After their graduation, Estephanos Zewdie and his friends were drawn to address a common problem encountered by shop owners in their community, their vision was to establish Jemla, an e-commerce platform offering various items such as drinks, food, detergents, and more to shop owners at affordable prices. Jemla aimed to address the challenge of frequent shop closures caused by the need for restocking in retail, and their focus was on minimizing these closures and mitigating it's adverse effects on sales.

Throughout their journey, Estephanos and his friends encountered challenges that tested their determination, from being initially rejected and doubted by investors and manufacturing companies to grappling with limited resources and makeshift office spaces in one of the team's room. Yet, Estephanos and his team persevered to finally achieve a breakthrough in securing an investment fund after numerous attempts.

The newfound resources enabled them to transition from a makeshift office to a proper workspace, expand the operation, and enhance their delivery capabilities. Today, Jemla serves thousands of shop owners based in Addis Ababa, and looking ahead, they aim to provide working capital to shop owners, expand services to regional cities, and offer additional services like bill payments to better support the clients.

Estephanos underscores the importance of a supportive network and advises aspiring entrepreneurs to persist with individuals who share their passion and determination, regardless of potential rejections. The story of Estephanos Zewdie and his team illustrates that dedication and recognizing the challenges faced by people around us can transform ambitious dreams into reality. 

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During their university years, Bemhreth, the co-founder of Gebeta Maps, along with his friends, worked on creating a food delivery startup. The challenge of the high cost and difficulty in paying in dollars for Google Maps became evident, not only for them but also for other startups and businesses. Recognizing this widespread issue, Bemhreth and his friends established Gebeta Maps in 2021.

In the early days of their entrepreneurial journey, the Gebeta Maps team's belief that the success of their business relied solely on its inherent capacity, coupled with the conviction that marketing was unnecessary for their product growth created significant obstacles. Their choice to self-fund the business instead of involving an investor led them to face financial challenges. Moreover, people's perceptions of their product potential, influenced by the team members' age, added an extra layer of difficulty.

Eventually, through consistent progress, things catch up for Gebeta Maps. They currently extend their services to various businesses, including ZayRide, National ID, and Adika. One notable service that differentiates Gebeta Maps from Google Maps is their introduction of open access to address information (location data), allowing users to access the location, contact details, and services of various establishments on Telegram for free. The company is actively working to expand its presence to other African countries, such as Djibouti and Nigeria, with plans to enter four additional African countries in the future.

Reflecting on their journey, Bemhreth highlights the importance of considering seemingly normal problems that exist in our environment. He stresses the vital aspect of strongly communicating and networking, as well as persisting through challenges while putting significant trust in God throughout the journey.

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Growing up, Mekdes saw her mom, Demeh, working hard from sunrise to sunset to put food on the table, fixing and changing the looks of clothes with only a needle and thread. The roots of her mother's interest in fashion traced back to her grandfather, a tailor, whose craft her mom absorbed, unknowingly passing down the skills that would later define Mekdes's path.

The "aha" moment for Mekdes's love for fashion came during high school when friends noticed her fashion and style sense. This discovery led her to explore the world of fashion design, taking a short course during a transformative summer.

Despite initially studying civil engineering at Ambo University, Mekdes returned to Addis Ababa to pursue her true passion during her second year. But, as her mother felt she had failed to raise her and told Mekdes that completing her education meant a lot to her, Mekdes, convinced by her mother, completed her civil engineering degree. Additionally, she pursued another degree in management, presenting it as a gift to her mom. She said, 'This is my gift for you, and now is the time to dedicate my life to myself and my dream.' 

Amidst the global pandemic, COVID-19, Mekdes seized the opportunity to dive into her passion. She taught herself, took a fashion internship, balanced a day job in technology, and attended evening fashion courses. She embraced each chance to learn and grow, considering herself lucky to have worked for a fashion company that paid her and taught her a lot. She believes working for others is a great opportunity to learn about business before starting one's own because it provides a chance to learn about technical aspects, finance, managing people, marketing, and more. 

A small, unindustrialized sewing machine marked the beginning of her venture. From making clothes for friends and family during the pause in formal education, today she runs a workshop, turning her passion into the brand DEMII, a tribute to her mom Demeh, who was a constant inspiration. While DEMII is making progress, Mekdes knows there's a long road ahead. Despite uncertainties, she approaches her work with full dedication and energy, trusting the process and eagerly anticipating the future that her brand holds. As Mekdes reflects on her journey, she offers valuable advice to her younger self and aspiring budding entrepreneurs to follow their passion, prioritize their vision, and stay true to their gut. 

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