<h1 style="text-align:center;">Checking in on the Accelerating Business Growth Project</h1>In 2016, RENEW signed a collaboration agreement with the development arm of the Canadian federal government, Global Affairs Canada, for a project known as <a href="http://w05.international.gc.ca/projectbrowser-banqueprojets/project-projet/details/D002584001">Accelerating Business Growth </a>(ABG). The ABG Project aims to support high potential, responsible small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ethiopia so they can attract and efficiently use finance to scale up, enabling them to play a stronger role in the Ethiopian economy. The project addresses the gap in the capital markets in Ethiopia and many other countries in Africa, called the “missing middle”. This missing middle limits the ability of SMEs to access finance to grow their businesses and create sustainable jobs for women and men.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/amalsa_f864b090f8.jpg"></figure>The project’s ultimate outcome is to increase employment and generate income opportunities for men, women and young adults from Ethiopia’s small and medium enterprises sector and related value chains. Specifically, RENEW is aiming to support a total of 5,000 jobs and help Ethiopian SMEs attract $52.5M (CAD) of financing to help scale their companies by the time the project concludes in May 2021. A sampling of other outcomes and results expected from the ABG Project are:<ul><li>500 SMEs trained on finance within the PE500 program</li><li>An annual sales growth rate increase of 10% achieved by companies who participate in The Exec’s Program</li><li>Ongoing technical assistance provided to 50 companies (SMEs) and 20 resource providers in Ethiopia</li><li><a href="https://www.renewcapital.com/investing">Impact Angel Network </a>(IAN) grown to 175 individuals and families</li></ul>For more information on ABG, read the blog we published in November of 2016 shortly after the project launch.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/the_exchange_training_1_0124e42b5d.jpg"></figure>Through the first years of the project, RENEW is pleased to report that strong progress has been made on the targets. The following list highlights some of our achievements through May 2018:<ul><li>314 business owners have been trained on private equity under the PE500 program.</li><li>Provided legal support and closed investments in two SMEs: one in a logistics company (<a href="../2017/press-release-ian-invest-logistics-and-e-commerce-ethiopia.html">Roadrunner Technology Solutions LLC</a>) and one in a global restaurant brand (FC Specialty Restaurant PLC).</li><li>Graduated the first cohort of the <a href="https://www.renewcapital.com/companies">The Exec’s Program</a>, and launched the second cohort with a total of 17 executives enrolled, representing 14 SMEs of which nine are women-led.</li><li>Graduated cohort one of the <a href="https://www.renewcapital.com/companies">CFO100</a> program, and launched the second cohort with a total of 33 finance professionals enrolled, representing 33 SMEs from which 10 are women.</li><li>Grew the Impact Angel Network (IAN) by 36 members.</li><li>Helped accelerator companies attract more than 10M CAD of financing from private sources.</li><li>Provided on-going business growth support and technical assistance (TA) for companies that are supporting 3,021 jobs in Ethiopia, 57% of which are held by women.</li><li>Launched Chigign ‘Tobiya, in partnership with <a href="http://www.tonetormultimedia.com/">Tonetor Multimedia</a>, aimed at raising awareness and building interest in entrepreneurship locally in Ethiopia. The TV series is broadcast on national television (FANA TV), and involves entrepreneurs looking to raise capital by pitching their ideas to a panel including RENEW and three other local angel investors.</li><li>Launched the ‘The Women in Finance Series’ aimed at empowering and inspiring women finance professionals in Ethiopia. Held two sessions; one in November 2017, in partnership with Zemen Bank with the theme "How to communicate and influence decision making" and the second edition with Enat Bank in March 2018.</li><li>Analyzed the ABG’s 2017 Exec’s Program results against the Global Accelerator Learning Initiative (GALI) survey showing companies that have gone through the Exec’s Program are outperforming the benchmarks in the following areas: job growth, job creation, revenue growth, and capital securing.</li></ul>The ABG 2017 Exec’s Program reported the creation of 8.7 jobs year-over-year, whereas GALI companies reported only 1.33 jobs. Nearly 90% of the companies in The Exec’s Program increased their staff numbers after joining, compared to the GALI survey results of 70% on the accelerated ventures based in Sub-Saharan Africa. On average, companies that went through the Exec’s Program increased their revenues by $391,832 while the accelerated companies surveyed in the GALI report, increased their revenues on average by $22,321.At RENEW, we’re proud of the progress made to date on the ABG Project and will continue working to meet or exceed all of the project’s targets while making a significant impact on Ethiopia’s private sector. This blended finance arrangement with the Canadian Government is an innovative model that is truly helping bridge the financing gap in Ethiopia’s economy. Thank you to Canada for the continued support and for helping RENEW scale private equity investing and education in Ethiopia.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/screen_shot_2018_10_03_at_5_03_23_pm_be35f82c68.png"></figure>

How RENEW’s partnership with Canada is impacting the SME ecosystem in Ethiopia.

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Checking in on the Accelerating Business Growth Project

<h1 style="text-align:center;">October Resource Blog</h1>This blog post focuses on stories covering two iconic brands (Domino’s Pizza and Lao Gan Ma) and how they started their businesses and what decisions they made over the years to help them reach their current scale and visibility. The last article provides tools to make better decisions to improve long-term consequences of your company.<a href="https://producthabits.com/dominos-pizza-drove-90x-increase-stock-value-acting-like-tech-startup/">How Domino’s Pizza Drove a 90x Increase in Stock Value by Acting Like a Tech Startup</a>: “Startups can learn some of the most valuable lessons on product and marketing from the growth of the world’s biggest pizza chain. The story of Domino’s Pizza is a hero’s journey. It’s a story of reinvention. Domino’s had a 180-degree company overhaul and turned critics into superfans by being honest with themselves about their weaknesses. They took a huge, scary risk and completely scrapped and remade their core product: pizza”. (Product Habits)<a href="https://www.whatsonweibo.com/lao-gan-ma-story-chinas-spicy-godmother-tao-huabi/">Lao Gan Ma: The Story of China’s Most Spicy Godmother Tao Huabi</a>: “She is China’s ‘Old Godmother’: Tao Huabi is the creator of one of China’s most famous chili sauces and is the embodiment of the ‘Chinese dream.’ By following her own path and relying on her business instinct, Tao rose from poverty and became a multi-billionaire”. (What’s on Weibo)<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/01/opinion/sunday/how-make-big-decision.html">How to Make a Big Decision</a>: When you face a complex decision that requires a long period of deliberation, a decision whose consequences might last for years or even decades, you might have a need to see the current situation from new perspectives, to imagine new possibilities, to weigh your options with more sophistication. The article shares tools, hacks, and nudges to help you make these decisions. (The New York Times)<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/screen_shot_2018_10_01_at_1_17_00_pm_0_555ca1fba0.png"><figcaption>Image Source: The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/01/opinion/sunday/how-make-big-decision.html">How to Make a Big Decision</a></figcaption></figure>

A look at how big brands have scaled their businesses.

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October Resource Blog

<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.

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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.