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NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Contributor.

Rob Katz

After co-founding NextBillion.net and spending 8-plus years working at the intersection of business and international development, Rob Katz is currently pursuing a MBA at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

 

Prior to Stanford, Rob was Acumen Fund’s Knowledge Manager, leading Acumen’s efforts to understand where markets work –and where they don’t – in terms of solving the problems of poverty. Most recently, he co-authored From Blueprint to Scale: The Case for Philanthropy in Impact Investing(Monitor Group and Acumen Fund, 2012.) In addition to writing reports, he was responsible for applied research and writing efforts across the firm; he also oversaw Acumen’s knowledge management systems.Rob joined Acumen Fund in 2008, managing online communications as well as knowledge before shifting full time into applied research work.

 

Before Acumen Fund, Rob worked with the Markets and Enterprise Program of the World Resources Institute, where he began his career researching, writing and speaking about “base of the pyramid” business approaches to poverty alleviation. At WRI, he co-founded www.NextBillion.net, a web site and blog about enterprise and development, and co-authored The Next 4 Billion: Market Size and Business Strategy at the Base of the Pyramid (IFC and WRI, 2007).

 

Here at NextBillion, Rob is both a member of our Advisory Board and a contributor to the blog.

 

Rob earned his B.A. in Political Economy from Georgetown University.

 

Follow Rob on Twitter @robertkatz.

 

Articles by Rob Katz

  • Friday
    May 2
    2008

    Rob Katz

    Africa Investment Horizons

    As I turned the corner, it appeared almost out of nowhere - a monument to the successes (and failures) of capitalism - the New York Stock Exchange. I had ventured downtown to attend the premiere of Carol Pineau’s new documentary, Africa Investment Horizons, which was being screened inside...

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  • Monday
    April 28
    2008

    Rob Katz

    IADB Announces Innovation for Inclusive Development Grants

    The Science and Technology Division of the Inter-American Development Bank is pleased to announce the launch of its grants program: Innovation for Inclusive Development. The objective of the program is to foster innovation in products, processes, and services and engender solutions that can...

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  • Tuesday
    April 22
    2008

    Rob Katz

    Interview with Erik Simanis: BoP, Green, Development and Much More

    Erik Simanis is not your average Ph.D. student.? For one thing, he’s done work on his degree at two separate institutions (the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and Cornell University’s Johnson School of Business.)? Furthermore, he’s spent more time...

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  • Thursday
    April 17
    2008

    Rob Katz

    The Commercialization of Microfinance: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

    Today in New York, I had the pleasure of attending a round table organized by the Council on Foreign Relations entitled The Commercialization of Microfinance: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Moderated by CFR Senior Fellow Isobel Coleman, the discussion featured comments from Mary Ellen...

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  • Tuesday
    April 15
    2008

    Rob Katz

    Entrepreneurship@Cornell: Big, Red and Innovative

    What’s big, red and innovative all over?? No, it’s not Clifford’s supremely creative cousin ? it’s Entrepreneurship@Cornell.? A university-wide initiative, Entrepreneurship@Cornell is unique in bringing together students, faculty, alumni and outside experts across a range of...

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  • Tuesday
    April 8
    2008

    Rob Katz

    Guest Post: Erik Simanis Explains the BoP Protocol

    Guest blogger Erik Simanis is Co-Director of the BoP Protocol project. Erik co-founded the Base of the Pyramid Learning Laboratory in 2000 with Professor Stuart Hart. He holds a BA in Spanish from Wake Forest University and an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler School of Business (University of North...

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  • Friday
    April 4
    2008

    Rob Katz

    Job: Analyst, IGNIA BoP Investment Fund

    Position: Analyst, IGNIALocation: Monterrey, MexicoOrganization: IGNIA is a $75 million venture capital fund and enterprise development organization? focused on fighting poverty by investing in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) in Latin...

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  • Monday
    March 31
    2008

    Rob Katz

    Fellowship Opportunity: YouthActionNet

    If you’re between the ages of 18 and 29, and have founded a social or BoP enterprise, check out the description below.Launched in 2001 by the International Youth Foundation, YouthActionNet strengthens, supports, and celebrates the role of young people in leading positive change in their...

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