<h1 style="text-align:center;">Visiting Addis 5 Years Later</h1>Guest Blog:This is a guest blog by Isabel Marquette whose family is a member and investor in the Impact Angel Network.I lived in Ethiopia with my family for six months when I was 14 years old, back in 2014. This was during the early years of RENEW and my first time experiencing a culture outside of the United States. I stayed for six months and left with many new friends and a longing to return.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/Blog_3_b3e2355785.png"></figure>Five years later, I returned to Addis this summer to spend time reconnecting with friends and to visit some of the companies in which my family has invested. I spent time all over the city and from my perspective, a lot has changed, but some things are the same five years later. The Edna Mall appears mostly unchanged, businesses such as the bakery we frequented have moved locations, marking small changes and incremental growth. In the community where my friends live, their simple homes are much the same and the roads remain unpaved years later. The train is one of the biggest additions to the city. Infrastructure and various buildings are improving. The things I loved most about Ethiopia, thankfully remained unchanged. Once again, I experienced the friendly people, welcoming communities, and delicious food.Not only did I spend time with old friends, but I also made new friends while I was there. I met up with friends who I knew from my first trip, from the neighborhood in which my family stayed previously. Most of them grew up together and continue to live simply, spending most of their free time hanging out or playing soccer on the street. I also met a new cohort of young people who are my age and being educated globally, but return to Addis for the summer. The common theme among all of them is a general optimism about the direction of the country. They would say the economic growth and opportunities, as well as the new political leadership is slowly opening doors for more people. Many young people still struggle with unemployment or underemployment, so it’ll be great to see how this new leadership changes the economy in the years to come.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/screen_shot_2018_07_19_at_2_fotor_5b938bc51a.png"></figure>The slow and incremental changes I observed on a macro level is also true about the businesses that my parents have invested in. You can see first-hand that things change and grow but it takes time, and sometimes takes longer than expected. While in Addis, I had the chance to visit eight different businesses, four of which are companies my parents are invested in. My favorite part about visiting the different companies was meeting the entrepreneurs and hearing their stories. One of the highlights was meeting engineers who had finished their studies and were working at dVentus, the Impact Angel Network’s first investment. It was inspiring because I am currently pursuing an engineering degree as well. I witnessed them going through some of the same processes that I have studied such as preforming tests on meters. It was great to see some of the principles and processes I’m learning in a real-world setting. Another business that stood out to me was Krotaj. During the visit, we had the chance to walk through each step of the manufacturing process. I could see the raw materials and even had the chance to taste some of the finished tahini – delicious! &nbsp;

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Visiting Addis 5 Years Later

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Press Release: RENEW to Enter Uganda Market</h1><a href="https://latest-api.renewcapital.com/uploads/RENEW_Press_Release_Uganda_FINAL_1d1427f9c5.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Download the Full Press Release.</a>Kampala, Uganda, September 6, 2018—RENEW, a private equity impact investing firm, announces its expansion into its second African country, Uganda. The partners of RENEW recently travelled to Kampala, Uganda to hold preliminary meetings with promising companies, explore potential office sites, and interview applicants for RENEW’s first full-time position in country. RENEW’s local entity, RENEW Investments Uganda LTD, is officially registered with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau and has hired its first employee.Members of the RENEW team first traveled to Uganda in 2006 and have been observing the country ever since. Despite challenges, the country has experienced significant growth with a GDP of $88.61 billion (2017 est.). Several factors make it an attractive destination for RENEW and the Impact Angel Network, including a growing population (currently estimated at 40 million), a rising middle class with a per capital GDP of $2,400, a government oriented towards private sector growth and a legal system mainly based in English common law.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/uagnda_fotor_afaaa4a6de.jpg"></figure>“Uganda has performed very well over the past ten years. The country also has a special place in RENEW’s history, as it was the first country I visited on the continent and learned about the immense opportunity in Sub-Saharan Africa’s private sector. We are excited that RENEW and the Impact Angel Network (IAN) are expanding from Ethiopia, where we have become the most active investment firm, into Uganda; a country rich with culture and opportunity,” RENEW’s CEO Matthew Davis recently commented.RENEW has brought on Mary Adoi, as Legal Counsel. Mary comes to RENEW from Barry Investments Ltd, a commodity trading company operating in Northern Uganda, where she offered legal advisory services to the firm. Mary holds a bachelor’s degree from Makerere University Kampala and a post-graduate diploma from the Law Development Centre.RENEW has been a presence in Ethiopia since 2012 and, with the IAN, has become one of the most active private equity investors in the country and plans to bring this full model to Uganda. RENEW is an impact investment firm that has designed an innovative financing model to address the missing middle that exists in the capital markets across many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The missing middle is a gap in the capital markets that exists between micro-finance and larger equity funds and bank financing. The missing middle limits the development of the private sector, specifically for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). RENEW's model fills this gap by investing capital alongside the IAN, a global network of impact investors. RENEW established the IAN in 2012, and it has now grown to become the largest angel network in North America dedicated to investing in SMEs in Africa. RENEW and the IAN partner with the development community to build vibrant angel investment ecosystems that provide risk capital for SMEs, unlocking their potential for job creation and financial returns.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/uagnda2_c366fc7bb2.jpg"></figure>###&nbsp;To find out more about RENEW, please visit <a href="../../index.html">www.renewcapital.com</a>. RENEW manages the Impact Angel Network (IAN) and provides professional management and consulting services to portfolio companies. The IAN is one of the most active private equity investors in Ethiopia.

