<h1 style="text-align:center;">#What’sYourStory?</h1>Matt and Laura Davis have recently returned from Ethiopia to the United States to meet with investors and members of the IAN in Los Angeles, Chicago, Ottawa, Montreal and Boston from mid July through early August.Last week, RENEW co-hosted an informal info session and happy hour in Los Angeles for network members and their guests. We of course want to give a huge thank you to network <a href="https://renewcapital.com/impact-angel-network/advisory-board">Chapter Chair</a> Jodi Morris, who drove down from San Francisco to share about her experiences with the IAN, and introduce her close friends Teri and Steve Carcano, who opened up their beautiful Malibu home to us.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/malibu1_9c491e6eea.jpg"></figure>The theme of the evening was centered on uncovering the motivations and stories that connected each person to the event, to each other, to impact investing and to places in Africa, like Ethiopia. Jodi, Matt, Laura and a host of others, including Michael Adinew of <a href="https://metadplc.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=13&amp;Itemid=128">METAD</a>, shared stories about what brought them to the event and connected them to each other. It was an enlightening and lively discussion that revealed many interesting and unexpected linkages.Matt and Laura will soon be traveling to the cities of Chicago, Ottawa, Montreal and Boston to meet with members of the IAN, local investors and host information sessions on RENEW and the growing fields of angel and impact investing. Please be sure to reach out if you are interested in more details, or would like to connect with the partners while they are in the U.S.

RENEW’s Matt and Laura Davis are in the States connecting with investors and members of the IAN.

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#What’sYourStory?

<h1 style="text-align:center;">The Impact Angel Network in Action!</h1>In late July, members of the Delaware chapter of the Impact Angel Network (IAN), including <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-fulton-68753212">Don Fulton</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-disabatino-094ba85">Larry Disabatino</a> and IAN chapter chairs <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-turi-7b883a13">Jeff</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-turi-57721a9">Donna Turi</a>, spent their morning discussing impact investing with 25 participants in the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).According to their website, YALI is “a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. Nearly 1 in 3 Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60 percent of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35. President Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.”*The participants of this particular group, aged 22 to 32, received Mandela Washington Fellowship scholarships and spent 5 weeks at the University of Delaware learning about civic engagement and leadership, business and entrepreneurship, and public administration. Each year, YALI brings over 500 young African leaders to participate in trainings at 20 different U.S. universities and colleges.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/ian_in_action_blog_yali_e155a7283f.jpg"></figure>During the week that focused on entrepreneurship, IAN Delaware chapter members were able to speak with these young leaders about what sophisticated investors are looking for in investment opportunities in frontier markets, and helped them refine their pitches for their for-profit or social venture organizations.We know our Delaware chapter had a great time participating and sharing their knowledge with the future leaders of Africa!<a href="https://yali.state.gov/">*Young African Leaders Initiative</a>

IAN Delaware chapter members discuss impact investing with the Young African Leaders Initiative.

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The Impact Angel Network in Action!

