Wingu Africa Partners with Wingu is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (EAII) aimed at building a vibrant, sustainable AI startup ecosystem in Ethiopia. This collaboration represents a major milestone in our ongoing commitment to advancing Africa’s digital transformation and supporting the continent’s next generation of tech innovators.
The partnership brings together two organisations with a shared vision: to unlock local potential, invest in emerging technologies, and strengthen Ethiopia’s position as a regional leader in artificial intelligence. By combining EAII’s AI research expertise and startup outreach with Wingu’s state-of-the-art, carrier-neutral data centre infrastructure, the initiative will provide critical support for early-stage AI startups working on high-impact, future-ready solutions.
A Platform for Growth, Innovation, and Impact
As part of their partnership, Wingu and the EAII will work together to identify and support high-potential AI startups in Ethiopia, with a focus on innovation, scalability, and alignment with national development priorities. Startups will gain access to Wingu’s Tier III-certified data centre in Addis Ababa, offering secure, high-performance infrastructure to run compute-intensive workloads, store data safely, and scale confidently.
Beyond infrastructure, the collaboration will provide targeted mentorship and business development support, drawing on the combined expertise and networks of both organisations. Startups will also benefit from access to cloud services, AI development platforms, and data resources through preferred offerings and partnerships. To boost global visibility and growth, the initiative will support startup participation in international tech forums and facilitate connections with investors, research institutions, and commercial partners worldwide.
“Africa’s AI future is being built today — and it starts by empowering local innovators with the tools, infrastructure, and mentorship they need to succeed,” said Demos Kyriacou, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer at Wingu Africa. “This partnership reflects our commitment to helping Ethiopia’s digital economy reach new heights, while creating real, scalable impact.”
Laying the Foundation for Ethiopia’s AI Economy
EAII, established under Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers to lead the national development of artificial intelligence, will lead in identifying promising startups and facilitating access to research collaboration, AI expertise, and strategic partners. Wingu will provide a robust operational environment for these startups, ensuring they can build, test, and scale their solutions on infrastructure that meets international standards for uptime, security, and sustainability.
A core objective of the initiative is to build a strong pipeline of AI ventures—ranging from early-stage innovators to growth-ready businesses—that can deliver meaningful solutions across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, finance, education, and logistics.
This joint effort also contributes directly to Ethiopia’s broader vision for digital inclusion, industrial modernisation, and youth employment, offering a model for how public-private partnerships can drive transformation.
“We are not only supporting startups — we are investing in the country’s technological sovereignty and future competitiveness,” said the Director General of the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute, Worku Gachena (PHD) “Through this collaboration, we’re ensuring that Ethiopian innovations can scale beyond borders and lead at a global level.”
A Long-Term Vision Rooted in Collaboration
This partnership is designed for long-term impact, with mechanisms in place to ensure sustained support, results measurement, and alignment with national goals. Selection criteria for participating startups will focus on innovation potential, market relevance, technical capability, and alignment with Ethiopia’s development agenda.
The initiative is expected to roll out in phases, with active engagement from ecosystem stakeholders, including academia, industry players, and international partners.