Expanding finances for businesses across key sectors of the economy, the company also plans to deploy about ₦500 billion over the next 18 months to support growth-ready businesses in agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, logistics, and technology.

This was revealed at the 2026 edition of the Zedvance Business Roundtable, where business leaders, entrepreneurs, financiers and experts across the industry gathered to discuss how smarter financing models can strengthen businesses and unlock long-term economic growth.

The event, themed “Unlocking Growth: The Role of Smart Financing in Building Resilient Businesses,” reiterated a belief that access to the right capital, delivered through an accurate understanding of industries and business ecosystems, will be highly indispensable in bolstering Nigeria’s next phase of economic development.

In his welcome address, Adebayo Amzat, group managing director of Zedcrest Group, said the company’s focus on SMEs is rooted in their importance to the economy at large.

“Zedvance is here to do major business in the SME space across every vertical,” he said, adding that financing small businesses is one of the most effective ways to create economic impact because SMEs employ people, support local supply chains and drive activity across multiple sectors.

Amzat explained that Zedvance’s lending model is designed around ecosystems rather than isolated transactions, allowing businesses within different sectors to support overall portfolio stability.

“We don’t like transactions, we like businesses,” he said while encouraging entrepreneurs to maintain proper records, build sustainable value and operate businesses that can show track records over time.

Zedvance is directing capital towards productive sectors where financing can generate huge economic benefits, and the company plans to deploy ₦500 billion over the next 18 months in a bid to strengthen support for businesses that are ready to scale.

Amzat further explained that the objective goes beyond profitability. “Why are we doing all of this? We do not think profit is the only objective, or is the most important objective. We think that our work, first and foremost, is to increase the size of the pie,” he said.

He also highlighted the services within the Zedcrest Group, noting that businesses can access debt financing, private equity, wealth management and investment banking services through the group’s various subsidiaries.

According to him, the goal is to ensure that promising businesses can obtain the capital they need at different stages of growth.

One of the takeaways from the roundtable was that financing alone is not enough. Businesses also need trust-based partnerships, operational discipline and sector expertise.

During the agribusiness and healthcare session, experts examined the challenges businesses face in accessing timely financing and the role strategic partnerships can play in helping companies scale.

The conversation highlighted how responsive financing can strengthen supply chains, improve business confidence and enable companies to seize opportunities when they arise.

Speakers agreed that long-term growth is built on integrity, transparency and relationships that extend beyond individual transactions.

Attention later turned to the energy sector, where discussions focused on the increasing demand for financing solutions that can support renewable energy, electric mobility and decentralised power infrastructure.

Experts noted that access to capital will be critical to driving innovation across the sector, particularly as businesses and households seek reliable and cost-effective energy alternatives.

The session also explored how flexible financing models can reduce limitations to adoption by reducing upfront costs and making clean energy technologies more accessible.

With demand growing continuously, the panel pointed to significant opportunities for investment across the energy value chain, particularly in areas capable of improving productivity and reducing operating expenses for businesses.

Across both sessions, a key takeaway was that businesses thrive when financing is tailored to the specific dynamics of their industries rather than delivered through a one-size-fits-all approach.

From agriculture and healthcare to manufacturing, logistics, energy and technology, speakers stressed the importance of funding solutions that show the unique needs and growth cycles of each sector.

Zedvance is supporting businesses with the capital, expertise and long-term partnerships needed to build resilience and unlock growth through its SME lending scheme. This aligns with the needs of Nigerian businesses facing economic challenges in the sector.

With the right financing and the right partners, growth is still within reach.

The post Zedvance Targets ₦1 Trillion SME Lending as It Expands to Finance Nigeria’s Growth Sectors appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

But then, some of the world’s biggest technology companies followed the same pattern in their early years. They spent heavily first, built infrastructure, gained users, and then monetised at scale later.

That is why the move by Flutterwave is way more important than we speak about.

After processing over $40 billion in payments over the last decade, the company secured a Nigerian microfinance banking licence last month, following its acquisition of Mono, the open banking startup often described as Africa’s version of Plaid. 

This is bigger than another fintech expansion story. What Flutterwave has done is move from simply moving money to controlling more of the infrastructure behind the movement of money.

For years, Flutterwave operated between businesses and banks. Companies used their rails to collect payments, settle transactions and move funds across borders, but the actual deposits and core banking functions still depended on licensed banks. The company processed huge volumes, but part of the economics were elsewhere.

That structure is common in fintech. A startup may appear large from the outside because transaction volume is high, but volume does not automatically mean strong margins. 

Many financial technology firms spend years paying partners, covering compliance expenses, subsidising growth, expanding into new countries and building trust before the business model fully matures.

In simple terms, some businesses spend their early years building the road before they can charge properly for traffic.

Flutterwave’s banking licence changes that equation. The licence allows the company to hold deposits directly, offer accounts, expand lending and control settlement flows inside its own ecosystem rather than depending entirely on partner institutions. 

That may sound technical, but it changes the economics of the business in a big way.

Margins improve when a company owns more layers of its infrastructure. Costs that once went to third parties begin to stay within the system. Products become easier to bundle, data becomes more useful, lending becomes possible and customer retention becomes stronger.

This is why the Mono acquisition is also very important. Mono’s infrastructure gives Flutterwave stronger access to account connectivity, financial data, identity verification and repayment intelligence. 

That means the company is no longer thinking only about payment processing. Its focus is a future where payments, banking, verification, lending and financial data operate together.

And that transition explains a fact that many people ignore when discussing startups. Not every serious business is designed to become profitable immediately.