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Summer 2016 Travels and Connections</h1>The past several weeks have been full of summer travel and connections for Matt and Laura Davis, partners of RENEW. The two made their way back to the North America mid-July and have since been on the road visiting members of the Impact Angel Network (IAN), local investors, potential partners, friends and family during the summer 2016 investor roadshow. The trip started on the West Coast and the partners slowly traveled back East, from Los Angeles to Chicago, Ottawa to Montreal, Boston and finally returning to Washington D.C. Here are just a few highlights from their time in these cities:<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/summer_2016_roadshow1_c9905cea5b.jpg"></figure>Los Angeles: With the help of IAN Chapter Chair <a href="http://connectinggrowthglobally.com/">Jodi Morris</a> and her good friends, Steve and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/teri-carcano-5a05528">Teri Carcano</a>, RENEW co-hosted one of our favorite events to date. The evening’s enlightening and lively discussion revealed many interesting and unexpected linkages, and shed some light on the motivations that brought people together that evening (read about the happy hour in our blog: <a href="what%e2%80%99syourstory.html">#What’sYourStory?</a>). RENEW also enjoyed meeting and speaking with local family offices, philanthropic advisors and other potential partners, including the team over at Los Angeles City Incubator (<a href="http://laincubator.org/">LACI</a>).Chicago: The team had a stellar visit to the windy city at the end of July - meeting old friends, developing new connections, and even some team planning time. The partners had great conversations on impact investing with several groups, including Brian Kasal and Laura Swanson of <a href="http://www.fourstarwealth.com/">FourStar Wealth Advisors</a>, Alesha Black and Louise Iverson of the <a href="https://www.thechicagocouncil.org/">Chicago Council on Global Affairs</a>, and Tasha Seitz of <a href="http://theimpactengine.com/">Impact Engine</a>.Ottawa: Matt and Laura had a great time in beautiful Ottawa, meeting with government stakeholders and new local partners alike. The team continued conversations with <a href="https://profile.rbcwealthmanagement.com/james.kinkaid">James Kinkaid</a> of Kincaid Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities. Matt and Laura first met James during the spring roadshow in April at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting (read about RENEW's experience in our blog: <a href="buffett-approach-investing-africa.html">A Buffett-Like Approach to Investing in Africa</a>.) They also enjoyed time with our new friends at the <a href="http://ccafrica.ca/">Canadian Council on Africa</a>, among others.Montreal: Partner Laura Davis had a wonderful opportunity to share about RENEW and the Impact Angel Network with Women Investing for Impact (<a href="http://www.wifi-canada.org/about/">WIFI</a>) in early August. Our gracious hosts convened mid-summer and had a great turnout, which led to some smart questions and dynamic conversation. A special thank you to Kathy Fazel and Fiona MacFarlane for pulling together such a great breakfast event!Boston: RENEW met with several individuals, families and advisors during their time in Boston. Matt and Laura also had the opportunity to present an information session for a Boston-area wealth management firm on the growing fields of angel and impact investing. A big thank you to Paul Lonergan and his firm <a href="http://www.congresswealth.com/">Congress Wealth Management </a>for hosting!It was a whirlwind, but all in all a wonderful trip filled with valuable dialogue with IAN members, potential investors and too many stakeholders and partners to count!

RENEW partners, Matt and Laura Davis, travel across North America during the summer investor roadshow.

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Summer 2016 Travels and Connections

