With Askamar I have learnt how to keep records of business transactions, put plans of doing business on paper, and define my business model to pitch and communicate with the angel investors to access finance that I couldn’t from commercial banks and micro financial institutions.”

Three years ago we were at the verge of dismantling our company due to lack of market and challenge we faced to continue as a group in a business. Before we started the business we used to share dormitory for five years during our study of Civil Engineering in Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. With Askamar’s customized business development service we learnt how to do our marketing efficiently and abled to attract market and got orders that we couldn’t full fill with our capacity. Later on, with the financial management customized training at Askamar we accessed finance (for Capital and running) from one of the micro financial institution. The challenge we faced to continue as a group was also solved with the sessions we had with Askamar’s customized Human Resource BDS.  

 . . . With Askamar I went through SWOT analysis; define business model, made action plans for a year and one to one follow-up for 12 months. Starting from the second month I start getting orders while my business has no cash to perform the request. Askamar mentored me to plan, execute and sale my products to customers and potential customers. By keeping records of the business transactions I learnt to communicate with the potential Angel investors to access more finance to go for the new business opportunities with the experience and idea that I have about the opportunity.

Professionally I am pharmacist. I also studied MBA which gave me the opportunity to meet Askamar! Literally I don’t have any business experience, but would love to start my own for sure. To start my own business, I have made limited feasibility study regarding soft drink distribution but due to lack of location I couldn’t proceed. When I met Askamar they presented me available business that needs finance to full fill their current business demand while sharing the profit for specific time and project with the experience that I will use it to start my own business some other time. I have taken group Business 101 with one to one follow-up session with Askamar to enable me to evaluate business opportunities, profitability and trustworthiness of the business owner. With this arrangement I have invested more than 12 times and grow my 50,000 birr to 200,000 birr and got experience on seven different types of business in two years. And would like to do more with Askamar!