Merry Exploring ✨

I almost lost everything this year. Not “stressed about deadlines” losing everything. My dad. My family. Everything I’ve been building. There were nights I genuinely didn’t know if RAVN would survive the month. But my cofounder and I kept building anyway. Through the doubt, uncertainty, and nights when nothing seemed to work. Today, I’m incredibly grateful to share that RAVN has been accepted into Antler. $400K in funding, backed by one of the world’s leading venture builders, alongside companies like Lovable, Airalo, Reebelo, and Tactiq. To everyone who watched us build this from the beginning, thank you. This wasn’t luck or a guarantee. We kept building long before there was anything to celebrate. Most importantly, I’m grateful to God. He never left us. We’ve come a long way. We’re just getting started.

My journey from Regional Leadership Center East Africa Leadership training to becoming a @U.S Exchange Alumni of Ethiopia. የዩኤስ-ኤክስቼንጅ አልሙናይ በኢትዮጵያ and serving on the Mekelle Chapter leadership team has shown me that the impact of an exchange experience continues long after the program ends. On September 15–16, 2026, I had the opportunity to participate in the #Freedom 250 Alumni Summit in Addis Ababa, bringing together 120 Ethiopian alumni of U.S. exchange programs. For me, the summit was a reminder that being an exchange alumna is not only about the experience we gain, but also about what we do with it afterward. Over two days, we explored opportunities to strengthen connections between Ethiopia and the United States across technology, education, agribusiness, and digital health, while turning conversations into concrete 90-day action plans. I left with new connections, new perspectives, and an even stronger sense of responsibility to turn international opportunities into local impact. @merryexploring