A smartphone is a mini-business toolkit: camera, editor, bank and marketplace all in one. The following are phone-first hustles that are successful in the DRC scenario- lean to start and can scale with evidence.
Social media marketing: Manage Instagram/Tik Tok/Facebook of local shops, salons, NGOs. Give content (4 reels + 8 posts + replies) and keep track of the results with insights.
Content: Videos on food, fashion, tech repair, or city tours; monetize through brand shout-outs, affiliate links, and paid posts when you start gaining traction.
WhatsApp micro-commerce: Source popular items (accessories, cosmetics, thrift) and sell in WhatsApp Status and groups; preorder, MoMo analytics, and work with a moto to deliver them.
Freelance: Design flyers, logos, menus, and edit videos on your phone with Canva and CapCut, pitch on local Facebook groups, and hire on Upwork/Fiverr.
Online tutoring: Flipped teach French, English, maths, or the basics of coding through the WhatsApp/Zoom platform; charge with mobile money, send notes as PDFs.
Local guides and errands: Call on translation, type documents, or run errands in the city, which is organized on WhatsApp; task tasks by neighbourhood to save time.
Resell data/airtime: Purchase in large quantities at a discount and resell within your network; include SIM registration services at a charge.
Keep Reading
Concept of teamwork and communication
Hopewell Methodist hospital’s case study
Care coordination at Hopewell Methodist
Select one niche and give it a name.
Post a basic portfolio ( drive folder + IG page).
DM 20 local companies with an apparent before/after pitch.
Follow all tasks in a note-taking app and invest in information and a power bank.
Such concepts are tested on the African continent and can be converted to either side cash or recurring income with regular delivery and easy and traceable offers.
