Stears News

Stears News is the publishing and media-origin brand associated with Stears, a Nigerian-founded company focused on business information, market intelligence, and investment research across Africa. The company began in 2017 as Stears Business, a publication created by Preston Ideh, Abdul Abdulrahim, Foluso Ogunlana, and Michael Famoroti, who met while studying at the London School of Economics and Imperial College in the United Kingdom. Its initial proposition was to make structured, accessible reporting and analysis about Nigerian business and economic affairs available to readers who were often underserved by conventional news coverage. Over time, Stears expanded beyond a conventional digital publication. Its activities developed into subscription-based data collection tools, analytical products, and bespoke research services intended for investors, economists, portfolio managers, analysts, researchers, international organisations, and other professional users. The company’s work covers issues such as market entry, country analysis, the digital economy, and broader commercial and political developments that affect investment decisions in Africa. Stears’ media heritage remains important to its identity: journalism and explanatory analysis provide a public-facing layer for understanding Nigerian and African markets, while its professional products package data and interpretation for organisations with more specialised research requirements. This combination positions the brand between business media, economic research, and investment intelligence rather than as a general-interest news outlet alone. The company has supplied bespoke content and analytical work to organisations including the United Nations Development Programme and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, as well as to knowledge workers and financial professionals. In 2022, Stears announced $3.3 million in funding from MaC Venture Capital, Serena Ventures, Melo 7 Tech Partners, the Omidyar Group’s Laminate Fund, and Cascador. The financing supported the company’s broader development as a data and intelligence provider for African markets. Stears maintains a geographic presence in Lagos, Abuja, and London and serves users in Nigeria and internationally.

Stears was founded in 2017 by Preston Ideh, Abdul Abdulrahim, Foluso Ogunlana, and Michael Famoroti. The founders met through their studies at the London School of Economics and Imperial College in the United Kingdom and created the venture around the need for clearer, more useful information about Nigerian business and economic conditions. The company initially operated as Stears Business, a media publication aimed at reporting and explaining developments relevant to businesses, investors, and economically engaged readers. The original publication model gave Stears a foundation in journalism, but the company subsequently broadened its scope. It developed data collection tools and analytical services designed for investment research in Africa, moving toward a subscription-based market-intelligence model. This expansion allowed Stears to serve users who needed more than news articles, including portfolio managers, analysts, economists, researchers, and other knowledge workers seeking structured information about African markets. Its research activity has included bespoke work on market entry, country analysis, and the digital economy. Stears has also produced commissioned content and analysis for international organisations, including the United Nations Development Programme and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. These assignments reflect the company’s evolution from a business publication into a broader information and research provider. The Stears brand therefore encompasses both public-facing business journalism and professional intelligence services. Stears News represents the media and explanatory-analysis side of the organisation, while the wider company develops paid tools and research intended to support commercial, investment, and policy decisions. The company is headquartered across Lagos, Abuja, and London, giving it an operating footprint that connects Nigerian reporting and data collection with international users interested in Africa. In 2022, Stears raised $3.3 million from MaC Venture Capital, Serena Ventures, Melo 7 Tech Partners, the Omidyar Group’s Laminate Fund, and Cascador. The funding marked an important stage in the company’s effort to scale its data and analytical products. Stears remains associated with the broader goal of improving access to reliable, decision-useful information about African economies and markets.

• 2022

  Stears announces $3.3 million in funding

  [1]Stears (company)en.wikipedia.org

  The company raises $3.3 million from MaC Venture Capital, Serena Ventures, Melo 7 Tech Partners, Laminate Fund, and Cascador to support its African market-intelligence business.

• 2017

  Stears is founded

  [1]Stears (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Preston Ideh, Abdul Abdulrahim, Foluso Ogunlana, and Michael Famoroti establish the company, initially as the media publication Stears Business.

Stears positions itself at the intersection of African business media, data collection, and investment intelligence. Its public-facing journalism supports awareness of Nigerian and African economic developments, while subscription products and commissioned research serve professional users making investment, market-entry, policy, and strategic decisions.

• Business media · 2017

  Stears News

  The public-facing news and analysis offering associated with Stears. It provides reporting and explanatory coverage concerning Nigerian and African business, economic, political, and market developments. The publication emerged from the company’s original Stears Business identity and provides context for readers seeking to understand commercial conditions and investment-related issues.

• Data and research

  Stears market-intelligence tools

  Subscription-based data collection and analytical tools developed for users researching African investment markets. The products are intended for analysts, portfolio managers, economists, researchers, and other professional users who need structured information and interpretation beyond conventional news coverage.

• Professional research services

  Bespoke research and content

  Commissioned research and content addressing specific organisational questions, including market entry, country analysis, and the digital economy. Stears has provided this type of work to international organisations and professional knowledge users requiring tailored analysis of African markets.

• 2022

  Raise capital to expand market intelligenceStrategy

  Background

  Stears sought to develop its business beyond media into subscription-based data collection and analytical services for African investment markets.

  Action taken

  The company raised $3.3 million from a group of venture and strategic investors.

  Aftermath

  The funding supported Stears’ evolution as a provider of data and research for investors, international organisations, and other professional users.

  Funding raised. $3.3 million (2022)

  Source

• 2017

  Launch as a business publicationStrategy

  Background

  The founders identified a need for clearer reporting and analysis about Nigerian business and economic affairs.

  Action taken

  They established Stears as Stears Business, initially centring the organisation on media publication and business journalism.

  Aftermath

  The publication provided the foundation for Stears’ later expansion into subscription data products and professional market-intelligence services.

  Source

• 2022

  Stears raises $3.3 million to expand African market intelligence[1]Stears (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Stears secured $3.3 million in funding from MaC Venture Capital, Serena Ventures, Melo 7 Tech Partners, the Omidyar Group’s Laminate Fund, and Cascador. The financing supported the company’s development as a provider of subscription-based data tools and analysis for African investment markets.

1. 1Stears (company)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Stears official websitestears.co