Ethio-French CreaTech Forum 2026 – Creativity × Technology

About the Forum

Where Creativity meets Technology

The Ethio-French CreaTech Forum is a leading platform connecting Ethiopia’s creative and tech ecosystem with global partners.

Over three days, the Forum brings together startups, investors, creatives, and policymakers through curated talks, showcases, and networking moments.

It’s a space to discover ideas, build connections, and shape the future of innovation in Ethiopia and beyond.

The Roadmap

Key Event Timeline

D1

08:30 – 09:00

Networking Registration & Networking / Jebena Coffee

09:20

Mix & Mingle Arrival of investors - Booth Visit

09:30 – 10:00
Main Event Official Opening Ceremony
                

10:00

Exhibit Booth Visit Starts

10:30 – 12:30

Masterclass Intro to Game Development with Unity
Speaker: Samuel Sisay (Qene Games, Beemi)

11:30 – 12:30

Panel The Future of Africa’s Creative Ecosystems: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities

12:30 – 14:00

Break Lunch Break + Preview Screening (Animation movies)

14:00 – 15:30

Panel From Creation to Market: Monetizing Creative Tech in Africa

15:30 – 16:30

Networking Interactive B2B

16:30 – 17:30

Pitch Pitching Competition (Group 1)

17:30 – 20:00

Mix & Mingle Networking Cocktail Reception Invite Only

D2

09:00 – 10:00

Mix & Mingle Arrival of participants & Coffee

10:00 – 12:00

Masterclass Create Short Animations
Speaker: Dawit Yilma

10:00 – 11:00

Panel Beyond Borders: How Local Animated Stories Become Global IP

11:30 – 12:30
Showcase Craft Addis Activation

12:30 – 13:30

Break Lunch Break + Preview Screening

14:00 – 14:45

Fireside Fireside Chat: From Idea to Creative Startup

14:00 – 14:50

Panel Beyond the Fabric: Sustainability and the Rise of Digital Fashion

15:00 – 16:00

Panel The Rise of AI Tools in Creativity

16:15 – 17:45

Pitch Pitching Competition (Group 2)

18:30 – 20:00

Main Event Creative Night: Verse in Motion

D3

09:30 – 10:00

Mix & Mingle Arrival of participants & Coffee

10:00 – 14:00
Tournament Game Tournament

14:00 – 15:00

Feedback Incubation Program Feedback

16:00 – 17:30
Exhibition Exhibition Preview:
                  Refraction Solo Mixed Media Experience

16:30 – 18:00

Panel On Entrepreneurship and Science - Campus France

18:00 – 19:30

Ceremony Award and Closing Ceremony

19:30 – 20:30

Main Event Closing DJ set Invite Only

Forum Speakers

Meet the Panelists

Industry leaders, founders, and innovators shaping the future of creative technology — explore each session below.

From Creation to Market

Monetizing Creative Tech in Africa

Day 1 · April 22 14:00 – 15:30

Natnael Aychew

Head of Operations

WhizKids

Markos Lemma

CEO

Iceaddis

Marie Lora-Mungai

Founder

Restless Global, France

Mahder Mulusew

Founder

Vista Technologies

Beyond Borders

How Local Animated Stories Become Global IP

Day 2 · April 23 10:00 – 11:00

Richard Musinguzi

Founder

Katoto Studio, Uganda

Minasie Terefe

Founder

Behagerlij Animations

Mounia Aram

Founder

Mounia Aram Company, France

Bereket T. Lakew

Co-founder

GMedia

The Rise of AI Tools in Creativity

How artificial intelligence is reshaping creative industries

Day 2 · April 23 15:00 – 16:00

Kidus Yared

Founder

Hasab AI

Tsegaw Tesfa

Co-Founder

Qedamwi Studios

Abel Mekasha

AI Film Maker

Independent

Dawit Abraham

Founder

Qene Games

The Future of Africa's Creative Ecosystems

Trends, Challenges & Opportunities

Day 1 · April 22 11:30 – 12:30

Mahlet Kassay

COO

Iceaddis

Zelalem Woldemariam

CEO & Chief Creative Director

Zeleman Communication

Olivier Pascal

President

SPOC, France

Dagmawi Bedilu

Co-founder

Efuye Gela

Getting Here

Venue Location

Join us at the Alliance Ethio-Française in Piassa, Addis Ababa.

Ethio-French
CreaTech Forum 2026

Where Creativity meets Technology

Key Event Timeline

Day 1 — April 22

Day 2 — April 23

Day 3 — April 24

Meet the Panelists

From Creation to Market

Natnael Aychew

Markos Lemma

Marie Lora-Mungai

Mahder Mulusew

Beyond Borders

Richard Musinguzi

Minasie Terefe

Mounia Aram

Bereket T. Lakew

The Rise of AI Tools in Creativity

Kidus Yared

Tsegaw Tesfa

Abel Mekasha

Dawit Abraham

The Future of Africa's Creative Ecosystems

Mahlet Kassay

Zelalem Woldemariam

Olivier Pascal

Dagmawi Bedilu

Thank You for Joining Us

Venue Location

Ethio-FrenchCreaTech Forum 2026

Where Creativity meets Technology

Key Event Timeline

Day 1 — April 22

Day 2 — April 23

Day 3 — April 24

Meet the Panelists

From Creation to Market

Natnael Aychew

Markos Lemma

Marie Lora-Mungai

Mahder Mulusew

Beyond Borders

Richard Musinguzi

Minasie Terefe

Mounia Aram

Bereket T. Lakew

The Rise of AI Tools in Creativity

Kidus Yared

Tsegaw Tesfa

Abel Mekasha

Dawit Abraham

The Future of Africa's Creative Ecosystems

Mahlet Kassay

Zelalem Woldemariam

Olivier Pascal

Dagmawi Bedilu

Thank You for Joining Us

Venue Location

Ethio-French
CreaTech Forum 2026