Ideas

Our home for arguments, opinions, and essays. We prioritize local voices — entrepreneurs, workers, activists, politicians, regulators, end users — to highlight local ideas with global implications.

Ideas 17 May 2022

Why Chinese sellers are quitting Amazon

Amazon once helped China’s exporters reach a huge and lucrative audience. Now, they urgently need to wean themselves off.

By Rui Ma

Ideas 12 May 2022

Japan once led global tech innovation. How did it fall so behind?

For decades, the country's tech triumphs have disguised its seized-up digital systems.

By Roland Kelts

Ideas 11 May 2022

Why founders are the lifeblood of global tech ecosystems

The founders on Rest of World’s inaugural list of global tech’s changemakers share common traits of resilience, grit and adaptability in the face of political and economic uncertainties.

By Yinka Adegoke

Ideas 30 March 2022

Buy or get bought: African tech is on a mergers and acquisitions spree

Flush with VC investment, companies are under great pressure to scale rapidly or cash out.

By Yinka Adegoke

Ideas 22 March 2022

Chinese internet chatter on the Ukraine war is a warped lens

When social media censorship and clickbait combine, nationalism sells.

By Yi-Ling Liu

Ideas 21 March 2022

African governments can’t be both referees and players in consumer fintech

Central banks are launching digital currencies across Africa. But government attempts to own the retail payments space are leading to failure.

By Bright Simons

Ideas 2 March 2022

Nigerian startups are raising billions, but can’t find workers

Discussions around tech talent shortage are focused on software developers, but startups say they have struggled to find support staff for more general roles.

By Yinka Adegoke

Ideas 18 February 2022

Mexico’s newest streaming giant is making a big mistake by betting on Spanish-only content

Vix is TelevisaUnivisión’s half-hearted attempt at becoming relevant in a crowded and multicultural content market.

By Mauricio Cabrera

Ideas 27 January 2022

In Africa’s booming startup hubs, the founders have become the funders

Tech pioneers from Cellulant, Paystack, and Andela are backing the next generation of founders in Lagos and Nairobi.

By Yinka Adegoke

Ideas 4 January 2022

Rampant caste-based harassment means Dalits like me are silenced on social media

In India, it is dangerous for millions from the lowest stratum of the caste system to speak up online.

By Suprakash Majumdar

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Ideas

Why Chinese sellers are quitting Amazon

Japan once led global tech innovation. How did it fall so behind?

Why founders are the lifeblood of global tech ecosystems

Buy or get bought: African tech is on a mergers and acquisitions spree

Chinese internet chatter on the Ukraine war is a warped lens

African governments can’t be both referees and players in consumer fintech

Nigerian startups are raising billions, but can’t find workers

Mexico’s newest streaming giant is making a big mistake by betting on Spanish-only content

In Africa’s booming startup hubs, the founders have become the funders

Rampant caste-based harassment means Dalits like me are silenced on social media