In the historic heart of Addis Ababa, a building once synonymous with modernity has been given a new lease of life. The old Arada Post Office—opened in 1908 as the capital’s first modern postal facility under Emperor Menelik II—now houses one of Ethiopia’s hubs for creativity and innovation.
This historic house was the work of Minas Kherbekian, nicknamed “the house demolished,” an Armenian architect who made a lasting impact on the Piasa area of Addis Ababa. According to architect Dawit Benti, this house is a unique example of the high-quality work and distinctive style that Armenian architects brought to the city. Dawit notes that few of these “Addis Ababa style” houses remain in the city. The first owner was Mohamed Ali, an Indian investor who also reportedly served as a financier for Emperor Haile Selassie.
For decades, the two-story structure anchored the bustling Piassa district, symbolizing Ethiopia’s early leap into modernization. Its verandas and colonial-era architecture still echo a time when the city was defining its modern identity. But today, instead of letters and parcels, it is ideas, designs, and prototypes that flow through its halls. It is home to Creative Hub Ethiopia.
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Creative Hub Ethiopiais part of a public-private partnership spearheaded by UNIDO, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, and operated by Iceaddis. Iceaddis oversees the hub’s day-to-day operations, drawing on more than a decade of experience nurturing Ethiopian startups.
“Creative Hub is a public-private partnership,” said Markos Lema, CEO of Iceaddis. “From the public side, there is UNIDO and the Ministry of Labor and Skills. Our mission is to create a technology-based entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ethiopia, supporting early-stage companies to launch products and connect to regional and international markets.”
That dual mandate—policy support from government institutions and entrepreneurial expertise from Iceaddis—anchors the hub’s collaborative model. “From the government, we receive financial support and policy influence; from Iceaddis, we bring startup acceleration expertise and innovation,” explained Abenezer Seife, the hub’s manager.
The Hub was founded with a clear mission: to unlock the potential of Ethiopia’s young talent, connect them to international markets, and help grow the country’s creative industries into engines of employment.
“We have talented and creative youth, and our goal is to help their talents flourish, and give them international exposure,” said Abenezer. “We want to grow the Ethiopian creative industry and, if possible, expand across Africa.”
Already, the hub has spread beyond Addis Ababa to Jimma, where programs reflect local strengths. “Jimma is known for furniture and agro-processing,” Abenezer noted. “So there we concentrate on those sectors.”
Membership is sector-based, drawing in talent from across Ethiopia’s creative spectrum. Leatherworkers and textile artisans share space with app developers, digital media producers, and game designers. Fashion designers and accessory makers work alongside product and industrial designers specializing in furniture, sculpture, and mosaics. Visual artists, architects, and jewelers add further dimensions to the hub’s growing community.
The result is an ecosystem where tradition meets technology, and where Ethiopia’s creative spirit finds both sanctuary and launchpad.
Creative Hub Ethiopia is more than just a co-working space—it is designed to help young businesses move from fragile beginnings to viable enterprises. Members receive tailored training, workshops, and mentorship that address the challenges of scaling up.
“We focus on acceleration,” said Abenezer. “Members come in with businesses already in motion, but many struggle with marketing, branding, strategy, or financial management. We help bridge those gaps.”
Training goes beyond technical skills. Workshops emphasize international quality standards and entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging artists and designers to think like business owners. While leather and garment sectors were the hub’s initial focus, its doors remain open to unconventional ideas—and sometimes to unconventional candidates.
“We don’t usually accept members under 18,” Abenezer explained. “But when a 16-year-old came with a drone idea for agriculture, I couldn’t say no. Globally, the idea wasn’t groundbreaking, but in Ethiopia it was. Rejecting it would have meant repeating the same bottlenecks and gatekeeping that hold back innovation. Sometimes, unique ideas require flexibility to foster inclusive growth.”
The hub offers more than mentorship. Its physical spaces are designed to support every stage of the creative process. Open co-working areas, backed by reliable internet, encourage collaboration across disciplines. Private meeting rooms allow for confidential discussions with partners or clients.
At the heart of the building is the Fab Lab—a workshop equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, and textile machines. Here, ideas are transformed into prototypes and products. “Our aim is to help members move from concepts to physical products with the right tools and support,” Abenezer said.
Other amenities include a digital library for research and online learning, a gallery for exhibitions, and a café that doubles as a networking hub. Perhaps most striking is the glass-walled display facing the street, where the work of members is showcased to passersby. It blurs the line between public space and creative production, inviting the city itself into the conversation.
For many, the hub has been a launching pad. Sofonias Dawit, CEO of Enzert Engineering, designs and builds agricultural machinery tailored to Ethiopia’s needs. Inside the Fab Lab, his team prototypes equipment meant to replace expensive imports with locally engineered alternatives.
“The hub gave us a workspace and helped us connect with potential clients,” Sofonias said. “When my co-founder and I started, we were both employed elsewhere, so having a space outside our jobs was important. Meeting clients here gave us legitimacy and built trust. The training on market development was especially valuable.”
For others, inspiration has come from simply being part of the community. Helen Bete joined the hub as an intern assisting with administrative tasks. Surrounded by designers and fashion entrepreneurs, she saw a path she hadn’t considered before.
“Seeing others working in fashion here made me think, ‘Why not me?’” she recalled. After her internship, she applied for membership, eventually turning her crochet skills into a growing business. “Being here helped me move from intern to entrepreneur. Now I’m running my own business and offering training to others.”
At its core, Creative Hub is as much about community as it is about commerce. The hub nurtures a culture of exchange, where knowledge and skills circulate freely among members. Senior creatives mentor newcomers, ensuring each cohort builds on the experience of the last.
“We hold membership drives every six months and accept around 50 new members each time,” said Abenezer. “But that doesn’t mean previous members leave. They become seniors, mentors, and guides.”
Gesturing toward a woman entering the hub with her young son, he added: “This is what I like. It’s like a sanctuary—a place where people take responsibility and feel a real sense of ownership.”
The hub also serves as a marketplace. Regular pop-up bazaars and showcases allow members to present their work directly to customers, industry representatives, and curious passersby. For many, these events are the first step toward turning a creative pursuit into a viable business.
“Participating in bazaars here helped me sell my products and build my network,” said Helen.
For others, the hub has been a gateway to visibility and growth. Serkalem Kora, founder and creative director of Serks Wear, first encountered the initiative at its Mexico Square location during a designer showcase. “Later, during an open call, I applied because of my work in garments and cultural clothing,” she recalled. After a pitch competition and workshop, she secured membership.
Serkalem credits the hub with providing training in branding and business strategy, as well as access to networks that extend beyond Ethiopia’s borders. “More than anything, I value the community,” she said. “It’s different when you work at home behind closed doors. Here, I can discuss ideas with like-minded people and meet clients directly.”
Creative Hub Ethiopia is more than a rehabilitation of a historic building; it is part of a national push to transform creativity into economic value. By providing training, mentorship, and market access, the hub connects Ethiopia’s young designers, technologists, and makers to regional and international opportunities.
“This is a space where people can develop their ideas and connect with others,” Abenezer explained. “We don’t just support artists; we help turn them into businesspeople—training them on market access, quality standards, and entrepreneurial skills.”
From the restored verandas of the old Arada Post Office, a new generation is redefining what Ethiopia can export to the world—not just coffee or leather goods, but design, innovation, and ideas. The hub’s mission is clear: to make creativity sustainable, to root it in community, and to ensure it contributes to the country’s broader economic story.
