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Mid East Info
3 days ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
From Social First to Self-Owned: How AI and Microtools Empower the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
Digitalisation has transformed entrepreneurship—especially at its inception. An increasing number of small businesses are launching via platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or WhatsApp, bypassing traditional websites. These social-first entrepreneurs meet customers where they already are, turning social media from a mere communication tool into a business. According to the GoDaddy 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Survey, over one in five (22%) of small business owners in MENA primarily run their business on social media. This shift underscores the growing significance of social commerce, particularly for solo entrepreneurs and part-time founders. However, building a business solely on social platforms has its limitations. While visibility is high, ownership and control are minimal. Algorithm changes or platform policies can disrupt a business's presence and income overnight. Moreover, consumers often seek additional verification before making a purchase. In Germany, where trust is paramount, having a professional website can significantly enhance a business's credibility. The State of Digital Commerce in MENA 2024 Report by Checkout highlighted that 73% of online shoppers in MENA are confident in making purchases from businesses with professional websites, rather than relying solely on social media.[1] Microtools Bridge the Gap The market responded with lightweight tools tailored for social-first founders. Solutions like GoDaddy's Show In Bio enable entrepreneurs to build branded micro-sites, digital product catalogs, and smart links that centralize their business presence without requiring advanced technical skills. These tools integrate seamlessly with social platforms while granting founders greater control. AI Fuels Smarter, Faster Entrepreneurship Artificial intelligence empowers founders to transition from idea to execution swiftly, helping craft product descriptions, developing pricing models, and automating customer interactions. GoDaddy data indicates that AI-supported tools can save entrepreneurs up to 10 hours per week—a substantial benefit for time-constrained small business owners. Beyond time savings, AI democratizes access, enabling anyone to present a professional front, experiment with new ideas, and scale efficiently. And while social platforms are powerful launchpads for connecting with customers, true staying power comes from owning your presence online. Having a dedicated website paired with smart, social-integrated tools like Show in Bio not only reinforces credibility but also provides a layer of trust and permanence that social channels alone can't deliver. In an environment where impersonations and questionable accounts are not uncommon, especially on social media, customers often double-check whether a business has a website before deciding to buy. Conclusion: Social-First, but Not Platform-Dependent The new generation of entrepreneurs is pragmatic, digitally native, and driven by independence. They initiate their ventures where their audiences are—on social media—but increasingly seek tools that provide control, flexibility, and a distinct identity beyond the scroll. Combining social-first strategies with a professional website not only enhances credibility but also ensures long-term viability. With the right mix of AI and accessible microtools, transitioning from a side hustle to a sustainable business is more attainable than ever. Social-first may be the entry point—but ownership and your own digital presence is the future. [1] The State of Digital Commerce in MENA 2024 Report
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starmer's Britain is good at only one thing: driving out the wealthy and ambitious
It doesn't lead the world in developing new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence. It isn't breaking new ground in science, technology, or even in music, literature or fashion. Still, Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Britain is at least leading the world in one respect. It has become better than anywhere else at driving out the wealthy, the young, and the ambitious. There is just one catch. The Government doesn't appear to have any ideas on how to stem the exodus, nor how to replace all the tax revenues that will leave with them. The evidence that money and talent is fleeing Britain is becoming more alarming all the time. Guillaume Pousaz, Swiss-born billionaire founder of fintech giant Checkout, has become the latest to leave. We learned this week that he has shifted his tax residency from Britain to Monaco, following the decision by the Chancellor Rachel Reeve to abolish the non-dom rule that allowed wealthy foreigners to limit