COMPANY: AKLILL

FOUNDER:   YIDIDIYA DAMTEW 

INSPIRATION TO START THE BUSINESS:
Ethiopia has ample cultural and natural resources but little has been done in utilizing this resource for sustainable product development. When starting Aklill, we aspired to find a space where culture, sustainability and innovation overlap. Hence, we promote culture by designing products that are inspired by Ethiopian heritage; support sustainability by using environmentally – friendly and sustainable materials (such as bamboo); and to strive to be innovative in the way we design our products and business.

BACKGROUND OF FOUNDER:
Yididiya Damtew has MBA with focus on international business. She worked as a business developer for General Electric for 3 years before founding Aklill. She is passionate about creating positive change in the world by designing businesses that provide sustainable and creative solutions to modern- day needs.  She has a global strategic commercial skills and a passion for creating beautiful and unique products.

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES:

Years in Operation
2 Years

Number of staff
10

KEY CHALLENGES:
–Access to Finance
-Access to Foreign Exchange
-Financing local alternatives to imported inputs

SOCIAL IMPACT:
We use our business as a force for good. We want our products to create multiple jobs and earn profit to yet again employee more people while protecting the planet.

FUTURE EXPANSION PLANS:

Increase our production capacity and diversify our product portfolio.

FUNDING REQUEST:

Annual Turnover : – Under 1 million ETB

Amount of Financing Needed (USD) : – 50,000 -100,000