<h1>METAD PLC: A Force of Innovation in Ethiopia's Coffee Industry</h1><figure class="image image-style-align-left image_resized" style="width:28.87%;"><img src="/uploads/metad_logo_w_tag_rgb_2_24d4122529.jpg" alt="A Graphic of METAD, an organization committed to producing, processing and exporting premium Ethiopian coffee from seed to cup, sharing Ethiopia's rich coffee heritage with the world."></figure>Partners of RENEW, Matt and Laura Davis, recently visited one of METAD Agricultural Development PLC’s farm sites to check on the coffee pre-harvest preparation. 75 kilometers beyond Yirgacheffe, deep in the heart of some of Ethiopia’s best coffee country, METAD’s 200 hectare Hambela farm includes a washing station, dry mill, beds for sun drying, a large warehouse and guest bungalows. Altogether, METAD employs 28 permanent staff and 700 seasonal staff, 70% or more of which are women, and they partner with more than 700 out growers to provide best practices on growing, harvesting and selling coffee.One such permanent METAD employee is Solomon Teklemariam. A native of Addis Ababa, Solomon studied agriculture at Hawassa University, which prepared him for his role as METAD’s coffee quality manager. During Matt and Laura’s visit to the Hambela farm, Solomon was their capable guide, providing detailed and informed answers to all of the questions they had about the farm’s pre-harvest activities. The RENEW team and several IAN members who have visited the METAD laboratory in Addis have met Solomon and learned from his cupping expertise.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/solomon_collage_a1295fed11.jpg" alt="Renew Capital Team members engaged in a discussion with Solomon about his significant contributions to METAD and the Ethiopian coffee value chain."></figure>The RENEW team sat down with Solomon to learn more about his important role at METAD and his contribution to one of Ethiopia’s most prized value chains - coffee.When did you start working at METAD? I started working at METAD less than a year ago (maybe eight months), but I used to work as a consultant before joining the company full time. Back when the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) was first established, I used to work there with Aman Adinew, the CEO of METAD. So, I have known Aman long before METAD was even started when I used to work as a cupper at the ECX.What coffee related education and/or training have you received to date? I studied agriculture science in college, and after graduating I immediately joined the ECX as a coffee cupper, where I gained ample experience in the coffee industry. Prior to joining METAD I took several trainings on coffee cupping and quality grading. At the ECX I used to work as a Q-Grader (quality grader of specialty coffee). Around five or six years ago, I took a coffee quality training course facilitated by the Ethiopian government and received a certificate. I also took a training course from Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) on coffee tasting and quality grading from the seed to the final tasting stages. I received a certificate from CQI, which is upgraded every three years. Then, I received a basic training certificate from the Haron Agronomy Department on coffee processing from the nursery to cupping. I have also received training from the Jimma University research center on coffee disease control.What is your position title at METAD, and what are your responsibilities? I am the coffee quality manager at METAD. My main responsibilities are: training and supervising farm managers, as well as quality control from the nursery to the final production stage - picking, sorting, washing, processing, drying, heat/moisture control, controlling coffee parchment. The process of quality control continues until the coffee reaches the warehouse and is shipped to its export destination. I also tag the coffee for customers until the export is done, test and control coffee, including cupping and sample storing and registering works.In your own words, what is METAD’s philosophy or outlook on Ethiopian coffee? What is METAD trying to achieve at the local and international levels? METAD aims to provide specialty coffee for customers that is geographically traceable. Any customer looking to see the origin of the coffee they buy can easily track its origins from seed to cup. Quality and traceability are the two important components of coffee processing that have not been done in Ethiopia before. METAD is one of the pioneers in this section. As the international specialty coffee market requires the best quality coffee, METAD aims to sell this kind of coffee to clients. We also provide trainings to the farmers we buy coffee from on various issues to help them produce high quality coffee. The company aims to serve the world the best quality Ethiopian coffee, which helps METAD obtain its organic coffee certification and helps the farmers that the company buys from receive a premium price for their crop.What kind of social impact has METAD created in the local community around the farm? METAD has provided various trainings for the farmers in the Hambela and Gedeb area, where both METAD’s farms are located. The farmers also benefit from the out growers program with METAD, as they will get premium prices for their coffee due to the company’s organic certifications. METAD also supports the farmers and their families by building schools and providing learning equipment for them, building town halls for holding meetings and is currently working on providing clean water for the farmers.Has working for METAD changed your life for the better? Definitely, I have worked with Aman before, and I have enjoyed his mentorship. Working at METAD has changed my life because I am able to gain experience and improve my skills, and I also earn a better salary than I did from my previous jobs. My family is very happy because I enjoy what I do.What is your favorite part about working for METAD as the coffee quality manager? I enjoy working at the laboratory because it is less tiring, but when it comes to the actual work and testing the quality of the coffee, spending time at the farm is important. My job is not limited to one place, so I enjoy both farm work and office (laboratory) work. The most satisfactory part is working at the farm and controlling the quality and agronomy.Have you tried METAD coffee, and if so what do you think? Yes, I have tried it many times. In fact, I only drink METAD coffee - both at the farm and at the office. It is one of the best coffees in Ethiopia and this is one of the reasons I joined the company. METAD provides a high quality coffee, and in my opinion as a cupper, has a unique future and is ranked above 90% for specialty coffee - especially the coffee from Hambela.How has your position at METAD inspired you? It has inspired me to be one of the best coffee quality graders in Ethiopia. I believe working at METAD is a good opportunity for me because it is one of the top coffee producing companies in the country. In 5 to 10 years, I want to be a well-known coffee cupper and quality grader in Ethiopia. I want to improve my skills in agronomy, coffee trade and the overall process from seed to cup. I want to be an expert on coffee. I also want to improve economically, to provide a better life for my family and myself. This all depends on the performance of METAD, which I plan to contribute my best effort to.

