small.news: October 19, 2026 Just Ocampo Lost Everything Building Abound, He Did Not Stop small.storiesBy Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant Just Ocampo started his career the way many Filipino professionals do — as a contact center agent right out of school, learning the industry from the ground up. Over the years, he worked his way into middle management. He was good at the work. He was also watching. What he saw troubled him. Unfair business practices. Poor leadership. Work cultures that ground people down instead of lifting them. He made himself a quiet promise: one day, he would catalyze change — a place where right leadership and a healthy work culture could strengthen each other, not compete. Read More → Top Stories ICYMI: The Quiet Backbone: What Small Businesses in Kenya Teach Us About Resilience, Building Trust and Community small.worldBy Chris Matagaro, Senior Manager of Africa Growth for Silver Lining As I sat and reminisced about the African SMB ecosystem, I thought about what it takes for us to really change the game and help small businesses succeed. Currently, there is a lot of focus on Africa, especially given its innovative and youthful population. The next few years offer many opportunities for SMB growth, and with the advancement of technology, particularly AI, we see this achievable in a much shorter time frame. Read More → USA Small Business Owners Hit by Back-to-Back Grand Canyon Disasters Can Now Apply for SBA Loans Up to $2 Million small.deskBy Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant Small businesses and nonprofits in Arizona affected by flash flooding at the Grand Canyon can now apply for low-interest federal disaster loans of up to $2 million, after the U.S. Small Business Administration approved a disaster declaration following a request from Governor Katie Hobbs on October 8, reports Fox 10 Phoenix. Read More → UK Digital Lenders to Small Business Owners Reach Profitability Faster Than Consumer Fintechs as Traditional Banks Retreat small.deskBy Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant A growing number of UK digital lenders focused on small businesses are reaching profitability faster than their consumer-facing fintech counterparts, as traditional banks continue to tighten lending criteria and turn away smaller borrowers, according to a Financial Times report published October 15, reports PYMNTS. Read More → How to Turn a Homemade Product into a Brand Customers Remember small.adviceBy Yonela Guqaza, Founder of Nhella’s Chillies Many small businesses start with something simple: a skill, a hobby, a family recipe, or something people repeatedly tell us we are good at. For me, it was cooking spicy food and, through that, developing my love for chillies. I was about 12 when my older sister started teaching me in the kitchen. Read More → small.laughs By Dave Zaboski Disclaimer: All resemblances to any persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental and in no way meant to intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings. Keep Laughing → I Went Quiet on Social Media, Yet the Phone Kept Ringing small.opinionsBy Amanda Lewis, Founder of Phoenix Transformations Career Counselling (PTCC) “For years, I thought visibility meant posting every day on every platform, or the business would disappear. So, I chased that until I was burned out and the money looked nothing like the effort.” – Amanda Lewis Jazz Keyes on Economic Ownership, Closing the Information Gap, and Why Economic Development Has to Help Small Businesses Grow small.talkBy Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant On October 14, 2026, Jazz Keyes, President and CEO, Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC), joined our small.talk to make the case that economic development should be judged by whether small businesses actually grow, and that the goal is to carry owners from ideation to ownership. Jazz joined Silver Lining Founder and CEO Carissa Reiniger to discuss the work of VSEDC in South Los Angeles, her vision for community ownership, and the information, funding, and technology gaps facing the small businesses she serves. Read More → Thank You To Our Founding Sponsors!