their tax bills in the UK. He joins the likes of the billionaire steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal and the senior Goldman Sachs banker Richard Goode in getting out of the country. Over the last year, an estimated 10,000 millionaires have left the UK, according to Henley & Partners, second only to Russia, and the real total may be even higher. But it is not just a handful of the super-rich who are getting out. The young and ambitious are increasingly leaving for the Gulf States such as Dubai or Qatar, for Australia, where the youth mobility scheme allows them to live or work, or for the United States, if they can get a visa. Likewise, the 'Henrys', or 'High Earners, Not Yet Rich' are fleeing as well. It is not hard to understand why. The non-dom crackdown has created one of the most punitive tax regimes in the world for foreigners. They are now subject not just to our income taxes, but to inheritance tax at 40 per cent on their global assets, as well as capital gains tax if they sell their company. Many simply have to leave or face financial ruin. Likewise, frozen thresholds and tapered personal allowances now mean many successful self-employed or young professionals face marginal tax rates of 70 per cent or more on their earnings (and even more if they are crazy enough to live in Scotland). Perhaps worse of all, the dire state of the public finances means that everyone knows there is far worse to come over the next two or three years, with taxes rising relentlessly to pay for soaring welfare bills and public sector wages. The only rational decision is to get out while you still can. A desperate Labour Chancellor – perhaps an Angela Rayner-type – may even impose an exit tax, as other countries have tried to. It is catastrophic for any country to lose its wealthiest, most energetic, talented, ambitious, and hardest-working people. They drive investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship. More than any other group, they create the wealth that allows the country to flourish. But it is especially catastrophic for Britain. The reason is simple. Over the last thirty years, we have narrowed our tax base, so that the Government is very dependent on a small group of people. The top 1 per cent now pay 28 per cent of the total for income tax, and the top 10 per cent pay 60 per cent of the total. For capital gains tax, dividend taxes, and corporation tax the percentage will be even higher. As they leave, the revenue collected will collapse. Even worse, as the exodus gathers steam, the Government is doing precisely nothing to stop it. Any rational government, faced with losing 30 per cent of its tax revenue, would be frantically finding ways of persuading them to stay. Instead, Labour is complacently watching them leave, as if it makes no difference. It is going to prove a very expensive mistake – because the UK will find it very hard to get all those people back once they have left. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Billionaire tech founder quits Britain for Monaco
A billionaire tech founder has abandoned Britain for Monaco in the wake of Rachel Reeves's tax crackdown. Guillaume Pousaz, the Swiss founder of payments business shifted his country of residence to the tax haven last month, according to Companies House filings. Mr Pousaz is leaving the UK just over a year after he moved to London from Dubai, as he joins a growing exodus of wealth creators. However, with an estimated personal fortune of $6bn (£4.44bn), Mr Pousaz is one of the richest entrepreneurs to quit Britain since Labour came to power last year. It comes after the Chancellor launched a £1bn crackdown on non-doms and increased taxes on capital gains as part of last year's Budget. This led to a record 10,800 millionaires leaving Britain in 2024, according to data from Henley & Partners. This includes Richard Gnodde, the vice chairman of Goldman Sachs in Europe, who left London for Milan earlier this year. Billionaire property investors Ian and Richard Livingstone have also swapped London for Monaco in protest against Labour's tax raid. And Lakshmi Mittal, the steel magnate, is also considering leaving the UK. The exodus could prove costly for the Chancellor, as the Centre for Economics and Business Research predicts that the Exchequer risks losing £12.2bn by the end of 2030 if half of Britain's non-doms leave. Mr Pousaz has abandoned Britain after turning Checkout into one of London's most valuable start-ups. After founding the UK-headquartered business in 2009, he achieved a $40bn valuation in 2022 after completing a $1bn fundraise. Among its early customers were adult websites such as OnlyFans, although it now works with dozens of online retailers and cryptocurrency businesses. Meanwhile, Mr Pousaz , 43, will join the likes of Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe among Monaco's super-rich residents. Jason Hollands, managing director of financial advisers Evelyn Partners, said earlier this year that Labour's crackdown on non-doms, who live in the UK but have their permanent tax addresses registered abroad, made Britain appear 'hostile to wealthy people'. Checkout declined to comment. A spokesman for Mr Pousaz's family office said: 'This is a private matter and we will not be commenting.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Billionaire tech founder quits Britain for Monaco
