Guest Contribution

The Test Ethiopia’s Banks Can’t Afford to Fail

Patriotic appeals by regulators won’t keep money in Ethiopia’s banks. Trust will. Diaspora savings need safety, transparency, and confidence or deposits will bypass local banks altogether.

Ethiopian Startups Chase Green Innovation. Investors Stay Away

Rooftops in the outskirts of Addis Ababa shine with solar panels, but most Ethiopian climate startups still remain stuck in pilot mode. The missing ingredient appears not to be ideas, but finance.

Starting a Real Estate Business in Ethiopia: Cost Breakdown & Guide

A guide that looks to outline what it takes to launch a real estate business in Ethiopia via land acquisition and construction of a G+10 mixed-use building.

Why African Ingenuity Needs Development Finance, Not Just Venture Bets

Development finance is not charity. It’s market-making. It de-risks new ventures, builds trust, and draws in private investors. Africa’s future unicorns will come not just from venture bets.

The VAT Standoff: Political Reality vs Fiscal Necessity in Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s fiscal dilemma: more debt is unsustainable, cuts risk instability, and higher taxes risk backlash. The solution lies in reform closing loopholes, digitalizing collection, and a broad base.

The Super App Hype in Ethiopia Is Outpacing Reality

Ethiopia’s fintech and telecoms are racing to build Super Apps. When users already rely on separate apps for transport, banking, chat, and shopping, there is almost no point in bundling services.

From Badge to Blueprint: Why Ethiopia’s Capital Market Needs More Than a License

Ethiopia’s capital market has opened. But licenses, listings, or exchange memberships do not make a functioning market. Skills, systems, and trust do. Institutions must urgently define their roles.

Ethiopian Banks Rushing for the Capital Market Badge Without a Map

Ethiopia’s banks are racing into capital markets, just as they did with branches, ATMs, and skyscrapers. But without skills, governance, and investor trust, could we be setting the market up to fail?