About Mekenet

Building the digital መቀነት for Ethiopia.

We are an Ethiopian fintech making insurance simple, transparent and trustworthy — for every citizen, and for every insurer that serves them.

Traditional Makenet woven belt

Why "Mekenet"?

In traditional Ethiopian culture, the መቀነት (Makenet) is a woven cloth belt — a corset where families kept their savings, close to the body, always protected. It is one of our oldest, most personal symbols of financial safety.

We took that idea into the digital age: a place where any Ethiopian can save themselves — from accident, illness, fire, theft, even war — by buying the right policy from the right insurer, in seconds, on their phone.

Mission

Make insurance accessible to every Ethiopian through one open digital marketplace.

Vision

An Ethiopia where buying insurance is as simple as sending money, and every claim is paid fairly and fast.

Values

Customer first. Insurer partnership. Honest pricing. Local engineering. Zero tolerance for fraud.

The team

The Founders and Consultants behind Mekenet

Ethiopian operators with deep experience in insurance, engineering and product.

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Nurelegn Zelalem

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Leads Mekenet's overall vision, business strategy, regulatory engagement and strategic partnerships with insurance companies across Ethiopia.

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Nebiyat Merid

Co-Founder & Chief Partnership Officer (CPO)

Drives strategic partnerships, business operations, customer experience and insurer onboarding, helping expand Mekenet's presence across Ethiopia.

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Getachew Atsibha

Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Leads Mekenet's technology strategy, system architecture and engineering, with a focus on building secure, scalable insurance and AI-powered solutions.

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Yibrah Girmay

Co-Founder & Tech Lead

Leads the development of Mekenet's digital platforms, translating business requirements into reliable, scalable and user-focused technology solutions.

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Aminu Surur

External Advisor to Mekenet

Provides strategic guidance and industry insight to support Mekenet's growth, innovation, partnerships and long-term business development.

We believe Ethiopian insurance deserves Ethiopian-built technology.

Talk to the team