Welcome to Ethiopian StartupsDesignation and Regional Hub platform

Startup Designation Ecosystem Builders Regional Hubs

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The Prime Minister at a Startup Designation event

StartupET is Ethiopia's national platform for startup designation, established under the Startup Proclamation to build a conducive ecosystem for innovation-driven enterprises and provide targeted, integrated support to startups and startup ecosystem builders.

01 / Innovation Source

First to Market

Novel TechLocal-First

New Market

Introducing a product, process, or service that is genuinely new to the Ethiopian market. One of the four recognized sources of innovation under the Proclamation (Art. 2(1)).

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02 / Innovation Source

Built to Solve

Applied TechSystemic

SolveAdaptation

Creating an original product, process, or service built to solve a real, identified problem. The Proclamation's term for this is "creation" (Art. 2(1)).

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03 / Innovation Source

Adapted for Ethiopia

GlobalModel

LocalizedContextual

Taking a model proven elsewhere and adapting it for the Ethiopian market and context. Known in the Proclamation as "transplantation" (Art. 2(1)).

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04 / Innovation Source

Rebuilt & Improved

DeconstructRebuild

Localize

Studying an existing technology, then rebuilding and improving it locally. The Proclamation's "reverse engineering" source of innovation (Art. 2(1)).

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Art. 26-27National Bank of Ethiopia

StartupsEcosystem BuildersMSMEs

Credit &
Guarantee

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Art. 30Dividend tax exemption

Withholding tax exemptionLoss carry-forward

Tax
Incentives

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Art. 33-34Ministry of Finance approval

Duty-free capital goods import

Duty-Free
Privilege

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Art. 37Regulatory oversight

Test before market introduction

Regulatory
Sandbox

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What the law
actually guarantees

Every application is reviewed againstthe same published criteria.

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National Startup Designation Committee

Independent evaluation

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The Ministry of Innovation and Technology operates the platform and administers the Startup Proclamation nationwide.

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Ministry of Innovation and Technology

Platform operator

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Committee members must declare any conflict of interest and step aside from decisions where one exists.

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National Startup Designation Committee

Directive, Art. 14

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Certificates are valid for two years and renewable,up to a cumulative maximum of eight years.

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Startup Designation Certificate

Validity, 2-8 years

Most complete applications receive a decisionwithin 30 working days.

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Application Review

Proclamation, Art. 9(4)

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