectively committed to innovation through delivering the highest standards in software engineering based on rigorous peer-to-peer reviewed science.
About Ariob:
Iceaddis launched Ariob in partnership with IOG on January 2022. It is a free, 5-month, cohort-based, early-stage venture support program. Connecting startups to an international network of mentors and investors, conducting strategy sessions, providing business training, and showcasing opportunities, the program is aimed at accelerating blockchain adoption within Africa, while enabling startup solutions to Africa’s development challenges.
For more information, please visit the website at: https://ariob.io
For further information, please reach out to:
Sinna Habteselassie.
megdelawit.habteselassie@iceaddis.com
Program Manager
iceaddis.com