RENEW Expands to Second Country in Africa.

Uganda

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Press Release: RENEW to Enter Uganda Market

<h1 style="text-align:center;">September Resource Blog</h1>This month, we've collected a list of articles about customer experiences and engagement tips from successful companies. Take a read through the three resources below for a deeper dive into the topic.<a href="https://zandercutt.com/2018/08/23/the-approval-economy/">How To Propel Employee Engagement To Sky-Rocketing Levels</a>: Pepsi was the first company in history to market itself by promoting the image of the consumer that drank it, as opposed to the product itself — and that was only 50 years ago. Since then, consumers, aided by social media, have become far more conscious of who they are in the context of the products they use than even Pepsi could’ve imagined. In this society of ultra-conscious consumers, successful brands will be those that make consumers feel the way they want to feel about themselves. (Zander Nethercutt)<a href="https://www.comstocksmag.com/longreads/cover-worlds-fastest-man">Profile of CC Myers Construction company</a>: C.C. Myers, who, for more than two decades, has been California’s go-to guy when roads are ravaged by acts of God or the toll of time. The New York Times once called him the “Miracle Worker Highway Man.” His current company, Myers &amp; Sons (which he runs with son Clinton), juggles more than 25 active projects across six states. They finish jobs early again and again. (Comstock’s)<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/the-ceo-guide-to-customer-experience">The CEO Guide to Consumer Experience</a>: Delighting customers by mastering the concept and execution of an exceptionally good customer experience is a challenge. But it is an essential requirement for leading in an environment where customers wield growing power. (McKinsey and Company)<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/screen_shot_2018_09_05_at_1_23_43_pm_0_2d70043d14.png"><figcaption>Image Source: Zander Nethercutt: <a href="https://zandercutt.com/2018/08/23/the-approval-economy/">How To Propel Employee Engagement To Sky-Rocketing Levels</a></figcaption></figure>

A Look at Customer Experience and Engagement.

