Guest Contribution

Making Space for Fintech Innovation in Ethiopia

Digital lending, mobile money, and online banking need more than ideas, they need an ecosystem with regulatory support and capital access. Sandboxes offer a critical bridge.

How Brands Might Have Paid for Your Latest Recommendation from AI

Brands might now pay thousands monthly to be “the best answer” inside ChatGPT or Perplexity. Welcome to the era where AI answers can be engineered and credibility manufactured.

Unlocking Ethiopia’s Capital Markets: Strategic Insights and Lessons for Local Banks

With the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) now live, banks can move from cautious observers to active players. Global lessons offer a playbook. But will Ethiopian banks step up?

Can Ethiopia’s Live Streaming Boom Move Beyond Stunts?

Live content can be smart, participatory, and monetizable, if creators are given the right tools. In Ethiopia, the next phase of streaming may not rely on spectacle, but on connection.

Lessons for Ethiopia’s Digital Lending Sector from Kenya’s BNPL Collapse

Lipa Later, a BNPL startup from Kenya recently entered into administration after raising millions in funding. Its story serves as a cautionary tale for Ethiopia’s emerging digital lending industry.

Why Many SMEs Stagnate and How to Fix It

A significant barrier to scalability in SMEs is the “One-Man-Show” syndrome, where founders attempt to manage every aspect of the business themselves.

Why Copying Could Be a Way Forward for Small Businesses in Ethiopia

"Imitation extends beyond individual learning and survival—it’s woven into the fabric of industries, economies, and cultures."

Understanding the Rationale Behind Commercial Bank of Ethiopia’s New Banking Fees

A closer examination of the economic landscape and the challenges faced by CBE provides a more nuanced understanding of the rationale behind its fee adjustments.