🚀 Why Smart Entrepreneurs Are Investing in Community-Based Businesses? 🏘️💡

Happy Trends Friday!

In today’s email…

• Why Smart Entrepreneurs Are Betting on Community-Based Businesses

The Playbook for Eswatini’s Next Business Boom

Malls, bars, and churches. That pretty much sums up Eswatini’s social landscape. If you’re not shopping, drinking, or attending a sermon, where exactly do you go to meet people, get inspired, or break a sweat? Answer: nowhere. And that’s a huge business opportunity.

Across the world, community-based businesses like run clubs, co-working spaces, and social hubs are thriving. Eswatini, however, is late to the game. This means: that if you’re an entrepreneur, now is the perfect time to build something in this space.

1. The Community Business Wave 🌊

From Nairobi to New York, there’s a shift happening. People are moving away from purely digital connections and craving real-world experiences. That’s why:

• Run clubs are exploding. Nike Run Club, Adidas Runners, and grassroots fitness groups are building massive communities through free social workouts.

• Co-working and creative hubs are becoming the new “third place.” (Not home, not work, but a comfortable social spot where you can connect, learn, and unwind.)

• Events and social memberships are driving new revenue models. Think: of exclusive meetups, premium coaching, and brand-sponsored gatherings.

Eswatini has almost none of this at scale. That’s where you come in.

2. Why Eswatini is Ripe for Community Businesses 🍯

• Young professionals are growing in urban areas (Mbabane, Manzini). They’re looking for networking and fitness options outside the usual club scene.

• Social fitness is booming, and gyms are packed, but outdoor run clubs, weekend boot camps, and yoga collectives are still in the early stages.

• Freelancers and remote workers need flexible workspaces. The office is dead. But a well-designed, networking-friendly co-working space? That’s life.

• Brands are looking for new engagement channels. A thriving run club or social hub can attract sponsorships from banks, apparel brands, and wellness companies.

3. The Monetization Game 🎯

Forget outdated business models. Community-driven businesses are about building a tribe, and then monetizing in smart ways:

• Subscription models (monthly memberships, premium experiences)

• Sponsorships & partnerships (fitness brands, financial institutions, lifestyle businesses)

• Retail & merchandise (branded gear, wellness products, coffee sales)

• Ticketed events & workshops (guest speakers, networking sessions, fitness boot camps)

4. Who Will Build It? (Hint: Maybe You) 🚀

Community-based businesses aren’t just about making money. They’re about creating movements. The first person to build a structured, well-branded run club in Eswatini? They’ll own the fitness culture. The entrepreneur who launches the go-to creative co-working space? They’ll define a generation of professionals.

The trend is here. The timing is perfect. The only question left: who’s bold enough to make it happen?

If you’re interested in starting something in this space, reply to this email I’d love to hear your thoughts. 🔥