-
NexThought Monday: In Failure, a Marketing Lesson for Social Entrepreneurs: What we can learn from the closing of The Hoop Fund
The Hoop Fund was built on a truly innovative premise: Allow consumers to purchase premium goods from small businesses in the developing world, while simultaneously supporting those businesses with microloans. Unfortunately, the model suffered from critical gaps in marketing strategy, which made it almost impossible to achieve scale.
- Categories
- Education
-
Weekly Roundup: This BoP Exit Brought to You, Courtesy of the Cloud
This week atyati technologies, a leading technology platform provider for the rural banking sector in India, with 2.5 million end users was purchased by Genpact, a $1.9 billion global leader in business process and technology management. The acquisition marks one of a handful of instances where a BoP-focused private initiative has been acquired in a mainstream transaction.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Guest Post: Silicon Valley Without Stanford? The Role of Philanthropy in Impact Investing
The focus on the proper mix of philanthropy and investment at the individual deal level can obscure even bigger and, I’d argue, more important issues facing the impact investment industry – lack of good deal flow. Lack of good deal flow will become a bigger problem as more capital is mobilized. Imagine Silicon Valley without Stanford. That is the state of the early-stage impact investing movement today.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
The NextBillion Case Writing Competition Returns for 2012-13: How You Can Contribute to Thought Leadership for Good
Discovering the very best cases exploring the risks and rewards of organizations deploying market-based approaches to economic or social development was the impetus for the NextBillion Case Writing Competition. The contest took a hiatus for the 2011-2012 academic year, but I’m happy to announce its return for 2012-2013 with a new sponsor: Citi Foundation. Find out how to enter.
- Categories
- Education
-
What’s Hindering the Growth of Health Businesses in Ghana and Kenya
A new paper focuses on constraints to growth among private health firms in Ghana and Kenya.
I spoke with lead author Nicholas Burger, an economist at the nonprofit RAND Corporation, about the study’s findings: What hinders growth and how expanded engagement between the public and private health sectors could strengthen health care in Africa.- Categories
- Education, Health Care
- Tags
- public health, research
-
Help Wanted: Have a Job to Fill? Introducing Featured Jobs on NextBillion
Today NextBillion is launching a new enhancement we think will help both employers and job hunters: Featured Jobs. What’s the value of a Featured Job versus a free job posting on NextBillion? Find out why you should advertise your jobs, fellowships and volunteer opportunities on NextBillion!
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Catalyzing Retail Investment to Fund the ‘Missing Part’ of the Missing Middle
Recent developments in crowdfunding legislation in the U.S. and general growing interest in retail investment in Europe and the US are signaling a growth in new capital available for impact investing. But how does the impact sector ensure there are enough investment products to cater to the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of unaccredited investors who are increasingly interested in international investment opportunities that will deliver diverse environmental, social, and financial returns?
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
- Tags
- impact investing
-
Siemens SMARTly Designs Products for Emerging Markets, Will Others Follow?
SMART products (simple, maintenance-friendly, affordable, reliable and timely-to-market) have now become a primary focus for Siemens. The focus on local markets has led to breakthrough innovations in products such as X-ray machines, medical devices, and water treatment products. After three years, the company is now beginning to see the fruits of its efforts.
- Categories
- Education
- Tags
- product design, research