Some companies optimise for early profit, while others optimise for scale, distribution and infrastructure first.

If a company focuses too early on squeezing profit from every transaction, growth can slow down. Expansion becomes harder, product depth suffers and competitors with stronger infrastructure eventually overtake them.

This is especially true in Africa, where building financial infrastructure is far more expensive and fragmented than many outsiders realise.

A fintech operating across multiple African countries must navigate different currencies, regulators, banking systems, compliance standards and settlement structures. 

In many cases, the rails barely speak to one another efficiently. Building around those gaps costs money and takes time.

That is why many African startups spend years appearing “busy but unprofitable”. The asset being built is usually invisible at first.

Trust, distribution, licensing, compliance, partnerships, technical infrastructure, and customer behaviour take years to develop properly.

What investors and founders usually hope is that once those layers become strong enough, monetisation becomes easier and more durable.

Flutterwave now appears to be entering that phase, already managing payments for global brands including Uber and Netflix across Africa. But the bigger shift is gradually moving from being a payments processor to becoming a financial infrastructure company.

That changes who its competitors are and also changes how the company earns money.

A processor earns from transaction activity, while a financial ecosystem earns from multiple layers at once, including deposits, cards, settlements, lending, verification, subscriptions and embedded services. That is a very different business.

Of course, delayed profitability is not automatically a good sign. Some companies simply burn cash without building durable value. Scale alone is meaningless if the economics never improve.

But there is usually a visible pattern when infrastructure businesses begin to mature. They stop renting critical systems and start owning them.

That is what we see behind Flutterwave’s banking licence. For nearly ten years, the company helped businesses move money across Africa while relying heavily on external banking infrastructure. Now, it is beginning to own more of that infrastructure itself.

And in business, that is the point where the monetisation begins.

The post What Business Owners Should Learn From Flutterwave 10-Year Wait for Real Monetisation appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

What many people misunderstand is that some businesses are rarely fast-moving at the beginning. Most successful niche publishers, for instance, spent years building credibility before seeing returns.

A 2026 workforce survey found that 72% of workers now rely on at least one secondary source of income, up from 71% a year earlier. 

Most respondents said side income has become a necessity, a part of how they manage surging expenses, job uncertainty and slower salary growth. 

At the same time, the side hustle economy is changing fast. Five years ago, people ran after quick online trends, but today, the stronger opportunities are way different. 

Businesses are paying for experience, operational knowledge and industry-specific skills. They want people who can solve problems, save time and improve systems.

That shouldn’t be ignored.

The strongest side hustles in 2026 are not random weekend projects disconnected from people’s actual careers. In many cases, the best opportunities are extensions of the work professionals already do between 9 and 5.

A finance officer already understands business cash flow, a customer support worker already knows how companies lose clients, a designer already understands branding mistakes startups make and those skills now have market value outside formal employment.

The idea that a side hustle must involve dancing videos, dropshipping or overnight success stories is starting to collapse. What is replacing it is something more stable and that is professional skill monetisation.

Here are five business ideas aligning with full-time jobs without requiring people to quit work immediately.

1. Niche Freelance Consulting

The freelance market has become crowded, but specialised consulting is growing because companies are overwhelmed by operational problems they cannot fix internally.

Small businesses especially, are struggling with compliance, customer retention, process management and internal systems. Many cannot afford senior full-time hires, so they bring in specialists on short contracts.

That creates an opening for professionals already working inside those industries.

An HR officer can advise startups on hiring systems and workplace documentation after work hours, an accountant can help small businesses fix reporting processes, while someone working in customer experience can help companies reduce complaints and improve retention.

The important point is that businesses are paying less for “general freelancers” and more for people with direct industry understanding.

This has become very obvious this year as more companies cut unnecessary spending and focus on measurable outcomes. Generic services are under pressure, expertise is not.

The biggest advantage here is that the startup cost is low, most people already have the core skill. What they usually lack is positioning.

One mistake many professionals make is trying to market themselves too broadly. That rarely works now. A person offering “business consulting” sounds vague. Someone offering “customer retention systems for e-commerce brands” sounds useful.

The income structure is also stronger than many people expect. Consultants work on retainers rather than one-off jobs. A professional managing compliance reviews for three small companies every month may quietly build stable recurring income without massive visibility online.

Still, this is not effortless work, as client acquisition is the hardest part. Technical ability alone is rarely enough. Professionals who succeed here usually spend time building credibility through LinkedIn posts, referrals, case studies or industry communities.

The long-term upside, however, is important. Many small consulting firms started as evening side projects handled after office hours.

2. AI-Assisted Service Businesses

There is a misunderstanding around automation work in 2026. Many people think businesses want complicated technology systems, but most do not.

What companies actually want is relief.

They want fewer repetitive tasks, cleaner workflows, faster communication and less confusion. That is why professionals who understand both business operations and digital tools are highly valuable.

A marketing employee, for example, can help small firms automate customer emails and reporting systems. An operations worker can set up workflow tools for startups drowning in manual tasks. A content professional can help businesses manage newsletters, social media scheduling and customer communication faster.

The strongest operators in this space are not selling “magic solutions”, what they are solving is ordinary business frustrations.

This is important because businesses have become cautious. Many rushed into automation tools over the past two years and discovered that badly managed systems create even more problems.

Several online communities discussing side income trends this year repeatedly point to the same issue, where businesses are now paying for people who can combine operational thinking with practical implementation. 

That combination is becoming valuable because many business owners are overwhelmed by software but still lack structure.