RENEW has a Q&A session with METAD's coffee quality manager to discuss this important sector.

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METAD PLC: A Force of Innovation in Ethiopia's Coffee Industry

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Ethiopia: Then &amp; Now</h1>Matt and I often reflect on how we would like to better document and share the changes we have seen in Ethiopia since we first arrived to open our office in February 2012. The changes are almost beyond comprehension, and we often wish we had installed time-lapse cameras at various points around Addis Ababa to capture the exceptional growth this city has experienced over the past few years.I was part of the “advance team” in January 2012, coming several days before Matt and a group of brave investors arrived in Addis Ababa. Now, we have six investments and will soon be the largest private equity (PE) investor in Ethiopia by volume of deals. Since then, RENEW has come a long way, as has the country in which we reside. We are thrilled to participate in and observe the incredible story that is Ethiopia’s growth.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/then_now_855e40e184.jpg"></figure>Infrastructure – Trains, planes and automobiles Matt knows a time before there was even a ring road in Addis Ababa. Now, there is not only a ring road (a highway of sorts), there are also stoplights throughout the city, a six-lane highway connecting Addis Ababa to Adama (the busiest corridor for transporting goods), a light rail system to transport city residents, and a railway will soon be commissioned to take containers from Addis Ababa to the Port of Djibouti. We still become concerned when we see people walking their livestock on the ring road, but then again, change takes time.Private Equity – They said it was impossible When we first came to the country, RENEW was the second foreign PE group to open an office in Ethiopia. Now, there are several additional firms working alongside RENEW. We still receive the occasional question from investors about whether private equity is really possible here, but in general, viewpoints have evolved and investments are being made. As more investors come, desk officers at related government organizations are starting to understand the needs and terminology of the private equity community. We do our part to educate businesses, banks and other stakeholders in the investment community about private equity through seminars and one-on-one conversations. Shark Tank Addis anyone?Real Estate Development – Scaffolding, scaffolding and more scaffolding If you leave Addis Ababa for even a couple of days, you’ll likely come back to a new building (or ten) going up. Every day, it seems like a new hotel or apartment building or corporate office is constructed and opens its doors. I would never pretend to be an expert on the real estate industry in Ethiopia, where the government owns the land and leases it for residential and commercial use. But, by all accounts, there has been incredible growth since we arrived four years ago, and it does not seem like it will be slowing down anytime soon. One of our investors recently commented that she thinks we should start a scaffolding business. Not a bad idea!Quality of Life: On the up and up The quality of life becomes better each month we are here. Last month, we spent some time in the rural coffee region of southern Ethiopia, and I was astonished to find that there was an operational 3G cellphone network throughout the area. Even a year ago, this wouldn’t have been the case. Ericsson has done an incredible job of implementing said networks in locations where they’ve been asked to do so by the government of Ethiopia. Other areas we see progress in include the addition of upscale restaurants and infrastructure present in cosmopolitan cities around the world.As 2015 comes to a close, I'm sure that we will see even more exciting development and change in the coming year - Matt and I can't wait to see what's in store.

RENEW's Laura Davis reflects on the tremendous change Ethiopia has experienced since first arriving in 2012.

