Ariob, an incubation program aimed at launching African-centered startups into blockchain ventures, is graduating its first cohort on 04 April 2023. The program, a collaboration between leading decentralized technology solutions provider, Input Output, and Ethiopia’s pioneer tech incubator and accelerator, iceaddis, will graduate eight early-stage ventures, working on sectors like health, savings, and money transfer.
The program gets its name Ariob from the ancient language of Ge’ez, which symbolizes the energy and promise of the high potential startups as well as the African continent. The Demo Day event, which will be streamed on YouTube at 12pm EAT, will feature start-ups founders representing over 8 countries, namely Thrift, Hippocrades, Ekival, ABCD, DirectEd, Kaydor, Delivery Chain, and CheCha.
The program’s inaugural cohort received professional business consulting, training, business, and market linkage opportunities, over a course of six months. Selected from Project Catalyst, the innovative arm of the Cardano blockchain, the startups are either African-based or focused on the African market which has shown high potential in solving real-life challenges on the continent.
“Supporting high-potential blockchain startups is the pillar of our industry. The entrepreneurs in this program solve real-life challenges, launch beautifully crafted products and increase adoptions within the market they operate,” said Markos Lemma, CEO of iceaddis.
“The incubation program only brings the startups to the level where they can be in the spotlight so that others would provide more support to upscale the businesses. This includes further investment, commercialization, and tokenomics support which are key to bringing the startups to the next level. I believe DEMO day will act as a stepping stone toward building long-term relationships.”
Short and intensive training tailored couples with one on one meetings with the entrepreneurs and mentorship meetings were part of the incubation program which took off last year. With the bootcamp now behind them, these eight start-ups are putting the finishing touches on their decks as they prepare to pitch to investors worldwide. Demo day will be attended by iceaddis CEO, Markos Lemma, Project Catalyst Product Manager, Kriss Baird, and John O’Connor, Director of African Operations for IOG.