The barrier to entry is also lower than many assume. Someone already familiar with project management, customer support, administration or marketing often adapts quickly because they already understand workflow problems.

What makes this business idea attractive for full-time workers is flexibility. Much of the work can be handled remotely and outside office hours.

However, low-quality automation services are flooding the market. Businesses are becoming better at spotting people who only understand tools but not operations. Professionals who succeed usually specialise in one industry or one business function instead of trying to serve everyone.

That specialisation is where long-term stability now sits.

3. Digital Education and Knowledge Products

One of the most obvious changes happening in the online economy is that audiences are moving away from broad motivation and towards practical learning.

People are paying for information that helps them pass interviews, improve at work, solve technical problems or increase earnings.

That is creating new opportunities for professionals with experience.

A software engineer can teach beginners how to prepare for technical interviews. A finance professional can create budgeting templates for small business owners. A recruiter can offer CV review sessions. A teacher can build revision programmes for secondary school students.

These businesses usually start small, sometimes it begins with a weekend workshop, a downloadable guide or a short paid session online.

What makes this model powerful is trust.

Many audiences are becoming tired of creators who teach subjects they have never actually worked in. Professionals with experience stand out because people want practical advice, not recycled motivation.

Education-related side businesses are also growing because digital learning behaviour has changed. Workers are constantly trying to improve employability, especially in uncertain economies.

Importantly, these businesses do not always depend on massive audiences.

A professional helping 50 people prepare for a specialised certification exam may earn more stable income than someone chasing viral content online.

The challenge, however, is consistency.

Many people underestimate how much time educational products require in the beginning. Creating useful material, responding to questions, and building trust takes time. Results usually compound slowly.

But once credibility develops, the business can scale in multiple directions through courses, templates, communities, workshops or advisory services.

That is why many professionals now see knowledge businesses not just as “content creation” but as intellectual property development.

4. Productised Agency Services

Many freelancers struggle because their income resets every month. They complete one project, then start searching for the next client again.

Productised services solve part of that problem by turning work into repeatable systems.

Instead of charging randomly for individual tasks, professionals create structured service packages that businesses can subscribe to monthly.

This model is growing because startups and small companies mostly outsource specialised work rather than hiring large internal teams. 

Examples are everywhere now.

A designer offers monthly branding support for startups, a writer manages weekly LinkedIn content for executives, a video editor handles short-form clips every month for one business category and an operations professional organises workflow systems for founders on a retainer basis.

The reason this model works is that businesses prefer predictability.

They do not want to repeatedly search for freelancers every few weeks, what they want us ongoing support from someone who already understands their operations.

For professionals with full-time jobs, this can be more manageable than traditional freelancing because the work becomes structured and easier to schedule. It also creates a more stable income.

One client paying monthly retainers usually becomes more valuable than constantly chasing one-off projects.

Still, this model requires discipline, and systems are essential here. Professionals who succeed usually standardise communication, onboarding and delivery processes early. Without structure, workload quickly becomes complicated.

There is another issue many people ignore, which is that retainers bring pressure. Clients expect consistency, and delayed responses, as well as poor organisation, damage trust quickly.

But when done properly, productised services can evolve into agencies employing contractors and small teams.

Many modern digital agencies started exactly this way, as evening side operations managed by one employee after work.

5. Micro Media Businesses

The influencer era created the idea that online success depends on mass attention. Realistically, many smaller media businesses are becoming profitable by focusing on narrow expertise.

This is one of the most underestimated business models today.

A logistics worker explains supply chain issues online. A lawyer breaks down legal mistakes startups make. A healthcare professional discusses career realities in nursing. A business analyst reviews African startup trends.

The audiences may not be massive, but they are highly targeted. That changes the economics completely.

Companies pay for access to focused professional communities rather than broad entertainment audiences. A newsletter read by 5,000 finance professionals may attract stronger business opportunities than a general social account with ten times the followers.

This trend is becoming more visible as trust online fragments. Audiences are becoming more selective about who they listen to.

The strongest media businesses don’t rely on virality, authority is now the focus.

Revenue also comes from multiple directions, including sponsorships, advisory work, premium newsletters, speaking opportunities, events and partnerships.

What many people misunderstand is that media businesses are rarely fast-moving at the beginning. Most successful niche publishers spent years building credibility before seeing meaningful returns.

The internet still rewards consistency, even if the speed of modern platforms makes people think otherwise.

And unlike many trend-based side hustles, niche expertise tends to age better.

What Most People Get Wrong About Side Hustles

The biggest misconception around business ideas and side hustles is that they create freedom immediately. Most do not.

In the beginning, many side businesses simply create a second layer of work. People finish office hours and continue working at night. That stress becomes difficult to manage, especially for professionals already dealing with demanding jobs.

Several recent surveys now show burnout becoming one of the major hidden costs of secondary income culture. 

There is another issue too. Many side hustles are badly positioned from the start because people chase trends instead of using existing strengths. They enter overcrowded spaces with no real advantage and compete almost entirely on price. That is becoming harder to sustain.

The business ideas holding value now are usually connected to practical skills, operational knowledge or industry-specific expertise.

In simple terms, boring is starting to outperform flashy.

The internet still rewards visibility, but businesses continue paying for reliability.

How to Choose the Right Side Hustle Based on Your 9-5

The smartest side hustle is usually the one closest to your existing strengths.

A customer service worker already understands client behaviour. A salesperson already understands persuasion and lead generation. An operations manager already understands systems and efficiency.