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September Resource Blog

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Only 4 Months...</h1>In mid-February 2018 amid increased protest and unrest in Ethiopia, the then sitting prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, announced his gracious and surprising resignation. On April 2, 2018, Dr. Abiy Ahmed was confirmed and sworn in by Ethiopian parliament as the new Prime Minister of Ethiopia.Dr. Abiy is now the chairman of both the ruling EPRDF (Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front) and the OPDO (Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization), which is one of the four coalition parties of the EPRDF.The new prime minister is just 42 years old and the youngest head of government in Africa. Since April, the world has been watching in fascination as he worked to address the country’s challenges head on. Challenges remain, but here at RENEW, we are grateful for the changes we see, and the increasingly positive impact on the business environment.Some of the highlights from the last four months include:<ul><li>Acceptance Speech – Dr. Abiy’s acceptance speech sparked optimism and received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the Ethiopian public including some opposition groups inside and outside Ethiopia. - <a href="http://www.allthingsethiopia.com/ethiopia-news/2760/">Full English Transcript of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Inaugural Speech </a>(All Things Ethiopia - April 2, 2018).</li><li>Charm Offensive - In the weeks after his inauguration, Dr. Abiy launched a “charm offensive” in an effort to defuse tensions; he toured the country, freed prisoners, visited the main regions where protests have erupted, restored internet access in the restive Oromiya region and shut down one of the most infamous prisons where dissidents were jailed. - <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20180730-abiy-ahmed-spreads-hope-reform-ethiopia">Abiy Ahmed: Ethiopia's first Oromo PM spreads hope of reform</a> (France24)</li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/screen_shot_2018_09_04_at_3_25_29_pm_a9771d765b.png"></figure><ul><li>Reducing Trade Barriers - He is working to lower trade barriers with Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan. - <a href="http://www.africanews.com/2018/05/14/ethiopia-ready-to-ratify-africa-free-trade-deal-after-keyna-ghana-pm/">Ethiopia ready to ratify Africa free trade deal after Kenya, Ghana</a> (Africanews.com - May 14, 2018)</li><li>Ending State of Emergency – On June 5, 2018, he ended the state of Emergency. – <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/05/africa/ethiopia-lifts-state-of-emergency/index.html">Ethiopia Lifts State of Emergency Two Months Early</a> (CNN - June 5, 2018 )</li><li>Egypt Relations - The PM was in Egypt this week holding talks with President Sisi. The talks appear to have gone well and eased tensions. President Sisi asked Dr. Abiy to swear to God that the dam will not hurt Egypt - “I swear to God, we will never harm you,” was how Dr. Abiy responded. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-ethiopia/egypt-ethiopia-agree-to-settle-differences-over-nile-mega-dam-idUSKBN1J60YL">Egypt, Ethiopia Agree to Settle Differences over Nile Mega-Dam</a> (Reuters – June 10, 2018)</li><li>Oil - Ethiopia is to start extracting the first ever crude oil deposit from Ethio-Somali Region as of tomorrow, The Reporter learned. To recap what happened back in March, 2018: Poly-GCL, a Chinese company engaged in oil and gas exploration and development project in the Ethio-Somali Regional State, discovered oil and natural gas deposits. The amount of gas reserve discovered by Poly-GCL is estimated to be 6 to 8 Trillion Cubic Feet. <a href="https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/article/ethiopia-start-extract-natural-gas-tomorrow">Ethiopia to Start Extracting Crude Oil</a> (The Reporter – June 27, 2018)</li><li>Opening its Economy - In a major policy shift, the government is set to loosen its monopoly on several key economic sectors, including aviation and telecoms. The government will also allow “outright full privatization” in several other sectors; such as logistics and printing. Ethiopia's move to open its markets has been hailed as a seismic policy shift, but analysts say the new government had little choice after years of tight control took a toll on the economy.</li><li>Eritrea and Ethiopia Make Peace - The Ethiopian PM traveled to Eritrea to make peace. Since then, Ethiopian Airlines flights have been restored and the Eritrean Embassy in Addis has reopened. <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/07/17/how-ethiopia-and-eritrea-made-peace">How Ethiopia and Eritrea Made Peace</a> (The Economist – July 17, 2018)</li><li>FOREX - Dr. Abiy is getting very creative with trying to attract forex from remittances into the country. First, he has offered an attractive deal for diaspora that will come to Ethiopia between August and September. Second, he has set an Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund they will use for development. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-26/ethiopia-s-premier-to-woo-diaspora-investors-as-he-visits-u-s">Ethiopia's Premier to Woo Diaspora Investors as He Visits U.S.</a> (Bloomberg – July 26, 2018) and <a href="https://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/ethiopian-diaspora-trust-fund-account-officially-operational/">Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund Account Officially Operational</a> (Ethiopian Embassy – UK – July 18, 2018)</li><li>Diaspora - Dr. Abiy recently conducted a roadshow across the US - and was very well received by the Diaspora. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/08/abiy-ahmed-meets-the-ethiopian-diaspora/566591/">Abiy Ahmed Meets the Ethiopian Diaspora</a> (The Atlantic – August 4, 2018)</li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/screen_shot_2018_09_04_at_3_29_11_pm_46009b22f2.png"></figure>The challenges ahead of Ethiopia and Dr. Abiy include managing foreign exchange and inflation amidst a growing economy, managing international relations with Ethiopia’s neighbors, and controlling internal resistance from former leaders resistant to change. At RENEW, we remain bullish on the investment potential of Ethiopia and its long term growth.First Image Source: France24: <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20180730-abiy-ahmed-spreads-hope-reform-ethiopia">Abiy Ahmed: Ethiopia's first Oromo PM spreads hope of reform</a>Second Image Source: The Atlantic: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/08/abiy-ahmed-meets-the-ethiopian-diaspora/566591/">Abiy Ahmed Meets the Ethiopian Diaspora</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;

The New Prime Minister Takes Ethiopia by Storm.

