The Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) has signed a strategic partnership with Industrial Projects Service (IPS) to advance Ethiopia’s entrepreneurship and innovation landscape. The Memorandum of Understanding was finalized on September 23, 2025, in Addis Ababa, marking the beginning of a collaboration that seeks to empower institutions, enterprises and individual entrepreneurs across the country.
This partnership combines EDI’s extensive expertise in entrepreneurship development with IPS’s corporate consultancy capabilities. Together, the two organizations aim to deliver comprehensive capacity-building programs, co-author thought leadership, drive revenue generation and elevate institutional excellence. The collaboration is expected to have a significant impact on Ethiopia’s business environment by equipping entrepreneurs and institutions with the tools, knowledge and networks they need to thrive.
For more than a decade, EDI has played a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurial growth and ecosystem development in Ethiopia. Over the last 12 years, it has empowered entrepreneurial spirits by delivering disruptive solutions and creating an environment where cross-sector collaboration is the norm rather than the exception. EDI’s multi-tiered and multi-dimensional interventions provide end-to-end support to businesses, individuals and public and private institutions, helping them innovate, scale and create meaningful economic impact.
As a leading provider of entrepreneurship education and skill development, EDI specializes in programs designed for innovative startups and high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across job-rich economic sectors and value chains. Its initiatives are crafted to build a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, offering public sector and corporate organizations high-end programs in entrepreneurship and innovation. By facilitating access to innovative finance and resources, EDI enables enterprises to grow sustainably while promoting inclusive programs that lift underrepresented communities out of poverty and onto a path of wealth creation.
Through its partnership with IPS, EDI will strengthen its capacity-building programs, expand its reach and enhance the support available to entrepreneurs and institutions. IPS brings corporate advisory expertise that complements EDI’s entrepreneurial development experience, allowing the collaboration to target institutional growth, operational excellence and market competitiveness. This combined approach will help Ethiopian entrepreneurs access knowledge, mentorship and networks that are critical to scaling their businesses.
The partnership also reflects a shared vision of building a thriving and dynamic entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem in Ethiopia. By equipping entrepreneurs with practical skills, facilitating access to finance and fostering inclusive programs, EDI and IPS aim to create sustainable opportunities for economic growth and job creation. The initiative underscores the importance of collaboration between development-focused institutions and corporate partners in achieving transformative results for the entrepreneurial sector.
Ultimately, this partnership is poised to make a lasting impact on Ethiopia’s economy. By connecting startups, SMEs and institutions with the resources, expertise and networks they need, EDI and IPS are enabling innovation, driving revenue growth and promoting institutional excellence. The initiative represents a forward-looking effort to strengthen the foundation of entrepreneurship in Ethiopia and inspire the next generation of business leaders across the country.