The opportunity can be found inside the job itself.

The post 5 Business Ideas That Align With Your 9-5 as a Side Hustle appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

This transition dictates how businesses grow and survive in the new year, and the next decade at large.

Recent data shows about 95% of businesses in Africa are SMEs, and they contribute roughly 40% of the continent’s GDP and more than half of its jobs. Most of these firms are now part of digital ecosystems where data flows through every transaction and interaction.

That alone is reason enough to pay attention.

Why the Shift to Data is Important

In the early phase of digital adoption (roughly 2015–2022), the story was about embracing digital payments, online stores and basic apps. 

By 2025, that matured. Digital transactions are now the norm. For example, surveys show over 99% of SMEs in Nigeria accept digital payments, and in South Africa around 90% of SMEs do the same, not just to be modern, but because it improves financial management, cash flow and customer access. 

These payment records generate data. And the most forward-thinking firms are going beyond collecting that data to acting on it.

Data is being used to:

• Spot slow-moving inventory weeks before stockouts happen
• Predict which customer segments are most profitable
• Adjust pricing after analysing local demand shifts
• Evaluate creditworthiness based on transaction histories

This is happening now and companies that learn to turn raw numbers into decisions are gaining advantage.

What “Data-Driven” Really Looks Like on the Ground

Being data-driven doesn’t mean you need a team of PhDs or massive budgets. For African SMEs in 2025, it meant practical actions:

1. Operational Decisions Replace Guesswork

Business owners are looking at sales patterns weekly, not just quarterly. They monitor which products sell at different times and adjust inventory accordingly. Even simple dashboards from payment providers can reveal trends previously invisible.

2. Digital Banking and Lending Get Smarter

Banks across Africa are investing heavily in SME services that use data, not paper forms, to evaluate credit risk. A recent industry report shows 83% of banks now treat SME banking as a strategic priority, using mobile platforms and analytics tools to serve these clients better. 

Mobile banking is especially important because it reaches businesses in rural or underserved regions. These platforms also generate data that lenders and firms can use to make decisions faster and with less bias.

3. Adoption Still Uneven, But Growing Fast

While basic digital tools are widely used, sophisticated data usage is still emerging. Digital onboarding (where a business can open an account entirely online) is fully available in only around 42% of cases, showing that there’s still work to be done.

Unreliable internet in some regions, high data costs, and skill gaps are causing limitations. But where these challenges are overcome, businesses are already seeing results.

The Economic Importance

If SMEs are the backbone of economic activity, and evidence says they are, then better decision-making at this level scales into macro performance:

• Greater resilience to shocks: Firms that read their own data can react quicker to supply delays, currency swings or demand drops.
• Improved access to finance: Data signals help lenders reduce risk, which expands credit availability. Digital lending products using analytics are growing in availability.
• Higher productivity: Data helps reduce waste and simplify operations, both essential in thin-margin environments where small inefficiencies compound quickly.

Enhanced data use directly influences how investment is allocated and how business strategies evolve.

Lessons from 2025

As the year closes, let’s take a look at a few patterns:

1. Digital adoption is widespread, especially for payments and banking interfaces.
2. True data usage is growing, but uneven across regions and sectors.
3. Financial institutions are doubling down on data-enabled services like mobile banking and analytics.
4. Infrastructure continues to improve, with new data centres and cloud partnerships aimed at reducing costs and boosting speed. 

Looking Forward to 2026

If 2025 was the year data went from novelty to necessity, then 2026 will be the year businesses start competing on it.

I expect the following trends to become more visible:

• SMEs using predictive analytics at scale, not just reporting what happened, but anticipating what will.
• Data literacy emerging as a core business skill, not a bonus.
• Policy and infrastructure balance, as governments and service providers invest in reducing data costs and expanding connectivity.

For anyone leading an SME in Africa, pay attention to the fact that technology without data just sits on a shelf. Data is what turns technology into decision power.

The post 2025 Takehome: Africa’s Next Billionaires’ Success Stories Will Be Written in Data appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Meanwhile, Adobe Express (formerly Spark) reinvented itself in recent years, embedding deep creative power from Adobe’s flagship tools into a lightweight, accessible app. 

The result has been two very different but strong competitors, both serving non-designers who need to produce excellent, brand-consistent content fast.

I’ve used both, tested edge cases, pushed their limits, and here’s my verdict, backed by current features, recent updates, and trade-offs that are important for entrepreneurs in 2025.

The Evolution: Where These Tools Are Now

Canva

Canva has been building for the long game. In the past couple of years, it has leaned heavily into “Magic Studio,” which brings in tools like design resizing, background removal, even a kind of automatic writing assist. 

Its template library keeps growing, and there’s a clear push to support full-brand operations, not just one-person creators.

Thanks to its investment in a developer fund, Canva’s marketplace of apps is expanding fast. It’s a visual tool which is becoming a design ecosystem.

Adobe Express

Adobe didn’t just maintain Express as an afterthought. In fact, since rebranding, it has sewn in Firefly, its generative image engine, directly into Express workflows. That means you can generate images from text, apply “smart” fills or effects, and do it all with content that’s commercially safe.

In 2024, Adobe launched Express for Enterprise, which adds brand controls, bulk creation, and custom Firefly models, ideal if you’re scaling content production across teams or regions.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison: What Actually Works for Non-Designers

Here’s a critical look at how Canva and Adobe Express stack up, in ways that are important for people building businesses, not just designers.

