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Wingu has announced a new strategic partnership with the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute( EAII) aimed at building a sustainable AI startup ecosystem in Ethiopia.

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 earlystage 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 computeintensive 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.

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 growthready businesses – that can deliver meaningful solutions across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, finance, education and logistics.

The 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.

“ 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.

He added:“ This partnership reflects our commitment to helping Ethiopia’ s digital economy reach new heights, while creating real, scalable impact.” �

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