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The Rise (and Rise) of the Gig Economy in Kenya – And How to Take It to the Next Level
The gig economy is growing fast in East Africa, fueled by a young population and burgeoning mobile and smartphone penetration. Countries like Kenya now have gig platforms offering everything from taxi rides to cleaners and handymen, and analysts say this is only the beginning. Gituku Ngene at Google.org Youth Impact Labs explores the gig economy's growing impact, the barriers it faces – and solutions that could unlock its full potential.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Technology
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Apple to Launch New Low-Cost iPhone in 2020 to Win Customers in Emerging Markets
The new, cheaper iPhone could boost sales for Apple next spring, when the life-cycle of new flagship iPhones -- scheduled to be unveiled Sept. 10 -- would naturally begin to slow.
- Categories
- Technology
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Tesla Batteries Are Keeping Zimbabwe’s Economy Running
The southern African country faces chronic shortages of physical cash, so almost all transactions are done digitally, and many via mobile phones.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Super Apps: WeChat, Go-Jek and Rivals Battle to Do It All in Asia
Although no one has counted the exact number of super apps in Asia, they are sprouting up everywhere, including some of the region's remotest corners.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Designing for Social Good, Not ‘Feel Good’
Designing products for multinational corporations and their affluent target markets is very different from designing products for low-income, rural consumers. Jordan Westerberg, industrial designer with social venture development firm Factor[e], has worked in both of these worlds. He discusses a recent project that redesigned a solar conduction dryer for Indian farmers, and cautions against being drawn to simplistic, feel-good products when designing for social impact.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Technology
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EcoCash Bureau DE Change Launch to Spur Financial Inclusion in Zimbabwe
With a customer base of about 10 million, EcoCash will instantly dominate the bureau de change market share surpassing the combined transactions of more than 200 other licenced agencies countrywide.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- cashless, fintech, mobile money
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Goldman Sachs, Point72 and Others Invest $42 Million in Mexico’s Credijusto
Mexico has experienced a steady rise in startups aiming to use technology and mobile phones to sell financial services to poor and middle-class customers who do not use traditional banks.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Latin America
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Xiaomi Banks on Phone Data for Finance Play in India
The stakes are high for the world’s fourth largest mobile phone vendor, whose business model relies on low-margin hardware sales with services as a key long-term profit centre.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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