1. Ease of Use & Learning Curve

• Canva: The interface feels instantly familiar. Dragging, dropping, resizing, it just works. For someone who designs occasionally, it’s forgiving and fast.
• Adobe Express: Slightly more structured. There’s more toolbox presence, but once you get used to it, you benefit from Adobe’s precision. For first-timers, there’s a small learning hump, but not a wall.

Hence, Canva takes the first place for absolute beginners, and Adobe Express gives you more management without being overwhelming.

2. Generative Tools & “Smart Design” Features

• Canva Magic: Magic Studio includes Magic Design, Magic Resize, Magic Write, and Magic Eraser. These let you auto-generate layouts, refine images, and even write short copies.
• Adobe Firefly in Express: Firefly, built into Express, allows text-to-image creation, style transfer, and generative fills. There’s even support for “content credentials”, a way to tag generated content to show its origin, which adds a layer of trust.

And here’s a very recent update: Adobe Express now supports Google Gemini’s “Flash Image” model inside Firefly, meaning you can generate up to 20 free images via that route (for now).

So, Adobe Express has more generative muscle, especially for brand-led content, and Canva? It’s simpler and usually faster.

3. Templates & Flexibility

• Canva: Millions of templates across social posts, pitch decks, ads, and more. Very adaptive.
• Express: The template set is smaller, but it leans into high-quality, professional layouts, the kind you’d expect from Adobe.
• Customising is powerful in both, but Canva gives more ease; Express allows more customisation.

Verdict: If you want speed and variety, go with Canva. If you care about refined, brand-polished output, Express edges ahead.

4. Brand Kit & Consistency

• Canva: Lets you set brand colours, fonts and logos, then auto-apply them across designs. Useful when scaling from solo to a team.
• Express: With Express for Enterprise, you get stronger brand governance. You can lock elements, create brand templates, and even train custom Firefly models to generate on‑brand visuals.

For a single founder or small business, Canva’s kit is already extremely strong. For teams or agencies, Express’s brand management features are more powerful.

5. Collaboration & Workflow

• Canva: Real-time editing, team folders, and comments, very smooth for small or growing teams.
• Express: Also supports collaboration, but its strengths are in integration with Adobe Creative Cloud. For example, a marketer can spin up a design in Express, and a designer can refine it in Photoshop or Illustrator. Express also supports bulk content creation, very handy for campaign work.

Canva is fantastic for small teams, and Express provides workflow continuity into more serious Adobe creative tools.

6. Video & Motion

• Canva: Basic video features; good for short social clips.
• Express: More capable for video editing, thanks to integration with Adobe’s video heritage. You can add animations, transitions, and more complex layouts for social video.

Hence, Express brings more finesse when you need video, especially for more than just “quick social video”.

7. Integration Ecosystem

• Canva: Works well with marketing tools, content schedulers, and social platforms.
• Express: Because it’s part of Adobe’s ecosystem, it plugs more deeply into Creative Cloud, Acrobat, Illustrator, InDesign, and more. Also, Express Enterprise supports bulk export, brand-asset reuse, and cross-app workflows.

Use Canva if you’re building content from scratch. Use Express if you’re already working in Adobe or need enterprise-level integration.

8. Mobile Experience

• Canva: Very good mobile app. Almost all desktop design tools translate over realistically.
• Express: Has a mobile version too, though some users report it’s heavier. Still, generative features and editing work reliably on the go.

Pricing & Value

Here’s a comparison of cost, especially important for entrepreneurs trying to keep design spend lean.

Canva is better value if you’re working solo or in a very small team, and Express is cost-effective too, but its real value shows when you scale or integrate deeply with Adobe.

Performance & Reliability

In my testing:

• Export speed: Canva is snappy, though very complex designs or large files can lag.
• Cloud save / autosave: Very reliable on both, but Canva seems slightly less “heavy” and more graceful when my Wi-Fi isn’t the strongest.
• App stability: Some Express users (especially mobile) report occasional UI sluggishness. Meanwhile, long-time Canva users have posted about crashes after its newer updates.

Use Cases (How I’d Use, and Recommend, Each Tool)

Here are a few scenarios where each tool really shines:

• Solo Founder/Content Creator: I’d lean Canva. I need ads, carousels, pitch decks. Canva gets me there fast, especially when I don’t want to waste time stressing about alignment or layout.
• Small Marketing Team/Agency: Express wins. The brand management/controls, the bulk-create feature, and the ability to hand off to professional designers make it much more scalable.
• Video Marketer/Social Media Strategist: For campaign videos or recurring motion graphics, Express gives more flexibility and quality.
• Brand-First Business: If maintaining design consistency is essential (colours, fonts, campaigns), both tools are good, but Express gives more agency-level governance.

What Both Tools Get Wrong (or Could Improve)

I don’t buy into commendation without critique. Here are some of the downsides I encountered:

• Canva:
  • Magic features are powerful, but not always precise.
  • Very heavy templates or complex designs can make the interface lag.
  • Some advanced functionality (especially brand controls) is locked behind Pro/Teams.
• Adobe Express:
  • Firefly generation is great, but learning to control prompts well takes time.
  • Collaboration is improved, but it’s not as seamless for non‑Adobe users.
  • Mobile app is powerful, but performance depends heavily on your device; some users report clunkiness or crashes.
  • Bulk creation and brand lock are primarily Enterprise‑tier, not accessible to everyone.

Finally, What Should You Choose in 2025?

If I were building a lean startup or side hustle and needed design speed, flexibility, and ease, I’d pick Canva. Its simplicity and depth make it a go-to for entrepreneurs who just want “good, fast, on-brand” without the headache.

