More than 20 Ethiopian entrepreneurs graduated from the Alibaba Netpreneur Training (“ANT”) Program, Alibaba Global Initiatives (AGI) announced last week.
Held from mid-October to mid-November, the training was rolled out with support from the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MinT) and the Digital Transformation Ethiopia Association (DTEA).
Amidst a growing pivot towards digital channels by companies worldwide, the ANT Program offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn and explore how to harness digital technology to expand their businesses and contribute to the local economy.
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Over a four-week period, the online program walked the participants through the latest trends and practices shaping China’s digital economy, as well as approaches and frameworks for entrepreneurs to build a successful and innovative businesses in today’s digital world.
The 21 graduates emerged following their successful completion of a series of classes, assignments, and assessments, which demonstrates their understanding of the fundamentals of the digital economy and the ability to apply new-found insights in their respective businesses.
The graduates represent various industries varying from agriculture, education, information & communication technology (ICT), and trading.
Among this cohort of graduates is Bereket Teklehaimanot, CEO of Bey Pison Trading and Logistics, who feels the ANT Program has inspired him to sharpen his company’s positioning and business focus.
“I have walked away from the program with insights into how to define and implement a company’s mission, vision, and values and how to align them with its organizational structure, strategy, and people,” Bereket said. “This has totally created a paradigm shift in me and my company.”
All participants who completed the course have been invited to join the AGI entrepreneur community, where they are able to continue to network with passionate and like-minded entrepreneurs, as well as enjoy access to post-program learning opportunities such as webinars and newsletters.
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Outstanding performers among the trainees will also be eligible to participate in offline immersion programs at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China, once travels restrictions are lifted, according to AGI.
The Alibaba Netpreneur Training Program was first introduced in 2019 as an initiative to drive success for entrepreneurs in the digital economy. To date, it has successfully trained more than 1,800 entrepreneurs in Africa, Europe, Latin America as well as South and Southeast Asia.
