Youth Business Incubators (YBI) Final Pitch Concludes, Investing 10 Million Birr in 20 Youth-Led Enterprises

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS), successfully hosted the final round of the Youth Business Incubators (YBI) Business Planning & Pitching Event in Addis Ababa on October 2, 2025.

The event marked a major milestone, providing vital capital to emerging entrepreneurs. A total of twenty exceptional young innovators presented their compelling business proposals to a panel of mentors and industry experts. Following the presentations, all 20 finalists were awarded grants totaling 10 Million Birr, representing a direct investment intended to facilitate the immediate launch and scaling of their women- and youth-led enterprises.

The YBI initiative extends beyond financial awards. As the entrepreneurs embark on launching their ventures, the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) is committed to ensuring long-term success by providing comprehensive follow-up business advisory services. This mentorship aims to help the start-ups navigate early-stage challenges and achieve sustained growth in the market.

The program is a crucial component of the UK-funded Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) initiative. It is strategically designed to address economic vulnerabilities by creating sustainable livelihoods, reducing irregular migration, and strengthening community resilience, particularly in migration-prone areas such as Dire Dawa and Tigray.

This final session in Addis Ababa represents the second successful round of the YBI initiative, following a strong inaugural session held a year prior in Hawassa and Adama. The program’s wider impacts demonstrate a significant commitment to national capacity building:

• 250 aspiring entrepreneurs have been trained and mentored across both rounds.

• 85 TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) instructors have been trained to effectively institutionalize essential business planning and pitching skills within their respective institutions, ensuring the sustainability of entrepreneurship training across the country.

EDI congratulates all 20 pioneering entrepreneurs and looks forward to supporting their journey as they contribute to Ethiopia’s economic landscape.