A billionaire tech founder has abandoned Britain for Monaco in the wake of Rachel Reeves's tax crackdown. Guillaume Pousaz, the Swiss founder of payments business shifted his country of residence to the tax haven last month, according to Companies House filings. Mr Pousaz is leaving the UK just over a year after he moved to London from Dubai, as he joins a growing exodus of wealth creators. However, with an estimated personal fortune of $6bn (£4.44bn), Mr Pousaz is one of the richest entrepreneurs to quit Britain since Labour came to power last year. It comes after the Chancellor launched a £1bn crackdown on non-doms and increased taxes on capital gains as part of last year's Budget. This led to a record 10,800 millionaires leaving Britain in 2024, according to data from Henley & Partners. This includes Richard Gnodde, the vice chairman of Goldman Sachs in Europe, who left London for Milan earlier this year. Billionaire property investors Ian and Richard Livingstone have also swapped London for Monaco in protest against Labour's tax raid. And Lakshmi Mittal, the steel magnate, is also considering leaving the UK. The exodus could prove costly for the Chancellor, as the Centre for Economics and Business Research predicts that the Exchequer risks losing £12.2bn by the end of 2030 if half of Britain's non-doms leave. Mr Pousaz has abandoned Britain after turning Checkout into one of London's most valuable start-ups. After founding the UK-headquartered business in 2009, he achieved a $40bn valuation in 2022 after completing a $1bn fundraise. Among its early customers were adult websites such as OnlyFans, although it now works with dozens of online retailers and cryptocurrency businesses. Meanwhile, Mr Pousaz , 43, will join the likes of Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe among Monaco's super-rich residents. Jason Hollands, managing director of financial advisers Evelyn Partners, said earlier this year that Labour's crackdown on non-doms, who live in the UK but have their permanent tax addresses registered abroad, made Britain appear 'hostile to wealthy people'. Checkout declined to comment. A spokesman for Mr Pousaz's family office said: 'This is a private matter and we will not be commenting.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Moment darts star awkwardly falls off stage moments after superb checkout as rivals break out in laughter
DARTS is a sport for those that don't take themselves too seriously. And there was a prime example of that on Wednesday when the unfortunately named Danny van Trijp fell off the oche after a superb checkout. 2 2 The slapstick moment came at the Modus Super Series event in Portsmouth, with play continuing throughout the week. This time, Dutchman van Trijp was the one that was the centre of attention. He had pinned a spectacular 137 checkout, with two double-tops to close out the third leg in his and Jimmy van Schie's match against Belgian pair Dimitri van den Bergh and Brian Raman. He landed his final double to seal get the Dutch duo on the scoreboard, and retrieved his darts as he often would. He then stepped aside, and walked back, admiring his work, before taking a hilarious tumble off the stage, cuing laughter from his colleagues and spectators alike. Van Schie struggled to contain his laughter as his partner dusted himself down. Raman gave the world No. 139 a friendly pat on the back as he got himself up. The pair were 2-0 down at the time, and van Trijp's fall, combined with his accurate arrows, will have bettered the mood among the Dutch team somewhat. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Van Trijp and van Schie ended up coming out on top in that match, coming back from two legs down to win 4-1. Fans lapped it up on social media, with one commenting: "Timber!!!", and another saying: "Danny van Trip", accompanied with laughing emojis. Stephen Bunting ready for shock World Cup of Darts call-up if Luke Littler pulls out after cryptic post Hilariously, it is not the first time that someone has lost their footing on that very same stage in Portsmouth. Legend Steve Beaton was playing against Devon Petersen in the Super Series back in January, and he misplaced his foot as he went to collect his darts. He appeared to stumble off the stage's rise before he was able to catch himself at the last. Commentator Laura Turner said that the "players need a bit of a moment... I think me and Henry need a bit of a moment!" Co-commentator Henry Deacon added: "How was your trip, Steve?".