But if I were part of a growing team, working with marketing, sales, or design professionals, especially if I already use Adobe tools, I’d go for Adobe Express.

Its power, especially in generative design and brand consistency, scales in a way Canva can’t easily match when you start producing at volume or with tight brand rules.

The post Canva vs Adobe Express: Which Design Tool Works Best for Non‑Design Entrepreneurs? appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

While these insights are beneficial, especially for those with an entrepreneurial goal, there are other essential business tools that are often overlooked.

Continue reading to learn about more essential tools you need to run a successful business.

Be Prepared for All of Mother Nature’s Elements

Depending on where in the world you are located, your business maintenance operators will undoubtedly require specialized equipment to have on hand. It is always important to be prepared for all situations, just in case. 

You do not want your staff, clients, or customers to have an undue impact on their work or personal lives due to a lack of planning on your part. And worse, you do not want the weather conditions or elements to keep people away.

That is why it is essential to invest in the best maintenance tools based on your company’s unique location. If you are in a climate that sees a light amount of snow, for example, a reliable electric snow shovel will be an ideal solution to remove it.

This device is easy to use and quickly recharges for another go when it inevitably snows once again. Always keep basic groundskeeping supplies on hand, just in case. A shovel, brooms, rakes, and a power washer, along with personal protective gear, such as long work gloves and snow coveralls, will make your maintenance staff’s work much easier.

Ensure Your Team is Comfortable

The furniture you have in your workplace can make or break your team’s morale. Further, poor-quality furniture can lead to lower productivity.

If you disagree, consider this: When you have just gotten off a long flight and are dealing with a stiff body and aching back, that pain and discomfort are the main focus of your mind.

No matter how much you try to focus on whatever comes next, that nagging feeling of pain continues to distract you.

You can fix this problem in your workplace by investing in quality furniture. From regular desks to standing desks, offering your team the freedom to move around their respective workspaces will help them feel better and stay focused on their important work. Seating is essential, as well.

An ergonomic chair will do wonders to keep people in one place. After all, if you sit in an uncomfortable chair, you probably move around constantly in an effort to alleviate your discomfort.

You do not want your employees doing that. Investing in good office chairs might be a greater upfront expenditure than you had planned on making, but the payoff in productivity and employee wellness will be worth it.

Streamline Your Communication Tools

In any business, communication amongst co-workers and management is vital. How to ensure it does not take time away from the mission of the company and each employee’s work is a goal every business owner should consider.

With today’s crowded field of communication tools being touted from every corner with the promise of keeping everyone in the loop, on task, or constantly connected for better outcomes, you might want to rethink your communication tools.

There are many great communication tools available, but your team does not need them all to stay on task or facilitate collaboration.

Take stock of what everyone is using now. Ask them what platforms and specific features work best for each team member. Take your own communication style into account in the process.

Look at sites, such as Techeconomy, for further insight into the latest communication news and reviews.

Create a Strong Human Resources Department

Your Human Resources personnel do more than field questions from your team about company benefits. The HR department is a one-stop shop for a multitude of business needs. That is why it is essential to have one.

However, if you are still at the beginning stages of your business venture and do not have the capital to hire one HR employee, let alone an entire department, you should consider outsourcing this vital role.

To further the importance of Human Resources in your company, it is helpful to gain a greater understanding of what they do. HR employees are involved in everything from crafting and posting job descriptions, sourcing employees, and vetting them, to conducting job interviews.

From there, they walk new hires through their onboarding paperwork that will include tax forms, and healthcare and insurance documents. They ensure the employee handbook is well-written and up to date while tracking each employee’s respective training completions and outcomes. HR is a busy department and should always be considered an essential tool.

Build an Engaging Business Website

Your website is the window into your company. Anyone with an internet connection and a piece of technology can log on and see the essence of your business.

With the intense competition for consumers’ attention these days, it is vital for your company’s existence to have a website that is easy to use, seamlessly navigable, and that avoids barriers for people to learn more about your company. 

Website creation is another area where you can, and probably should, outsource the task. Leave this one to the professional marketers and web designers who are trained in the best practices to highlight your business while increasing consumer engagement. 

When discussing goals and outcomes for the website, ensure all pages have an easy way to contact your team and return to the home page. Keep the menu easily accessible and avoid creating visually loud webpages that are distracting and hard to read.

Use clean graphics with a readable font. These small details will keep users on your website longer, which may lead to further engagement, appointment setting, or purchases.

Image Credit

Your goal as a business owner is to increase revenue while providing excellence in products and services at every turn. Getting to that point, however, requires the utilization of many tools that range from tried and true products to ones that are often overlooked.

Ensure your company has the best chance for success by implementing these essential business tools and ideas in your workplace today.

[Feature Image Credit]

The post Essential Tools Every Business Owner Needs for Success appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Taking place in Cape Town on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the competition will see one startup walk away with a $50,000 equity investment and access to a global network of mentors and investors.

The announcement follows two days of rigorous semi-final pitches held on October 28 and 29, where young innovators from eight African countries showcased products bolstering financial technology across the continent. 

Ten startups stood out for their creativity, impact potential, and market readiness.

The finalists include:

1. mystocks.africa (Botswana);
2. Credify Africa Inc (Uganda);
3. Logistify AI (Kenya)
4. Kutana Technologies Ltd (Ghana);
5. Investa Farm (Kenya);
6. Black Swan (Mauritius);
7. Mighty Finance Solution Inc (Zambia);
8. Devdraft AI (Zambia);
9. Kanzu Finance Ltd (Uganda); and
10. Farmsky (Kenya).

