In September 2024, the Villgro Africa team visited Ethiopia, visiting three key portfolio companies that are reshaping healthcare and agriculture. Over five days, the team visited Kaffabio, Lucy Enset, and Simbona, each of which is pioneering innovation in their respective sectors. They are not only addressing local challenges but also setting the stage for broader growth across Africa.
The trip began in Addis Ababa with a visit to Kaffabio, an innovative bio-fungicide company tackling Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD), a major threat to Ethiopia’s coffee industry. Kaffabio, co-founded by Prof. Tesfaye Alemu and Dr. Afrasa Mulatu, has developed a bio-fungicide using Trichoderma longibrachiatum to help coffee farmers combat CWD. This eco-friendly solution is proving effective where chemical treatments have failed.
The team observed Kaffabio’s newly renovated lab and learned about the expansion of production capacity from 20kg to 120kg of bio-fungicide in just 10 days. The company plans to expand its reach to 300 farmers, providing them with affordable, sustainable tools to enhance coffee production. Kaffabio is also exploring partnerships to expand into Uganda and Kenya, further extending its impact in East Africa’s coffee-growing regions.
The second day focused on Lucy Enset, a company revolutionising enset, a drought-resistant crop essential to Ethiopia’s food security. Co-founded by Dr. Addisu Fekadu and Dr. Fantahun Woldesenbet, Lucy Enset has developed innovative processing technologies to mass-produce Kocho and Bulla flours, which can serve as gluten-free alternatives to wheat.
Enset, often referred to as the “tree against hunger,” holds immense potential in combating Ethiopia’s ongoing food insecurity crisis. Lucy Enset’s innovations—milling machines and starter cultures—have significantly reduced processing time and improved yields. The company’s commitment to expanding its processing sites and engaging farmers through cooperative models is creating new economic opportunities, particularly for women, who traditionally carry the burden of manual enset processing.
In Jimma, the team visited Simbona, a healthcare company focused on producing medical devices that address critical needs in Ethiopia’s healthcare sector. Simbona has developed a range of products, including a UVC sterilizer for decontaminating surfaces, a phototherapy device for treating infant jaundice, and an infant radiant warmer for combating newborn hypothermia.
The visit included a tour of Simbona’s state-of-the-art medical device manufacturing facility, where stringent quality control measures are in place to ensure product reliability. Led by Habtamu Abafoge, Simbona is awaiting certification from the Ethiopian FDA and Ethiopian Ministry of Health, which will enable them to scale production and distribute their life-saving devices nationwide.
The Ethiopia trip highlighted the transformative impact of Villgro Africa’s portfolio companies, which are innovating across healthcare and agriculture. Each company is addressing critical local challenges with scalable solutions that have the potential to create jobs, improve food security, and enhance healthcare outcomes.
Villgro Africa’s support, through funding and strategic guidance, has empowered these entrepreneurs to grow their ventures and pursue new opportunities across the region. With continued investment, the future looks bright for these companies as they work to improve the lives of millions in Ethiopia and beyond.
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