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Only 4 Months...

This month, we've collected a list of articles about employees and their productivity, performance, engagement and onboarding. Take a read through the four resources below for a deeper dive into the topics.<ul><li><a href="https://hbr.org/2017/03/great-companies-obsess-over-productivity-not-efficiency">Great Companies Obsess Over Productivity, Not Efficiency</a>: Business leaders often think of “efficiency” and “productivity” as synonyms, two sides of the same coin. When it comes to strategy, however, efficiency and productivity are very different. At a time when so many companies are starved for growth, senior leaders must bring a productivity mindset to their business and remove organizational obstacles to workforce productivity. (Harvard Business Review)</li><li><a href="https://www.inc.com/michael-schneider/8-years-of-neuro-research-shows-you-how-to-increase-employee-productivity-by-50-percent-with-1-initiative.html?utm_source=pocket&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=pockethits">An 8-Year Study Reveals the Key to a High-Performing Culture--and 8 Ways to Build It</a>: Build trust and fuel organizational performance by focusing on these 8 components. Organizational trust is critical to performance and the article highlights the eight ways to build and quantify its existence in the workplace. (Inc.)</li><li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinecomaford/2018/07/14/want-to-better-engage-your-tribe-heres-the-secret/#24cc51699de4">How To Propel Employee Engagement To Sky-Rocketing Levels</a>: Often leaders are focusing so intensely on growth that they miss that their team’s emotional experience is suffering. Remember, safety + belonging + mattering = trust. The article shares a tool that can help forge greater emotional agility and sky-rocketing levels of employee engagement in your tribe. (Forbes)</li><li><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3068830/three-ways-youre-still-on-boarding-new-hires-all-wrong?utm_source=pocket&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=pockethits">Three Ways You’re Still Onboarding New Hires All Wrong</a>: Some of the blame for high employee turnover can be traced right back to their first day on the job. There are small changes you can make–no matter the size of your organization–to make new hires’ first few days as smooth and positive as possible. (Fast Company)</li></ul>Are you an entrepreneur working hard to grow your company? Be sure to email us at <a href="mailto:renew@renewcapital.com">renew@renewcapital.com</a> if you are interested in learning more about RENEW and our commitment to helping businesses scale and to attend one of RENEW’s trainings in Addis Ababa.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/pg26_1_1aea96e42e.png"></figure>Image Source: Forbes: <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinecomaford/2018/07/14/want-to-better-engage-your-tribe-heres-the-secret/#24cc51699de4">How To Propel Employee Engagement To Sky-Rocketing Levels</a> &nbsp;

A Look at Employee Engagement and Productivity.

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August Resource Blog: 2018

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Why Deliver Addis is Becoming the Go-To Ordering System in Addis</h1>Over the last month, Deliver Addis has been rolling out a number of new features for their customers. Even though I’m on the front line, and know when things are launching, I keep getting pleasantly surprised by these new features and the quality of service the company is providing.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/dsc_0041_ffe2958934.jpg"></figure>One thing I’ve noticed is that Deliver Addis is always striving to make improvements to its customer experience. A number of their new features have been big wins that definitely set them apart from competitors. A few of their new features include:<ul><li>Real-time Dispatch and Delivery Time Tracking – If your delivery is running late, a Deliver Addis representative gives you a call with an update.</li><li>Credit Card Payments – This just adds another level of convenience. Being one of those people who doesn’t always have change (especially when ATM outages are common in Addis), being able to pay online with my credit card is a life saver when I’m hungry! They’re of course using state of the art technology to secure all credit card information.</li><li>Rewards Points – Maybe my new favorite addition! Every time you order, you get points on your account that count towards a free meal. It’s a little token of appreciation for my on-going loyalty. I haven’t actually cashed mine in yet, but I am definitely looking forward to a free delivery sometime soon!</li></ul><figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/dsc_0166_0_9594965d03.jpg"></figure>One thing I love about Deliver Addis is the service is reliable, whether I need catering delivered to a meeting or if I need an extra cake for a friend's gathering. I am always pressed for time with the demands of my job and the service allows me a few extra minutes and convenience. Their service also allows me to spend an extra hour or two with the people I care about, rather than being stuck in traffic trying to pick up some food.I’m still on the hunt for my favorite restaurant on the Deliver Addis map. I haven’t been able to commit to one just yet since there is always something new to try. As someone who loves different foods, this has opened up so many different options to me, all from the comfort of my desk (or couch).I know my opinion might be slightly biased, but, as the Senior Portfolio Manager at RENEW, I am probably also one of their biggest critics (in a constructive way). In a rapidly growing city like Addis where new challenges come about every day, reliability is no easy task. Hats off to the Deliver Addis team!

