Ethiopia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Lela Trails is launching an exciting new sustainable tourism project in the Gurage Zone in Ethiopia, by developing a network of hiking trails, and paths, alternative activities, and constructing community guesthouses.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

The project consists in constructing guesthouses and developing a network of hiking trails of different levels so that visitors can explore the Gurage highlands and culture. Clients will be accommodated in simple community guesthouses with shared toilet and shower. All these are built in the traditional Gurage construction style and are located at an average altitude of 2,400-3,300m and at a distance of about 10-15 km from each other, being the ideal altitude and distance for hiking and for overnight accommodation. The traditional Gurage “Godjo” huts can be built in different sizes. The preliminary plan is to have 1 big size Godjo bet of 9-10m diameter which includes kitchen, store, dining area and toilet and shower facilities. 4 or 5 smaller or medium sized godjos of the diameter of about 6-7m are required as bedrooms.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Business and project objectives are: - To increase the offer and destinations for outdoor and community tourism - To contribute in providing more tourism facilities in Ethiopia - To help develop the tourism industry in the region and zone - To increase the community benefit through tourism - To contribute for sustainable tourism development in the region - To create new job opportunities for local residents - To prevent internal migration towards cities like Addis Ababa - To create sense of ownership amongst the community - To promote the area in particular and Ethiopia as a whole - To bring foreign currency to the country

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

"Users" of the products will be tourists, both international and domestic, who will: 1. Have a unique and authentic tourism experience 2. Feeling good because supporting the local community 3. Have a better and more sustainable tour

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The main beneficiaries are the local people, the communities living in the remore Gurage area. They will benefit through: - enabling quality job creation (coordinator, local tour guide, homestay family, food department, craftsmanship, sales) - generating local economic development - helping eco-friendly tourism development - enabling community empowerment - preserving the traditional values of the local community.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-06-02

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

- Milen Mihertabe, Co-Founder Milen has 9 years of experience guiding hiking and cultural tours across Ethiopia. Her expertise in community-based tourism is invaluable. - Elyas Tarekegn, Co-Founder With a background in tourism management, Elyas oversees daily operations and logistics for Lela Trails. He’s skilled in customer service and problem-solving - Tesfaye Sisay, Co-Founder Tesfaye has over 8 years of experience leading tours and managing tourism operations in Ethiopia. His passion is creating immersive cultural experiences.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://lelatrails.com

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Tourism

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Install 15 solar-powered clean water stations through collaboration with partners like 1 Drop of Water to improve health, reduce water-borne diseases and ensure sustainable access to safe water sources (SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being).

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Provide basic digital literacy and skills training to over 300 marginalized villagers via specialized workshops to improve technological access for education and livelihoods (SDG 4 Quality Education).

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Train and employ over 300 villagers, with at least 60% women, to promote gender equality (SDG 5).

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

Install 15 solar-powered clean water stations through collaboration with partners like 1 Drop of Water to improve health, reduce water-borne diseases and ensure sustainable access to safe water sources (SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation).

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Install 15 solar-powered clean water stations through collaboration with partners like 1 Drop of Water to improve health, reduce water-borne diseases and ensure sustainable access to safe water sources (SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy). Distribute 200 fuel-efficient gasifier stoves from Noha Stove across all households in 8 villages to mitigate indoor pollution through provision of affordable and sustainable cooking technologies (SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy).

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Train and employ over 300 villagers, with at least 60% women, to promote decent work opportunities (SDG 8). Establish community-owned tourism enterprise committees in 4 villages for financial management, ensuring sustained eco-friendly local livelihoods and economic growth (SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth).

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Provide basic digital literacy and skills training to over 300 marginalized villagers via specialized workshops to improve technological access for education and livelihoods (SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Construct a 150-metre wire bridge in partnership with access infrastructure experts that connects 4 villages across the river, facilitating year-round accessibility and communication (SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Train and employ over 300 villagers, with at least 60% women, to reduce inequalities (SDG 10). Develop responsible models for visitor interaction, spreading awareness of marginalized indigenous lifestyles to over 5,000 tourists, countering the lack of exposure to ethnic minority groups globally (SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities).

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Work with 600 villagers in a specialized program to revive endangered Gurage architectural heritage sites involving traditional construction practices using local materials for cultural preservation (SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities).

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

2

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

Implement reforestation, biodiversity conservation and plastic waste management drives through local community participation to mitigate environmental damage along trails and villages (SDG 15 Life on Land).

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

3

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

2

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

3

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

2

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

4

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

4

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

6

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

4

06.08 Justification for my startup

In the tourism sector there is a high demand for accommodation and service like this one.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

There are very few other examples like this in the whole country, and we're the only one proposing it for this region.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?