According to Ashwin Ravichandran, Portfolio Advisor and MAC lead at MEST Africa, this year’s cohort represents a new phase of African innovation. “Each year, the Challenge grows not only in reach but in the depth of innovation it attracts. We’re seeing founders build financial systems that are inclusive, intelligent, and unmistakably African. The Top 10 exemplify the kind of purposeful innovation driving Africa’s next wave of growth.”

Now in its seventh year, the MEST Africa Challenge focuses on FinTech ventures and startups embedding financial solutions into technology systems. 

The 2025 edition covers eight of Absa’s nine priority markets, which include Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Uganda, and Zambia, targeting businesses that enhance financial inclusion and digital transformation.

For Absa, the partnership shows its drive to enhance banking through technology. “Our ambition is to reimagine financial services through technology, and the innovations presented by these FinTechs showcase what’s possible,” said Tamu Dutuma, head of Strategy and Transformation for Technology at Absa Regional Operations (ARO). 

“Many of the solutions are directly relevant to our business, with the potential to enhance customer experience, drive efficiency, and accelerate transformation. We’re excited about the opportunity to turn some of these ideas into meaningful partnerships that deliver value at scale.”

MEST Africa’s long-standing focus on entrepreneurship development has impacted the continent’s tech sector since 2008, having trained over 2,000 entrepreneurs and invested in more than 90 startups.

“What stands out in the Top 10 is how digital innovation is being applied to real market challenges,” said Tawanda Chatikobo, head of Digital – ARO RBB. “From AI-driven insights to seamless payments, these solutions demonstrate how technology can unlock access, efficiency, and financial inclusion. Digital solutions are no longer a luxury – they have become an imperative for the financial sector.”

The 2025 MEST Africa Challenge finale will support the organisation’s mission to enable scalable African ventures, helping them transform industries and drive inclusive growth across the continent.

The post MEST Africa, Absa Unveil Top 10 Startups for 2025 Challenge appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The initiative, which takes place from November 18 to 23, 2025, at the Livespot Entertarium, Lagos, offers selected founders a chance to access ₦25 million in funding, mentorship, and investor partnerships that could boost their business growth.

Why It Matters

Africa’s creative economy is valued at over $20 billion and continues to expand with tech-led solutions transforming music, film, fashion, and design. 

The EWA Deal Room acts as a bridge between visionary founders and the capital they need to scale. 

Over the years, the programme has supported startups such as Esosa, a travel-tech platform connecting the African diaspora; Taghub, an AI-powered influencer marketing network; and Synewave, a revenue-sharing platform for artists. 

Together, these ventures have attracted more than $1 million in cumulative investment through EWA’s ecosystem.

Participants will undergo a three-day accelerator, receiving guidance from leading investors, industry experts, and creative leaders before showcasing their businesses at a Demo Day in front of global stakeholders. 

The platform also promotes meaningful networking, deal flow, and visibility that many founders struggle to secure independently.

Who Can Apply

The EWA Deal Room is open to:

• Founders and co-founders of tech-driven ventures in the creative and entertainment industries, including music, film, fashion, publishing, and design.
• Builders of platforms or tools enhancing distribution, monetisation, analytics, fan engagement, or funding within the creative sector.
• Independent artists, producers, and directors with strong market traction or projects in pre-production or development.
• Emerging entrepreneurs in lifestyle and skincare seeking to scale innovative ideas.
• Managers, rights holders, and distributors looking for funding or strategic partnerships.
• Investors, ecosystem enablers, and industry leaders shaping Africa’s creative and tech sector.

Benefits

• Access to ₦25 million in potential funding and partnership opportunities.
• Exclusive mentorship from top-tier investors and creative industry professionals.
• Investor-ready business model refinement and pitch training.
• Direct exposure to global networks shaping the future of Africa’s entertainment and digital ecosystem.
• Opportunity to pitch live at EWA Demo Day before an audience of global stakeholders and media partners.

How to Apply

Applications are now open via the website. Interested participants should submit details about their business, vision, and traction before the closing date. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of selection.

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But on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, during QNET’s exclusive webinar themed “Beyond VCON: Media Insights from VCON 2025”, a group of Nigerian journalists sought to challenge that instinct with first-hand experiences from the company’s V-Convention in Penang, Malaysia.

The webinar, held via Zoom, brought together journalists, editors, and media executives who attended QNET’s flagship convention, a global event that hosted over 10,000 entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators from more than 50 countries. 

The webinar was a post-convention reflection space for participants to share their experiences, discuss lessons on ethical business practices, and explore the future of direct selling within Nigeria’s digital economy.

Moderated by Thelma Ilems, the webinar featured seasoned journalists Sulaiman Aledeh, Adeyemi Adepetun of The Guardian, and Juliet Umeh of Vanguard Newspaper. Also present was Ayokunmi O. Solesi, QNET’s general manager for sub-Saharan Africa.

Ayokunmi O. Solesi, in his comments, outlined QNET’s three guiding pillars: empowerment, community, and innovation. He described the convention as “a celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation, and purpose,” adding that QNET’s mission goes beyond selling products.

“QNET isn’t just about selling products; it’s about building responsibly, sharing success stories selflessly, and ensuring we lift others as we grow,” Solesi said. “That’s what true entrepreneurship means, creating opportunities, adding value, and helping others rise.”