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Ethiopia: Then & Now

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Announcing the Impact Angel Network 2016 Advisory Board</h1>We are delighted to announce the chairs of the Impact Angel Network for 2016, who together make up the IAN Advisory Board. Joining us for a second term are 2015 chairs Alan Gardner, Andrew Umhau, and Jeff and Donna Turi. David Grizzle, Jodi Morris, and Joel and Beth Marquette are joining us this year as our newest chairs.Alan Gardner, Charlotte, NC Two-time Econ-Tourism trip participant Alan Gardner is an Impact Angel Network chapter chair in Charlotte, North Carolina. He resides outside of Charlotte with his wife Gwen on a beautiful farm and has had a longstanding interest in Ethiopia. He recently retired from Wells Fargo. This is Alan's second year serving on the Board.Andrew Umhau, M.D., Chevy Chase, MD Renowned D.C. internist, Andrew Umhau, M.D., is an Impact Angel Network chapter chair in Washington, D.C. Dr. Umhau has a deep appreciation for culture and travels regularly to Haiti and Ethiopia. Read about his experience in Ethiopia. This is Andrew's second year serving on the Board.David Grizzle, Washington, D.C. David Grizzle is an Impact Angel Network chapter chair in Washington, D.C. David and his wife Anne are long-time residents of Washington, D.C. Former COO of the Federal Aviation Administration, David and Anne are now involved in many other great initiatives. David first became acquainted with the IAN several years ago on a visit to Ethiopia, and he's been incredibly supportive of the network ever since. This is David’s first year serving on the Board.Jeff and Donna Turi, Wilmington, DE World-traveling, experience collectors, Jeff and Donna Turi reside in Wilmington, Delaware. Donna is a senior vice president at Wells Fargo and Jeff is a director at Siemens Healthcare. Making trips regularly throughout the world, Jeff and Donna participated in an Econ-Tourism trip in Ethiopia in November 2013 and have been very engaged in sharing the IAN experience ever since. This is their second year serving on the Board.Jodi Morris, San Francisco, CA Jodi Morris has a passion for travel, education and impact investing, which all goes hand in hand with her new role as an Impact Angel Network chapter chair in San Francisco. She works as a strategy advisor, writer and speaker at her firm <a href="http://connectinggrowthglobally.com/">Connecting Growth Globally.</a> Jodi and her husband Bob live in the Marina District of San Francisco. This is Jodi’s first year serving on the Board.Beth and Joel Marquette, Minneapolis, MN Beth and Joel Marquette are a natural fit as Impact Angel Network chapter chairs in Minneapolis, having spent five months living in Ethiopia with their four children in 2013. Beth works as an HR consultant, while Joel is an electrical engineer. This is their first year serving on the Board.RENEW is honored to have the valuable knowledge and expertise of each of our chairs, and we look forward to an exciting 2016 with them!<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/advisory_board_98faf7bdd3.jpg"></figure>

RENEW is pleased to announce the Impact Angel Network chairs for 2016.

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Announcing the Impact Angel Network 2016 Advisory Board

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Word on the Street</h1>The globetrotters are at it again! Investing on the Frontier’s hosts, Matt and Laura Davis, bring you the fourth episode in our podcast series from Washington D.C. After spending some time in the States to connect with investors, and celebrate the holidays with friends and family, Matt and Laura will be heading back to Ethiopia to dive into the work that 2016 will bring.But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, Matt and Laura provide several real time updates on what’s happening “on-the ground” and “in-the-field” in Ethiopia over the course of this latest episode. The word on the street is that Ethiopia has lately been receiving mixed reviews in the press, so Investing on the Frontier hosts walk listeners through the country’s most recent headlines to bring a little clarity and analyze Ethiopia’s current investment and economic environment. So, be sure to listen in to the fourth episode to get the latest scoop on all things Ethiopia!&nbsp;

Tune in to the fourth episode in RENEW’s podcast series, Investing On The Frontier, for some real time updates.

