Ministry of Innovation and Technology · 2027 cohorts

Hunde× MInT

A year-long program taking early-stage Ethiopian founders from idea to registered, revenue-generating company.

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01At a glance

Measured by companies built and jobs created, not by attendance.

3

cohorts in 2027

12

weeks per cohort, after a 3-day bootcamp

40–50

early-stage founders

0

Birr of Ministry funding required

Founder-focused. Hunde invests in the founder first, equipping each one with the skills to build and run a company.

Who runs it. Tefer, an Ethiopian software development company operating since 2019, whose engineers support founders’ MVP builds; and Mesob, a venture studio that builds and partners on technology ventures.

02The opportunity

Talented founders, scattered. Few have a path to a registered company.

This is the gap the Startup Proclamation (No. 1396/2025) and Digital Ethiopia 2030 set out to close. The barriers fall hardest on women and persons with disabilities.

30+

founders interviewed

Guidancemissing
Structured accountabilitymissing
Market and compliance accessmissing

03The Hunde method

Narrow to one user, then grow one proven step at a time.

This discipline prevents the sprawl that kills most companies soon after launch.

04Founders

Strong startups are built by strong founders.

Hunde is a founder-focused program. Its aim is to equip founders with the skills they need to build and run a company.

Who can apply

StageIdea, or idea with a prototype
FocusTechnology startups
Team1–3 founders, one full-time
SelectionApplication, interview, final pick

What they receive

Terms. 5–10% equity via a convertible-note-style agreement, in the existing company or converting at registration.

05How a cohort runs

Three stages over twelve weeks.

06Milestones

A gate at Week 3. A standard at the end.

Week-3 readiness gate

Tick what a founder has: 0 of 3.

The built-in point for the Ministry’s involvement: companies that clear it become eligible for fast-tracked startup designation.

Hunde Certified

Traction and revenue · 40%

Growth and expansion · 30%

Readiness and professionalism · 30%

Judged by the Hunde team, MInT representatives, outside judges and program partners. Six months of alumni support follow.

07Proof so far

Already running, with real demand and a first cohort.

120

registrations for 40 places, August 2026

6

founders in Cohort 0 now

Tankua

travel and ticketing, by BitLabs Technology PLC

These first cohorts prove the model and produce the Hunde Standard, a replicable founder-development framework for the Ethiopian ecosystem.

08Timeline

Three cohorts in 2027. The first call opens in December 2026.

Each call for founders runs four weeks. Dates for Cohorts 2 and 3 are indicative and confirmed on signing.

09The partnership

Two sides, one pipeline. No Ministry funding needed.

Area	Hunde provides	MInT provides
Program delivery	Full curriculum, mentoring, the 15-day sprint method and 12-week program	A designated advisor a few hours a week (registration, incentives, compliance)
Founder pipeline	Recruitment, selection and inclusion screening	Referrals of eligible founders, prioritizing women and persons with disabilities
Recognition	The Week-3 readiness gate and Hunde Certified standard	Fast-tracked startup designation for companies that clear the gate
Demo Day	Event delivery, founder showcase, documentation	Co-host, venue, and access to its government, corporate and investor network
Facilities	Program coordination and materials	Space for the bootcamp, weekly sessions and office hours
Positioning	Reporting, outcomes data and the Hunde Standard	Named program-partner status

10Outcomes

Growth measured from each company’s own baseline.

What MInT gains

An inclusive pipeline of registered, investment-ready startups
Visible delivery on the Startup Proclamation and Digital Ethiopia 2030
The Hunde Standard, a model it can help scale nationally

What the program delivers

40–50 founders to validated, revenue-generating businesses
MInT-designated startups ready for investment, creating jobs
Participation and outcomes tracked by gender and disability

Reporting to MInT. Regular progress reports during each cohort, an end-of-cohort report and a year-end report: founders, companies registered and designated, revenue, jobs and inclusion.

11Next step

Let’s lay the foundation: a partnership agreement for the 2027 cohorts.

We propose a short working session with the Ministry to confirm the scope, the designation fast-track, and the advisor and space arrangements, so Cohort 1 can open its call on schedule.

Contact. Tsion Tesfaye Kumsa, Hunde / Tefer

01of 6

A four-week call for founders.

Cohort 1: December 2026

Open call for early-stage tech founders, run for four weeks
MInT refers eligible founders, prioritizing women and persons with disabilities

02of 6

Founders apply with an idea or an early prototype.

During the call

The team: 1–3 founders, with at least one working full-time
The idea or prototype, the user and the problem it solves

03of 6

Applications are filtered against clear criteria.

End of the call

Technology startup
Idea stage, or idea with an early prototype
Team of 1–3, at least one full-time founder

04of 6

Shortlisted founders are interviewed.

Cohort 1: January 2027

Interviews with the Hunde team
Hunde selects founders first: strong startups are built by strong founders

05of 6

Final selection, with inclusion screening.

Cohort 1: January 2027

Inclusion screening to reach women and persons with disabilities
10 founders in Cohort 1; up to 15 in Cohorts 2 and 3
Participation tracked by gender and disability for MInT reporting

06of 6

The cohort starts with a three-day bootcamp.

Cohort 1: February 2027

Selected founders join the cohort at Tefer’s office or in MInT-provided space
Each leaves the bootcamp with a sprint plan and a measurable baseline

01of 8

Day 1: one user, one problem, one journey.

Bootcamp · Day 1

Each founder narrows to a single user and a single problem
They map the one journey that matters most

02of 8

Day 2: the business model and the numbers.

Bootcamp · Day 2

How the company makes money
The numbers it needs to hit

03of 8

Day 3: scope the MVP, plan go-to-market.

Bootcamp · Day 3

Scope the 15-day MVP
Plan go-to-market and sales
Leave with a sprint plan and a measurable baseline

04of 8

A working MVP in 15 days.

Weeks 1–2

Non-technical founders build with Tefer’s engineering team
Technical founders build it themselves, with feedback and guidance
Weekly founder sessions and office hours with industry experts, who share how real-world businesses operate

05of 8

The Week-3 readiness gate.

Week 3

A working MVP (mandatory)
A marketing plan in use
Test customers using the product
Clearing it makes a company eligible for fast-tracked MInT designation

06of 8

Validate with paying customers, then expand.

Weeks 4–11

Sell to paying customers and track progress against the baseline
Expansion loops: one persona, journey or feature at a time, each proven before the next
Startup readiness training continues: the business model canvas, financial planning, go-to-market and sales

07of 8

Market Access & Demo Day.

Week 12

Showcase to customers, corporates, partners and investors, co-hosted with MInT
Hunde Certified scored on traction, growth and readiness

08of 8

Six months of alumni support.

After Demo Day

Continued support and investor introductions
An end-of-cohort report to MInT on founders, companies, revenue, jobs and inclusion