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Investing in Ethiopia's Most Experienced Founders

Local Capital. Global standards. Long-term value creation.

The Enkopa Fund

A locally anchored investment vehicle designed to back serious Ethiopian founders with long-term conviction.

Local First

  • Capital deployed in ETB.
  • Capital works and stays in Ethiopia.
  • Built on local operating realities.

    • Globally Informed

  • Global best practices applied locally.
  • International governance and discipline.
  • Proven models adapted for Ethiopia.

    • Sustainable by Design

  • Fund replenished annually from Enkopa Summit proceeds
  • Long-term continuity
  • Embedded in the Enkopa ecosystem

    • Investment Structure

    InstrumentSAFE
    Equity7% ownership
    Governance1 board seat for Enkopa Fund
    CurrencyEthiopian Birr (ETB)
    PhilosophyLong-term partnership

    _enkopaX Acceleration Program

    A high-conviction acceleration program for a small number of experienced founders.

    Program Timeline

    February

    Selection

    March-April

    6-week program (2 hours per week)

    June

    Tokyo exposure (top founder)

    October

    Pitch at Enkopa Summit

    Founder Profile

    • Minimum 10 years of professional experience
    • Startup operating in Ethiopia
    • No immediate plans to expand outside Ethiopia
    • Ethiopia-focused market strategy
    • OpEx-only business model (no CapEx on balance sheet)

    What Founders Receive

    Capital

  • Up to USD 1,000 per year for forex-based expenses
  • 1,000,000 ETB per founder
  • 400,000 ETB cash
  • 600,000 ETB in-kind support

    • Mentorship

  • Leverage cloud credits and service grants to scale globally

    • Network

  • Access to Enkopa partner and investor network
  • Direct access to Le Circle experts

    • Visibility

  • 5-minute pitch at Enkopa Summit
  • Access to benefits from Enkopa Summit partners

    • Highly Selective by Design

  • Maximum of 2 founders per cohort
  • Possible outcomes: 2, 1, or 0 founders selected
  • Quality over volume

    • Top Founder Opportunity

    One standout founder receives:

  • A 2-day supported stay in Tokyo (June)
  • Opportunity to pitch to Japanese and Pan-African investors

    • Built for Founders Who Are Playing the Long Game

    Applications open in February. Program begins in March.