Unistream’s expansion into Ethiopia marks a new chapter in cross-border youth entrepreneurship, linking Israel’s “Startup Nation” experience with the ambitions of young innovators in Ethiopia. In this interview with Capital’s Groum Abate, Unistream CEO Ifat Bechor speaks about why the organization chose Ethiopia, how its model adapts to local realities, and what this partnership could mean for youth employment, innovation, and long-term socioeconomic mobility in the country. Excerpts;
Capital: Could you please introduce Unistream and its core mission, especially in the context of youth empowerment through entrepreneurship?
Ifat Bechor: Unistream is an Israeli nonprofit that empowers youth and young adults—especially from the country’s social and geographic periphery—to build startups and develop the entrepreneurial tools, mindset, and network they need to unlock social mobility and build a strong future.
But Unistream is about more than teaching young people how to create a business. It’s about unlocking potential and giving every teen the opportunity to build a future filled with opportunity, dignity, and hope. By treating entrepreneurship as a way of life—not just a skill—we’ve become a force for resilience and renewal in Israeli society, especially in these past two challenging years.
Our mission is simple: to help young people shape their own future rather than accept it as predetermined. Through startup creation, problem-solving, and mentorship, they discover confidence, purpose, and the ability to drive change in their communities.
Capital: What motivated Unistream to expand its programs and partnerships to Ethiopia, particularly through the Ethio-Israel Innovation Week?
Ifat Bechor: Our involvement in Ethiopia grew from a shared belief that, just like in Israel’s periphery, there is extraordinary but untapped human capital here. Young people in Ethiopia have talent, ambition, and creativity—they simply need the skills, confidence, and exposure to the worlds of entrepreneurship that we teach at Unistream to fully unlock their potential.
Ethiopia’s culture and context are different, and that makes the collaboration even more meaningful. We believe we have much to share—from mindset-building to hands-on startup creation—to support Ethiopia’s mission of developing its next generation of innovators and leaders.
Ethio-Israel Innovation Week was the ideal platform to begin this partnership, connecting Israel’s experience in building startups with Ethiopia’s rising youth talent, and creating new opportunities for mobility and growth.
Capital: How does Unistream’s approach to fostering entrepreneurial and innovative thinking among Israeli youth translate and adapt to the Ethiopian context?
Ifat Bechor: Unistream’s approach is built on something very universal: helping young people solve real problems, work in teams, and gain the confidence to turn ideas into action. That model fits naturally in Ethiopia too. We simply adapt the challenges, examples, and opportunities to the Ethiopian reality so the ventures they create feel relevant to their daily lives.
We also share some of the core mindsets that helped shape Israel as a Startup Nation—like seeing challenges as opportunities, embracing failure as part of learning, and developing a healthy disrespect for authority, meaning the confidence to question assumptions and think independently. When presented in a way that respects Ethiopia’s culture, these ideas resonate strongly.
By blending these principles with Ethiopia’s remarkable human capital, we help young people build the entrepreneurial mindset and courage to become the next generation of innovators.
Capital: Can you tell us about the collaboration between Unistream and STEMpower Ethiopia? What are the key goals of this partnership?
Ifat Bechor: Our collaboration with STEMpower brings together two complementary strengths: their deep expertise in hands-on STEM education across Ethiopia, and Unistream’s proven model for entrepreneurial training, mindset-building, and startup creation.
Together, we aim to give young Ethiopians not only technical knowledge, but also the ability to turn that knowledge into real ventures and opportunities. The partnership focuses on connecting STEM with entrepreneurship, building 21st-century skills, cultivating innovators, and creating exchanges between Ethiopian and Israeli educators and mentors.
STEMpower equips youth with the tools to understand how the world works, and Unistream gives them the mindset and confidence to change it.
Capital: What opportunities do you see for young Ethiopian entrepreneurs and startup founders through your innovation training programs?
Ifat Bechor: Ethiopia has an extraordinary young population, a fast-growing digital landscape, and huge unmet needs across many sectors. Through our innovation training programs, young entrepreneurs gain the mindset and practical skills to turn challenges into opportunities.
They learn how to identify real problems, design and test solutions, work with mentors, and present their ideas with confidence. These abilities open doors in fields like technology, agriculture, health, fintech, climate solutions, and community services, creating pathways for youth to become job creators—not just job seekers.
Capital: How important is international cooperation in building Ethiopia’s startup ecosystem, and how does Unistream’s Israeli experience contribute to this?
Ifat Bechor: International cooperation is essential for any startup ecosystem to flourish. Israel’s experience—often referred to as the “Startup Nation”—shows the power of combining education, mentorship, industry engagement, and global networks.
