Iwnetim Abatek, an Ethiopian entrepreneur and assistant professor at MIT in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, has been named to the MIT 35 Innovators Under 35 list. The annual list, published by MIT Technology Review, celebrates the world’s most promising young creators in science and technology. Abatek’s research focuses on sodium-ion batteries, a potentially cheaper alternative to lithium-based power for electric vehicles and grids. He’s also exploring ways to use underground heat and pressure to produce ammonia, a key fertilizer ingredient and potential green fuel, according to MIT
Better Auth, an authentication tool, has raised $5 million in seed funding from Peak XV, Y Combinator, P1 Ventures, and Chapter One, according to TechCrunch. Bereket Engida, the self-taught programmer from Ethiopia and founder of the tool has built what some developers believe is that the best authentication tool to date. Engida’s jounrey to building Better Auth Engida told TechCrunch that he had built the entire product in Ethiopia before coming to the US. He started programming at 18 after a friend declined to help him create an e-commerce search
Nahom Worku, a 21-year-old Ethiopian student at York University, is one of Apple’s Swift Student Challenge winners thanks to his innovative educational application, Access Ed. His app provides students in Ethiopia with consistent internet access, enabling them to utilize educational tools, according to Apple. Worku’s inspiration Growing up in Ethiopia, Worku frequently experienced unreliable internet access and observed the scarcity of quality education among many students. His app, Playground AccessEd, has solutions for both issues. So, he created an application that stores all user data and learning materials locally on
African tech startup Kubik has announced a $5.2 million seed funding round, making it the first Ethiopian company to raise a multi-million dollar investment in climate and sustainability solutions. Ethiopia’s First Company To Raise Multi-Million Climate Investment Kubik, named the Global Startup of the Year 2023, is an environmental company that uses tech to help countries reduce their carbon and plastic footprint. They turn hard-to-recycle plastic waste into low-cost, low-carbon, interlocking building material by removing environmental waste and creating ultra-durable, safe, affordable buildings. They are on a mission to build dignity through clean and affordable
Ethiopia has announced plans to ban the importation of fuel-powered vehicles, shifting its focus exclusively to electric vehicles (EVs). Alemu Sime, the Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics, announced the bold move as part of the country’s comprehensive green mobility strategy. Electric Vehicles Only According to Sime, Ethiopia spent €6 billion ($7.6 billion) on petrol and diesel imports in 2023. Additionally, pollution levels in city centers due to cars are reportedly off the charts. Now, the government has decided to allow only EVs into the country by banning gasoline and diesel-powered