Highlighting New Features for the Delivery Company.

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Why Deliver Addis is Becoming the Go-To Ordering System in Addis

<h1 style="text-align:center;">June Investor Trip</h1>In June, RENEW partners Matt &amp; Laura Davis packed their bags and took off for a week-long investor trip to the Midwest, with stops in Minneapolis, Chicago and Grand Rapids. It was a busy week filled with a number of meetings and two lunch events. The trip was a great opportunity for the partners to visit with Impact Angel Network members and others interested in RENEW's work in Ethiopia.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/investortrip_88a1bb0328.jpg"></figure>Here are some of the trip highlights:<ul><li>The first stop on the week-long trip was Minneapolis. RENEW hosted an informative lunch event at the Oceanaire Seafood Room, supported by IAN Member Beth Marquette, and RENEW supporter Kelsey Rahm. The lunch spurred a lively question and answer period and allowed us to share some great information about investing in Ethiopia.</li><li>Also in Minneapolis, we were able to meet with 3 of our Minneapolis-based IAN Members. It was great to catch up and we enjoyed all your input at our event!</li><li>In Chicago, we hosted our second lunch event of the trip and had a great turnout! The lunch was hosted at 312 Chicago, a restaurant in the Theatre District of Chicago. It was a great opportunity to share about RENEW’s Impact Angel Network and the work we’re doing in Africa. A big thanks to IAN Members Jeff Turi, Jodi Morris and John Trapnell for their support with this event.</li></ul>Thank you to everyone who has helped make our June trip so successful! We’re currently planning our fall trips, so keep your eyes peeled for the dates and locations in the upcoming month.

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June Investor Trip

<h1 style="text-align:center;">July’s Resource Blog</h1>This month, we've collected a great list of articles about raising funds and common mistakes made by start-ups. Take a read through the below three resources for a deeper dive into the topic:<ul><li><a href="https://bothsidesofthetable.com/how-much-should-you-raise-in-your-vc-round-and-what-is-a-vc-looking-at-in-your-model-3b79ff436b63">How Much Should You Raise in Your VC Round? And What is a VC Looking at in Your Model?</a>: Mark Suster provides a litmus test about a conversation any early-stage VC will have with the founder. The test describes how a VC would assess an entrepreneur's elevator pitch.</li><li><a href="https://www.cbinsights.com/research/team-blog/startup-ceo-screwups/?utm_source=CB+Insights+Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=525aa86047-TuesNL_05_29_2018&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_9dc0513989-525aa86047-89425349">54 Mistakes of a Startup CEO</a>: CB Insights CEO describes a running list of 54 mistakes a startup CEO might make involving all facets of building a company – everything from HR to culture to product to sales to operations to admin.</li><li><a href="https://medium.com/techstars/how-raising-a-2-m-seed-round-really-actually-went-b1c53ff9096a">How raising a $2+M Seed Round really, actually went</a>: Here is a real story (involving real humans and human emotions) of closing a seed round.</li></ul>Interested in learning more? Be sure to email us at <a href="mailto:renew@renewcapital.com">renew@renewcapital.com</a> if you are interested in attending one of RENEW’s private equity seminars in Addis Ababa.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/julyresource_3eb024c21e.png"></figure>Image Source: 5NBC: <a href="http://5nbusinessconsultants.com/stake_dilution_a_dilemma_for_start_ups_raising_funds">Stake dilution a dilemma for start-ups raising funds</a>

A list of articles about raising funds and common mistakes made by start-ups.