Unistream brings two decades of experience developing entrepreneurial talent in diverse and challenging environments. Our goal is not to import a model, but to co-create one with Ethiopian partners—sharing our learnings while adapting them to local needs, culture, and opportunities.
This collaboration accelerates growth, strengthens ecosystems, and opens doors for cross-border innovation that benefits both countries.
Capital: During your visit, what have been some of the key learnings or impressions about Ethiopia’s innovation and entrepreneurship landscape?
Ifat Bechor: We were deeply impressed by the creativity, energy, and determination we saw everywhere we went. Ethiopia has a young generation that is hungry to innovate and eager to build solutions that can make a real impact in their communities.
Our meetings with the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, professionals from the VC world, the academic sector, and organizations like STEMpower and EDI gave us an even clearer picture of the country’s direction. It’s evident that Ethiopia is investing heavily in its youth and in developing talent in rural areas—an essential step for long-term, inclusive growth.
What stood out most is the strong national commitment to innovation. The ecosystem is growing, the government is prioritizing digital transformation, and there is a true openness to collaboration and learning. It’s clear that Ethiopia is moving toward a vibrant entrepreneurial future and that there are many natural points of interface for Ethiopia and Israel to develop and build together.
Capital: How do you envision the long-term impact of these entrepreneurial education initiatives on socioeconomic mobility and youth employment in Ethiopia?
Ifat Bechor: Entrepreneurial education has the power to transform a young person’s trajectory. It builds confidence, problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and the mindset to create opportunities rather than wait for them. Over time, this leads to greater social mobility, stronger local economies, and a generation of youth who can either build ventures or bring innovative thinking into existing workplaces.
What’s especially exciting in Ethiopia is that the broader ecosystem is becoming more structured and supportive. This means that in the coming years, the impact of entrepreneurial education will multiply. As youth and young adults gain entrepreneurial skills, they will be entering an environment with more incubators, hubs, tech programs, and corporate involvement—creating a strong bridge between education and real economic opportunity.
The combination of a growing tech landscape with a new generation trained in entrepreneurial thinking will lead to more “baked” entrepreneurial mindsets, stronger founders, and better-prepared teams, ultimately strengthening employment and economic resilience across the country.
Capital: What are Unistream’s future plans for working in Ethiopia or other African countries? Are there specific sectors or regions you aim to focus on?
Ifat Bechor: For now, our focus is Ethiopia. Unistream has the global knowledge, entrepreneurial curriculum, and digital capabilities to expand into additional African countries in the future, but success depends on strong partners on the ground. In Ethiopia, we found exactly that.
During our visit, we met partners who share our purpose and passion for empowering youth. This is why Ethiopia will be the center of our efforts as we begin new initiatives and deepen collaborations. We aim to co-create programs with local organizations and focus on sectors where entrepreneurship can have immediate impact—education, digital skills, agriculture, health innovation, and community solutions.
With the right partnerships, we believe we can build a model in Ethiopia that creates real opportunity for young people and eventually becomes a foundation for broader Africa–Israel collaboration.
Capital: How can stakeholders in Ethiopia, including government, civil society, and the private sector, best support and collaborate with Unistream to maximize impact?
Ifat Bechor: To make entrepreneurial education truly meaningful, collaboration is essential. In Ethiopia, we already see strong willingness from the private sector to volunteer, mentor, host young innovators, and open doors that help them gain real exposure to industry. This kind of engagement is invaluable.
Government support is equally critical. When national and regional bodies invest in youth programs, grants, and innovation-focused initiatives, it creates the stability and resources needed to implement programs effectively and reach young people across urban and rural areas.
Civil society organizations add deep community insight and the ability to connect with youth on the ground. When all three sectors work together with a shared vision, it becomes possible to build a sustainable ecosystem where entrepreneurial thinking is nurtured and young people are given real pathways to succeed.
Capital: Given your experience during the COVID-19 pandemic with transitioning online and adjusting programs, has Unistream incorporated new approaches that will benefit your work in Ethiopia?
Ifat Bechor: Absolutely. The COVID-19 period accelerated our digital transformation. We learned to combine online and in-person learning, use remote mentorship, and build flexible hybrid models that can reach young people even in remote areas.
Today, Unistream operates with digital tools, online platforms for mentoring, remote project-based learning, and a scalable curriculum that can be delivered across countries. These tools will help us reach more Ethiopian youth with fewer geographic limitations.
Capital: What message would you like to share with Ethiopian youth aspiring to start their entrepreneurial journey?
Ifat Bechor: My message is simple: your ideas matter, and your future is in your hands. Entrepreneurship is not only for those who have resources—it’s for those who have courage, creativity, and the desire to make things better.
Start small. Be curious. Work together. Believe that you can learn anything. Ethiopia needs your talent, your passion, and your vision—and we are honored to walk this journey with you.
