Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [June 22, 2025] – Safaricom Ethiopia, in partnership with Gebeya Inc., and supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), announce the successful completion of the Safaricom Talent Cloud (STC) Capstone Projects, one of the program’s most significant milestones to date. Over the course of six weeks, 100 selected talents organized into 22 multidisciplinary teams, developed innovative minimum viable products (MVPs) to address pressing challenges in Health, Finance, Transportation, and Education, showcasing the program’s significant impact in equipping Ethiopia’s next generation of tech innovators .
“The Capstone Projects represent the culmination of months of rigorous learning and collaboration,” said Katsuya Kashiki, Chief Strategy Officer of Safaricom Ethiopia. “Seeing these teams apply software development, AI, data science, and DevOps skills to real-world problems underscores our mission of transforming lives for a digital future.”
The Capstone Program - running over six intensive weeks - brought together talents in roles including Frontend and Backend Developers, Mobile Developers, UX/UI Designers, DevOps Engineers, and Product Owners or Scrum Masters. From several hundred applications, 100 talents were selected based on technical assessments and interviews. They formed 22 teams to tackle projects, with the top six teams advancing to the final award ceremony .
“It’s incredible to see this dynamic group building real-world solutions. I can’t wait to watch them embark on their entrepreneurial journeys” said Amadou Daffe, Co-Founder and CEO of Gebeya. “The Capstone Projects are not just tests of skill - they’re proof that, given the right support and resources, Ethiopia’s talent can lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
From the 22 Capstone teams, MediMap (a medical test locator), The Fuel Finder App, and AssessMint - AI Powered Exams, were announced as the winners and honored at the award ceremony in Addis Ababa, each receiving prize funding and opportunities to showcase their work to potential investors and partners. The top six finalists include MedaCare, EthioStockLink Lite, Mobile Banking App, The Fuel Finder App, AssessMint: AI-Powered Exams, and መንገድmate: EV Charging Station Locator for Ethiopia.
“The Safaricom Talent Cloud isn’t just a platform — it’s a doorway to real opportunity. When young Ethiopians are given the chance, they can build the future we’ve all been hoping for”, says Bethlehem Tameru, Head of Foundation and Sustainability, Safaricom Ethiopia
Building on this success, the Safaricom Talent Cloud will launch STC 2.0 later this year, featuring advanced AI and machine learning tracks, integration with Jitume for freelance services, and access to Mansa, a digital marketplace for talent-created products. These enhancements aim to deepen specialization and streamline pathways to economic opportunities for top-performing talents .
Speaking on the significance of inclusive partnership, Mr. Kensuke Oshima, JICA Ethiopia’s Chief Representative, stated “JICA continues to bridge the digital divide by supporting marginalized groups with subsidized access to skills development. The Capstone Projects exemplify the transformative power of human capital investment in Ethiopia’s digital journey.”
For more information about the Safaricom Talent Cloud and upcoming STC 2.0, please visit safaricom.gebeya.com.
About Safaricom
Safaricom is a purpose-led technology company providing mobile voice, messaging, high-speed internet, financial services under “M-PESA,” and converged digital services. Committed to Ethiopia’s digital transformation and inclusion objectives, Safaricom continues to introduce initiatives addressing societal challenges while fostering innovation.
About Gebeya
Gebeya is building the platform powering Africa’s service economy. Our mission is to empower African entrepreneurs and their customers to seamlessly communicate, collaborate, and trade. From Gebeya Jitume (a smart, AI-powered mini-CRM) to Gebeya Connect (a discovery platform for African service providers), Gebeya is helping service-based businesses across the continent go from informal to unstoppable.
About JICA
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is one of the world’s largest Official Development Assistance (ODA) executing agencies and takes an integrated approach to development cooperation by combining technical cooperation, finance and investment cooperation, and grants. Aspiring for a free, peaceful and prosperous world where people can hope for a better future and explore their diverse potential, JICA with its partners, takes the lead in forging bonds of trust across the world.
For Media Inquiries
Ephrata Dereje
Chief Marketing Officer,
Gebeya Inc.
ephrata.dereje@gebeya.com
Sara Sem
Public Relations Officer,
JICA Ethiopia Office
sem-sara@jica.go.jp
Safaricom Ethiopia
Media Relations
mediarelations@safaricom.et
