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.

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.

To be the launchpad of successful startups.

To solve society’s grand challenges through entrepreneurship.

We commit to creating sustainable ventures.

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.

We maintain an open ideation process where all ideas are welcomed and heard – whether they are generated internally or externally.

Every idea sounds good at first. We put an idea through validation to assess demand, feasibility, unit economics, marketability, investor interest, and more.

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.

Successful startups require top talent and investment. We will provide all support needed to ensure rapid incorporation – as fast as humanly possible.

Once a company is established/spanned-out, our role will transition into governance where in tandem with our investors and partners, focus on realizing the full potential of the startup.

Yes, we will ideate, develop, grow, exit, and repeat!

Through our vast network of partners, management and advisory board, we are best positioned to facilitate meetings with the right people.

We offer initial investment, office space and shared administrative resources to ensure low-cost operation of our startups.

We ensure sound governance practices are in place early on.

Create young entrepreneurs driven by critical problem-solving thinking and “can do” mindset.

Provide employment opportunities for the youth in Ethiopian and beyond with the emphasis on women.

Contribute to a startup ecosystem development through our venture building.

Produce a tech/ knowledge-based economy and bring digital transformation.