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July’s Resource Blog

<h1 style="text-align:center;">METAD, an SDG Case Study</h1>The following blog is taken from our <a href="https://latest-api.renewcapital.com/uploads/RENEW_Impact_Report_2017_c0d6c8251c.pdf">2017 Impact Report</a>. Be sure to download the report to read more about RENEW’s approach to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.The expression, “It’s not our job, it’s theirs” is a phrase that resonates with the RENEW team. As we look around our portfolio, we see great examples of Ethiopian entrepreneurs, committed to their businesses and communities and making significant impact that aligns with the SDGs. METAD is one such example.The IAN closed an investment into METAD, an Ethiopian specialty coffee company, in October 2013 and made a second investment in 2015. The investments helped establish two coffee processing facilities on the METAD coffee farms, located near Yirgacheffe in the districts of Hambela and Gedeb in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. At the end of 2017, the company reported they were employing 200 people on a permanent basis and 1,200 seasonal laborers, in addition to supporting 5,400 out growers.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/moving_dried_coffees_to_the_hambela_warehouses_d435e600d1.jpg"></figure>We sat down recently with METAD’s CEO Aman Adinew and this is what he said.What’s your vision for METAD? From a business standpoint, we aim to be the best in specialty coffee. We started out to build a company that is socially responsible, environmentally conscious and making the highest possible impact in the community. That’s why we chose coffee. We saw the gaps and problems in the value chain, and we’ve focused on the opportunity of building a trusted, specialty coffee brand. Enhancing the lives of the people we work with…that’s the vision. That’s the biggest impact we can make.How do you engage the community? It’s key to meet leaders, elders and the community. Once you gain acceptance, they treat you like their son. They trust and respect you. We’ve been lucky at both our processing sites. The people welcomed us and truly know we are there to help them. We’ve significantly raised the average price per kilogram of coffee for the farmer by 30-40%.We focus a lot on education. It matters, because we have the opportunity to groom the next generation of leaders. Ethiopia is still a tribal place. My farm is in an area dominated by a tribe that is not my own. My presence and community engagement is breaking down stereotypes. The people see me putting additional money in their pockets, educating their children and helping to build the community. This is more satisfying than the EBIDTA that I have been able to accomplish.Specifically, we subsidize teacher salaries; we have built a school that holds 800 students; and we are adding an additional wing this year. The community leaders are asking for water, so we are hoping to build a well soon. We also sponsor 105 students from the area to attend college at Gilla University. For our 5,400 out growers, we have built a community center where we provide training to enable them to get premium values for their coffee, and we make a second payment to them at the end of the year, to essentially share our profit with them. We’ve been able to get all of them certified organic. The community center is also used for community meetings and other trainings including family planning seminars. The average family size is 12 in their area. Some families have 15-20 children which is unfortunately some of the highest per capita in the world.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/408_students_received_new_uniforms_edfae8f0a2.jpg"></figure>What kind of diversity are you aiming for in your work force? At the farm about 70% of our workers are women. At our headquarters, it’s about 50%. I won’t say there aren’t challenges, it’s hard for women from our headquarters to be taken seriously by some in the field near the farm, but we are working on it. Our staff are highly paid in our industry. We try to recruit the best, and then when the company grows, they benefit. We also encourage our team to take courses. Our high performing people attend conferences and also learn the export side of the business. Above all, I try to lead by example. I even stay at the farm for two months during the coffee harvest to show them that I am committed and with them.Any special programs for women? We helped bring Grounds for Health to Ethiopia and they run a program in coffee areas to screen workers and out growers, and others in coffee for cervical cancer. It’s an important and lifesaving initiative, we are proud to be a part of.We are also founding members of a group called Equal Origin which encourages women in coffee. Currently of our 5,400 out growers, most are men, but this doesn’t mean that the women don’t play a key role in the coffee production. So, we are educating families about equal rights, and in partnership with some of our buyers, including Intelligentsia, we are encouraging husbands, brothers and fathers to register their wives, sisters and daughter on the land documentation. Women are doing a lot of the work, and we, along with our buyers, are willing to pay a premium for families who are willing to recognize equal rights. Some people are rigid, but what we find in the communities where we work, is that most are open to change. And the economic benefit helps too!Why do your customers choose METAD? Our customers care about our story. That’s the beauty of specialty coffee. Specialty coffee is all about the community in which the coffee is produced. Buyers are willing to pay for good coffee. A whole story like METAD is exciting to them. Coffee they can find anywhere. But good coffee with a story is what our buyers are looking for

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METAD is an Ethiopian specialty coffee company with a vision for crop-to-cup coffee. The Company has strengthened Ethiopia’s coffee brand in the international market, and helped local farmers improve the quality and value of their harvested crop.