2019 SolveIt Innovation Competition
Addis Ababa – Melkamu Tadesse and Memberu Zelke of HM3 3d Printer have been named winners of the 2019 SolveIt Innovation Competition here today. Dawit Getachew and Hana Workneh of Eco-Friendly Fuel and Oil finished second with Yegna Hana Telahun and Hume Degebassa of Yegna coming in third place.
While the final competition took place in Kano Studio here in the nation’s capital, regional competitions were held in Jigjiga, Jimma, Bahir Dar, Mekelle, Harar, Gondar and Hawassa.
More than 2,000 participants, age 18-28 and representing 15 various cities in the country, took part at various stages of the competition. Apart from the competition aspect, the participants also received 6 weekends of technical and entrepreneurship training and were given the opportunity to present their products to a panel of judges.
Solve It , an umbrella organization of iCog Labs, is considered the largest startup event in Ethiopia. The nationwide annual innovation competition, which started in 2018, embraces the “realm of tech entrepreneurship” among Ethiopian youth, and provides needed training in software, hardware and marketing for start-ups.
Solve is supported by the United States Embassy in Addis Ababa and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration and is credited with creating awareness in the use of technology among a local society that is playing catch-up to it.
