Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa: becoming a student again

One of the best things about working in entrepreneurship is realizing that the more you learn, the more you understand how much you still don’t know.

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks in Israel through a MASHAV, Aid From Israel experience-based training program focused on Innovation and Entrepreneurial Mindset.

For two weeks, I got to become a student again.

Beyond the training itself, I had the opportunity to experience parts of the startup and innovation ecosystems across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa.

I went in curious about a simple question:

What makes an ecosystem consistently produce people willing to build, experiment and take risks?

There wasn’t one simple answer.

But what impressed me was how closely entrepreneurship, research, technology, universities, investment, industry and public institutions can interact when an ecosystem intentionally creates the connections between them.

It also made me reflect deeply on Ethiopia.

We have incredible entrepreneurs.

We have young people with ideas.

We have problems worth solving.

We have universities, communities, investors, corporates and institutions that want to participate.

But having the individual pieces isn’t enough.

The real opportunity is in strengthening the connections between them.

As someone working with entrepreneurs while also building companies myself, the experience gave me a lot to think about — both about the businesses I am building and the kind of entrepreneurial ecosystem I want to contribute to back home.

I returned with new ideas, new relationships, and more questions than I left with.

And I think that’s a good thing.

Sometimes growth isn’t coming home with all the answers.

Sometimes it’s coming home asking better questions.

Special thank you to Eliyah Maharat Deborah Adefris Nuria Levy Shachar Re'em Melina Konigheim MamaMartha and all my fellow learners Bayu Samuel Maedot Assefa Bezawork Tilahun Mindaye Luyanda Henna, MBA (Distinction) Brian Munaita, FMVA® Nancy Gitonga June Mwangi Cecil Kang'ara Violet Chibuta Anthony Ndungu Daut Mwansa Paul Appiah-Konadu, PhD. Israel Fugah Chanthel Philemon Letha Bessa Claudia