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Word on the Street

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Innovation in the Healthcare Industry, One Ambulance Ride at a Time</h1><figure class="image image-style-align-left image_resized" style="width:31.92%;"><img src="/uploads/logo_eaes_3_52c969544c.png"></figure>To continue our Q&amp;A series with the employees of RENEW’s portfolio companies, I recently had the pleasure to speak with one of the emergency medical nurses from Tebita Ambulance and Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Service PLC (TEBITA), a partner of <a href="http://www.eastafricaems.com/">East Africa Emergency Services, LTD</a> (EAES).Haile Aseged, born in Northern Shoa, has lived in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa since he was 6 years old. Haile sat down with me to talk about how TEBITA and EAES are transforming Ethiopia’s healthcare industry.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/blog_collage_0_d872174cba.jpg"></figure>As a child, what was your dream career? As a child, I dreamed of being a doctor. I was good at my studies and have always wanted to work in the medical industry. I had good grades when I was a student. But, by the time I finished high school, I was not assigned by the government to study medicine due to the super competitive environment of being assigned to a medical college. So, after graduating high school, I immediately began working at Ethio Telecom as a daily laborer. While working there, I never stopped trying to pursue my dream of studying medicine. I applied to Ethiopian Military Health Science College to study nursing and passed the entrance exam. I studied nursing there and became a first aid caregiver. After graduating college, I worked as a first aid caregiver at the Ethio-Eritrea War for a year, and then joined several hospitals throughout Ethiopia to serve in my profession.How did you hear about TEBITA? I have known Kibret Abebe (the founder of TEBITA) long before joining the company. While I was working at the Ethiopian Fire and Emergency Services, Kibret was one of our clients. I also met him while taking emergency medical service training courses at Addis Ababa University Medical College (Black Lion Campus), where he used to work before founding TEBITA. Ever since Kibret established TEBITA, I’ve been very fascinated with his work and his dream of becoming one of the top emergency caregivers in Ethiopia and the region. I used to tell Kibret that I was interested in working with him, and when I heard there was an opening, I immediately applied for the position of ambulance crew head.In your own words, what are TEBITA and EAES trying to achieve at the local and national levels? I believe TEBITA is making enormous changes to the healthcare industry in Ethiopia. It is known that Ethiopia is one of the countries with the highest rate of car accidents and deaths associated with accidents. But, this is mainly due to the lack of pre-hospital caregivers in Ethiopia. I believe Kibret opened this company with the aim to minimize the death rate that happens during the pre-hospital handling. TEBITA is revolutionizing the healthcare industry by addressing the service gap that occurs between the scene of an accident and the hospital, and minimizing death rates in the process. Although the government is trying to reduce the rate of car accidents occurring in the country, reducing the death rate during pre-hospital handling has been difficult. But, when emergency responders like TEBITA join the market, this problem will be fixed, and we finally will be able to start reducing the death rate. Most patients travel to hospitals in taxis, which makes saving their lives difficult once they reach the hospital. At TEBITA, we provide first aid services in our ambulances, which greatly improves the likelihood of the patient surviving. With this, we are minimizing the burden on the government and at the same time saving lives.What makes TEBITA and EAES unique from their competitors? At the moment there is very little competition in the emergency services sector in Ethiopia, as compared to other countries. Our main competitors are hospitals giving diagnostic services and providing ambulance services to patients. Not all nurses can be caregivers, and here at TEBITA anyone who is joining our company has to go through additional training to become an emergency responder. We give pre-hospital care to clients while transporting them to nearby hospitals, which makes the hospital’s job much easier. In addition to providing emergency services, we give first aid trainings and sell first aid kits.What kind of social impact has TEBITA and EAES created in the local community? Here at TEBITA, we believe that patients should not have to come to hospitals to get emergency health services, rather providers should go to them. Ambulance service does not simply mean transporting people from the scene of the accident to a nearby hospital, it is much more than that. An ambulance possesses care-providing equipment, such as: oxygen, face masks, nasal catheters, and emergency medicine. Every paramedic at TEBITA has this equipment in a kit so they can reach patients located in places where the ambulances cannot go. In addition to the emergency care services we give to clients, we also give services to elderly citizens traveling to hospitals regularly; we transport them in a safe way. All these services were not available before TEBITA, so this has positively impacted individuals needing such services. We see the impact everyday, we hear people’s feedback, and it is encouraging us to do more. We have changed the whole picture of the industry.How has working for TEBITA changed your life? I love what I do; I see the impact on the people everyday. This gives me a mental satisfaction to know I have saved someone’s life, even more than the money I get. Even financially, working at TEBITA has improved my life so much. And while my family does not like that I am busy all the time, they can always see the pleasure I get from doing what I do. They also understand that I do not want to disappoint my patients. Seeing me happy doing my job makes them very happy. My son even talks about TEBITA at home and gets very excited when he hears the ambulance siren.Has your job at TEBITA empowered you as an individual? Yes, it has empowered me a lot. I have always wanted to work in the medical sector. But working at TEBITA makes me realize everyday that I am doing what I love, which is saving lives.What education / training have you received to date that prepared you for your role at TEBITA? In addition to the nursing courses I took at the Ethiopian Military Health Science College, I have taken several trainings on emergency medical services from places such as: Addis Ababa University Medical College (Black Lion Campus), Fire and Emergency Services, and I have also worked in OPD (Outpatient Department) in several private clinics for 16 years throughout Ethiopia. After completing my trainings at the Black Lion Hospital, I also worked as a paramedic nurse and as a first aid caregiver at government hospitals in Addis Ababa and other cities. My experience in the sector has equipped me to become ambulance crew head at TEBITA and to give trainings on fire and emergency response.What is your favorite part about working for TEBITA as an Emergency Medicine Nurse? I love interacting with the clients and getting positive feedback. And getting ready for dispatch and rushing to save lives - this is the best part of my job. Also working at the stadium where major soccer games are taking place is one of the highlights of the job.Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? In the next 5 to 10 years, I see myself helping to grow TEBITA as a company. Because I am involved in the core business of the company, I feel like an owner of the company. Our company has plans to expand to air ambulance services, and growing the company from an emergency care provider in just Ethiopia to other East Africa countries. I dream of having dispatch centers all over Ethiopia to reach patients quickly, and growing our services in the region in the long term.

