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About Us
About Us
The idea for Green Teck Mushrooms was first conceived after the 3rd Annual Pitch Competition organized by the Ethiopian Climate Innovation Centre (ECIC). The competition, held at the Desalegn International Hotel on 17 November 2016, brought together nine young and seasoned Ethiopian entrepreneurs who showcased their innovative projects. Among them was our founder, Mr. Elias Negash, who received recognition2nd place award and receive 3000birr for his groundbreaking idea: producing edible mushrooms by recycling urban waste such as used coffee grounds and tea residues. What began as a simple idea — to grow food from waste — has since evolved into a pioneering circular economy business. Today, Green Teck Mushrooms transforms a wide range of waste streams, including urban by-products like coffee grounds and sawdust, as well as rural agricultural residues, into high-quality mushroom substrate. This innovation not only diverts waste from landfills but also creates new income opportunities for smallholder farmers, women, and youth. By empowering farmers with sustainable inputs and ensuring a reliable market for their produce, we are building a resilient food system. Green Teck Mushrooms now stands as a model of how waste can be turned into nutrition, income, and hope for communities across Ethiopia.
Our Vision
To become a global leader in fungi-based innovation, showcasing how mushrooms and mycelium can drive a zero-waste future— from food security and sustainable agriculture to renewable materials and eco-friendly technologies.
Our Mission
To transform organic waste into sustainable value by producing high-quality mushroom substrates, nutritious food, and fungi-based innovations. We are committed to empowering farmers, women, and youth with opportunities for income and skills, while advancing circular economy practices and climate-smart solutions across Ethiopia and Africa.
Our Business Models
Green Teck uses multiple complementary business models to maximize impact and revenue streams.
Collect urban coffee waste and rural agricultural residues.
Convert into nutrient-rich mushroom substrate.
Distribute to farmers and households to grow mushrooms.
Collect harvested mushrooms and market them.
Recycle spent substrate into fertilizer and biochar.
Establish central processing hubs for substrate and training.
Partner with local entrepreneurs or cooperatives as franchisees.
Provide training, branding, and ongoing support.
Revenue through franchise fees, substrate sales, and profit-sharing.
A digital platform connects mushroom growers with buyers.
Farmers list their mushrooms; buyers place orders directly.
Green Teck ensures quality control and logistics.
Revenue through transaction fees, delivery, and premium platform services.
Convert mushroom by-products into value-added products:
Organic fertilizer
Biochar for soil enhancement
Animal feed supplements
Specialty medicinal mushrooms for export
Revenue from by-products and high-value mushroom sales.
Organize farmers into cooperatives for shared farming and profits.
Green Teck supplies substrate and technical support.
Cooperatives aggregate produce and sell collectively.
Revenue through substrate sales and service fees.
Supply hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and exporters.
Contract farming ensures steady production and reliable market access.
Revenue from bulk sales and long-term contracts.
Green Teck provides paid training in mushroom farming and circular economy practices.
Partner with universities, NGOs, and incubators for knowledge dissemination.
Revenue through training fees, grants, and partnerships.
Our Journey
• 2016 – The idea for Green Teck Mushrooms was born at the 3rd Annual Pitch Competition hosted by the Ethiopian Climate Innovation Centre (ECIC). Founder Mr. Elias Negash received recognition for his innovative concept of producing mushrooms on recycled coffee grounds and tea residues. • 2017 – 2018 – Early experiments and pilot projects demonstrated that urban waste, like coffee grounds and sawdust, could successfully be converted into mushroom substrate. This confirmed the potential for scaling into a circular economy business.
• 2019 – 2021 – Expansion into rural areas began, using agricultural residues such as straw, husks, and farm by-products. Partnerships with local farmers, women’s groups, and youth cooperatives were initiated to broaden impact.
• 2022 – 2023 – Green Teck Mushrooms strengthened its market presence by building supply chains, introducing farmer training programs, and piloting collection systems for both waste inputs and mushroom outputs.
• 2024 – Present – Growing beyond food: Green Teck has expanded into research collaborations initiatives and producing mycelia based shoe shaper and gaining patent right from Ethiopian intellectual properties and now pilot practicing on mycelium-based materials for shoe-sole for sustainable alternatives for the footwear industry.
Our Founders
Elias Negash (founder and general manager)
Elias Negash holds a BSc in Industrial Engineering and an MSc in Chemical Engineering. Before founding Green Teck Mushrooms, he worked for seven years as a leather researcher at the Ethiopian Leather Industry Development Institute, where he built a reputation as a dedicated professional with strong motivation and innovation in his field.
Beyond his professional career, Elias established Green Teck Mushrooms, where his passion for sustainability and circular economy solutions took root. His work has been recognized through multiple patents, including innovations in mushroom kits, a mycelium-based lamp, and ongoing development of a sustainable shoe-last project in partnership with leading leather research institutes.
combining his engineering expertise with entrepreneurial vision to lead Green Teck Mushrooms as a model of how fungi-based innovations can transform waste into food, materials, and opportunity.
Mulumebet Asrat (business administration)
Mulumebt the co-founder of green teck, she has over 10 years of experience in sales, operations, project management, business strategy and brand management. She has successfully spearheaded logistics and event management businesses and consulted with organizations like UPSA, fintech of Africa . Her deep understanding of market dynamics and operational efficiency has been instrumental in driving growth and innovation. Her deep understanding of market dynamics and operational efficiency has been instrumental in driving growth and innovation.
Our Partners
