Name: Meron Girma Mekonnen
Education: B.S. Architecture and Urban Planning
Company name: Méms Studio Plc
Title: Co-founder and manager
Founded in: 2016
What it does: Makes and designs home and office furniture and interior decorating
HQ: Addis Ababa (Ayat area)
Number of employees: 9
Startup Capital: 15,000 birr
Current capital: 200,000 and counting
Reasons for starting the business: Passion for design and creativity
Biggest strength: Persistence
Biggest perks of Ownership: Flexibility with almost everything
Plan: Factory level operation with worldwide distribution
Biggest challenge: Finding professional employees and finance
First career: Interior designers’ assistant
Most interested in meeting: Paulo Coelho
Most admired person: My mom
Stress reducer: Meditation
Favorite past-time: Downtime with family
Favorite book: Alchemist
Favorite destination: Bali
Favorite automobile: Jeep