RENEW continues our Q&A series by profiling an employee of TEBITA, a service partner of EAES.

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Innovation in the Healthcare Industry, One Ambulance Ride at a Time

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Month Long Investor Roadshow Concludes with Highlight at BYU</h1>Matt and Laura Davis, partners of RENEW and founding angel investors of the Impact Angel Network, recently completed a month-long investor roadshow that spanned coast to coast, from Boston and New York to San Francisco and Portland.One of the highlights of the trip was RENEW’s time with the students and faculty members of Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. Laura and Matt met with many bright and driven individuals from the Physics and Astronomy Department and the Ballard Center for Economic Self Reliance - it was truly an impressive group! The partners especially enjoyed having lunch with the students, hosted by the Physics and Astronomy Department, hearing about their current degrees and their plans for pursuing careers. Matt and Laura had many memorable conversations and one-on-ones with the faculty members, as well.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:97.15%;"><img src="/uploads/byu_blog_b034342eb5.jpg"></figure>Part of Matt’s day at BYU included a colloquium on the rise of and need for impact investing in emerging economies. Matt’s presentation started out with some personal stories on how he, as a physics student himself, became involved in the world of international development and investment. Matt then went on to further explain how small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in many African countries are experiencing a deep financing constraint, which in turn creates a “missing middle” in the economy. This is a pressing issue, as SMEs tend to be the engines of growth, create jobs, provide local goods and services, and generate tax revenue. Luckily, a solution exists in the form of impact investing.Matt wrapped up the presentation by explaining how there is a world of opportunities for physics students, especially in finance-based positions, and that by leveraging their scientific backgrounds, they can in turn tackle global problems in completely new ways.

RENEW’s Matt Davis spoke with BYU students and faculty at an impact investing colloquium.