QNET Wins Gold Stevie Award for Anti-Fraud Campaign Protecting Consumers Across Africa

He also noted that QNET’s Gold Stevie Award for Consumer Protection stands as proof of its commitment to transparency and ethical business practices. Solesi further hinted at new product innovations aimed at enhancing wellness and improving energy and balance without addiction.

Describing the event as “not a make-believe session, but an avenue to relive and recount authentic experiences from Malaysia,” Thelma stressed that QNET’s purpose was to give room for transparency, ethics, and the real essence of direct selling.

Sulaiman Aledeh, sharing his experience, spoke about QNET’s innovation and product quality. “Never in the life of anyone have we seen one company with so much all about elevating,” he said. He commended QNET’s product range, from skincare to air purifiers, and urged Nigerians to embrace the direct selling opportunity.

Journalists’ Firsthand Experiences

Recounting his trip, The Guardian’s Adeyemi Adepetun described VCON 2025 as “a sublime experience.” He further noted: “The hospitality was awesome. From the airport to the hotel, everything was well-coordinated.” 

He commended the sheer scale of the event, attended by over 10,000 people, and expressed admiration for QNET’s efficiency and product innovations in wellness and energy solutions.

“There is an unusual energy around me since returning,” he added, referencing QNET’s pendant and wellness patch products.

Adepetun also acknowledged the company’s collaboration with Nigerian regulators and law enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to tackle misinformation and fraudulent activities in the direct selling space.

For Vanguard’s Juliet Umeh, the experience was equally memorable. She spoke about QNET’s authenticity, saying, “If you were there, you would know that QNET is real,” she stated, stressing that the public must end the act of speaking without facts.

She spotlighted the company’s collaboration with local authorities and regulators to ensure ethical practices. Sharing a lighter moment, she recalled the hospitality and cultural exposure: “The Malaysians made us feel at home. The food, the people, even the driver, everyone made sure we didn’t frown for once.”

Juliet also highlighted how QNET’s philosophy of “Raise Yourself to Help Mankind (RYTHM)” translates into its empowerment and wellness initiatives. She applauded the company’s wellness-focused products, including the Amezcua Chi Pendant 4, Amezcua Bio Disc 3, Q Alive, and E-Guard, which she said help consumers mitigate radiation exposure, restore energy balance, and promote healthy living.

Both journalists described visits to Penang Hill, Quest International University, and QNET’s product exhibition, where they saw firsthand how technology and wellness intersect in the company’s portfolio.

Addressing Industry Misconceptions

During the Q&A session, a participant asked how QNET addresses public scepticism about direct selling. Responding, Solesi explained that the company continues to engage with institutions like the EFCC and the Nigerian Police Force to fight fraud and misinformation.

“We’re not into recruitment; we sell real products that people benefit from,” he said, reaffirming QNET’s stand against Ponzi schemes.

He added that QNET’s growing partnerships with regulators and the media are part of its mission to promote ethical entrepreneurship and restore public trust in the direct selling industry.

In her closing statements, Thelma commended QNET and Newmark for sustaining open dialogue with the Nigerian media. “This webinar reinforces what we already know, transparency and storytelling go hand in hand,” she said. “It’s not just about selling; it’s about empowering.”

“It gets better each time. We should do a revisit; I think we all deserve another round of VCON,” Sulaiman Aledeh stated.

Since beginning operations in Nigeria in 2022, QNET has continued to drive empowerment through initiatives such as FinGreen, which promotes financial literacy, and partnerships with orphanages including Little Saints Orphanage and Babe Salaam.

Participants agreed that engagements like the Beyond VCON webinar are essential for strengthening transparency, building public trust, and promoting responsible entrepreneurship across Africa’s growing direct selling ecosystem.

The post QNET Sets New Standard for Ethical Entrepreneurship, Strengthens Media Alliance to Rebuild Trust in Direct Selling appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Unlike the long-standing culture in Silicon Valley that celebrates dropping out, this initiative creates room for students who want to finish school first before diving fully into company building. Once accepted, they receive immediate funding but only join YC after completing their degree.

Explaining the idea, Jared Friedman, YC managing partner said: “It’s designed for graduating seniors who want to do a startup but also want to finish school first.” 

He added that the programme emerged from student feedback: “Between AI Startup School last summer and the more than 20 university trips we’ve done over the past year, we’ve had a lot of opportunities to do that. One of YC’s most common pieces of advice is to ‘talk to your users,’ and we follow it ourselves.”

Aside from high costs of studies, students today doubt the value of degrees, especially with competing opportunities like internships with Big Tech or fellowships that encourage early exits from academia. YC’s new track is designed to increase its pool of applicants by removing the pressure to make an all-or-nothing decision between school and entrepreneurship.

This changes the dropout-driven legacy once embodied by founders like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg, figures who famously left school to chase billion-dollar ideas. 

Even within Y Combinator, companies like Dropbox, Reddit, Stripe, and Instacart had young founders who left college to participate; Early Decision seeks to change that.

A recent case shows how it works. Spur, a startup developing AI-powered quality-assurance testing tools, joined YC in the summer of 2024 after its founders, Sneha Sivakumar and Anushka Nijhawan, applied through Early Decision the year before while still in school. They graduated, joined the batch, and quickly went on to raise $4.5 million.

With this track, YC is ensuring that founders will not have to choose between academia and entrepreneurship, they can pursue both. 

The accelerator also secures early access to student talent in an increasingly competitive funding environment, where programmes such as the Thiel Fellowship, Neo Scholars, and Founders Inc are vying for the same pipeline of goal-driven young builders.

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