1888EC
Solomon founded 1888EC with a mission to cultivate an ecosystem that will increase access and use of technology, while promoting job creation led by startups, entrepreneurs, and collaborative efforts with global partners. Our unique and innovative tech startup studio will be one-of-a-kind in Ethiopia.
As the current landscape in Ethiopia is comprised of a young and growing population, increasing mobile and internet penetration and the government’s ambition towards the ICT sector creates an ideal environment, 1888EC aspires to be the part of the driving force to propel Ethiopia’s growth through digital economy by cultivating and enabling digital entrepreneurship and innovation.
The brand name, 1888EC, refers to the date of the victorious Battle of Adwa on the Ethiopian Cal- endar (or EC). In addition to representing a pivotal and revolutionary part of Ethiopian history, the letters “EC” also stand for ‘Entrepreneurship Center’. With dual representations of our past victory as well as our fundamental work in building Ethiopia’s future entrepreneurs, our company’s creation originates from the idea of symbolizing the victory we want to reimagine.
Our motto, “Victory Reimagined!” embodies the essence of our distinctive organization as a tech start-up studio committed to supporting and empowering entrepreneurial young people and improving the lives of many through the development of technological-based solutions to everyday problems. With our studio’s resources and access to our co-working space, people will have access to developing strong social networks and seek professional advice on their projects as well.
1888EC intends to create disruptive innovators and change-makers in Ethiopia. Our vision is to be the premier Ethiopian startup studio that will champion Ethiopia’s digital transformation and job growth, particularly for the nation’s young women and men.
Solomon, the founder of 1888EC understands that with all the limited activities in the tech sector and just few success stories, Digital entrepreneurship in Ethiopia is currently considered to be in its nascent stage. Solomon wants 1888EC to be among the leaders to take the current state into the next phase by playing a direct and indirect role of facilitating a creation of seed financing for tech startups, innovation ventures, and a proliferation of tech hubs. Solomon’s goal is to ultimately be a part of bringing digital entrepreneurship to the ideal state of an advance stage where the tech startup ecosystem will be supported and fully integrated with venture capital, BPO centers, exits/IPOs, and a mature national digital industry.