memebers name
1, Tsehaynesh Biruh Birhanu
2, Fikiretsion Tasew Tsegaye
3, Dagim mulat chekol
4, Alazar Wondifraw Assefa
🔥 INSA Summer Camp 2025 - Group 9 Welcome to Group 9’s official repository for the INSA Summer Camp 2025! We’re a team of four passionate students from INSA, working together to build a creative, impactful, and technically strong project. Stay tuned for updates as we bring our vision to life!
//// TITLE- EquityLite Ethiopia
- Problems Addressed
The primary problem EquityLite Ethiopia aims to solve is the informal and unstructured nature of startup funding in Ethiopia. Historically, early-stage investment in the country has relied heavily on personal trust, verbal agreements, and a lack of documented transactions. This informality creates several challenges: •Funding Gap: Startups, especially those outside major cities, struggle to access structured and reliable investment channels. •Lack of Formalization: The absence of formal processes hinders startups from becoming legally investable entities, limiting their growth potential. •Investor Risk: Investors face significant risks due to a lack of transparency, accountability, and formal protections for their investments. •Limited Access to Capital: Both local and diaspora investors find it difficult to identify and securely invest in promising Ethiopian startups.
- Solutions Provided
•EquityLite Ethiopia offers a comprehensive digital solution to formalize and streamline startup investment. It provides a secure online platform that connects Ethiopian startups with local and diaspora investors, offering: •Digital Crowdfunding Platform: A centralized hub for startups to present verified business ideas and for investors to contribute funds. •Equity or Profit-Sharing Models: Facilitates investments where investors receive clear equity stakes or profit-sharing agreements, moving beyond donation-based models. •Digital Contracts and Milestone Tracking: Ensures accountability and trust through legally binding digital contracts and incremental fund release based on pre-defined operational or developmental milestones. •e-KYC and Due Diligence: Implements robust verification processes for both startups and investors, enhancing security and reducing fraud. •Investor-Startup Matching Algorithm: Intelligently connects suitable investors with startups based on shared interests and investment criteria.
- What Makes EquityLite Ethiopia Unique
•EquityLite Ethiopia distinguishes itself from existing informal funding methods and other crowdfunding platforms (like WegenFund, which focuses on donation/reward-based models) through several key unique selling propositions: •Investor-Oriented Approach: Unlike platforms for supporters or fans, EquityLite is designed for serious investors seeking financial returns or equity ownership. •Formal Startup Growth Support: It actively helps formalize and scale Ethiopian startups by integrating contracts, milestone tracking, and structured capital allocation, guiding them towards becoming investable legal entities. •Milestone & Risk Management: The milestone-based payment system ensures accountability and significantly mitigates investor risk by releasing funds incrementally upon achievement of pre-defined goals. •Regulatory-Ready Design: The platform is built with an eye towards future fintech and capital investment laws, positioning it to attract banks and legal backers. •Built-in Monetization Ecosystem: It incorporates diverse revenue streams from its inception, ensuring sustainability. •Designed for Diaspora Angel Network: Specifically engineered to enable local founders to pitch to a global network of Ethiopian diaspora investors, facilitating cross-border private investment. •Low Local Competition: The Ethiopian market currently lacks formal startup crowdfunding platforms, giving EquityLite a significant first-mover advantage.
- How EquityLite Ethiopia Generates Income
EquityLite Ethiopia employs a multi-faceted and sustainable revenue model:
1.Transaction Commission: A commission of 2-5% is charged on each successful investment or funding deal processed through the platform.
2.Startup Premium Profiles: Startups can pay for premium listings that offer enhanced visibility, video pitch slots, and detailed analytics.
3.Investor Subscription: Vetted investors can subscribe to monthly or annual premium plans for access to exclusive features, market insights, and advanced analytics.
4.Business Verification Service: An optional due diligence and background check service is offered for a fee, providing comprehensive reports to investors.
Setup: Run npm install in both frontend and backend folders. Start frontend: npm run dev (http://localhost:5173/) Start backend: npx nodemon server.js (http://localhost:5000/) docker run postgres:15-alpine