Dfs Lab

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DFS — Lab _ DFS Lab Research. Writing. Insights. We publish what we learn — from primary research to investment memos to essays on what it actually takes to build and invest at the frontier. Project Highlights 01 · Ethiopia _ Merchant Payments Observatory Ground-level research tracking digital payment adoption across Ethiopia. Wave 1 finds 58.8% of merchants accept digital payments, while rural uptake remains constrained by connectivity. Learn more 02 · Southeast Asia _ MSE Onboarding for Online Selling A qualitative study of digital onboarding for micro and small enterprises entering e-commerce. Interviews with 19 stakeholders show effective programs pair digital tools with business skills and tailored support. Learn more All Writing Research Research Payments Merchant Payments Observatory DFS · April 2026 Ground-level evidence from DFS Lab's Ethiopia merchant payments work, covering digital payment adoption, merchant readiness, barriers, provider dynamics, and what the findings mean for product design and policy. ↗ Writing AI Terra Industries and the Alchemy of AI Stephen Deng · Mar 2026 What Terra Industries reveals about how AI can expand the capability of hardware systems in Africa, especially where sovereignty, reliability, and critical infrastructure matter. ↗ Writing Market Analysis Narrative Lock-In Stephen Deng · Jan 2026 An argument that African venture is still organized around outdated narratives, even as the AI era and a new geopolitical environment are changing

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