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Those Too Poor for Microfinance Look to Trickle Up
What?s a hundred dollars from the perspective of a low-income, base of the pyramid community? That question should be viewed in a new light in the weeks after Muhammad Yunus was announced as the Nobel Peace Prize winner. A hundred bucks? That?s a micro-loan, of course, to be made through...
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Pakistan Ready for Mobile Banking
Last week, I reported on a conference in Pakistan organized by the Asian Development Bank (and in which I played a small role) to catalyze mobile phone banking in that country. The major banks all showed up, and heard the banking regulator tell them to get with the program. Later that same...
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T-Mobile Launches BOP Phone Service in US
The announcement yesterday morning was buried deep inside most newspapers: a WiFi capable cell phone that, for $20/month extra, enables T-Mobile subscribers to access the company’s 7000 HotSpots across the US. The Mobile Gadgeteer has a good description of how the whole thing works. It...
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2006 Ashden Awards
The Ashden Awards reward outstanding and innovative projects which tackle climate change and improve quality of life through the generation of sustainable energy at a local level. As you can imagine, the winners had some amazing ideas with the potential to drastically change the lives of the...
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BOP Circle Gains Momentum
I was also in Mexico City to help with the launch of the BOP Circle, a group of companies who gather to share experience and learn from one another. What was impressive is the degree of commitment by some of the companies. Microsoft now has two separate divisions focused on new BOP products. AC...
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Sphere of Influence: BOP Circle Mexico Launches
Amy Sprague joined WRI’s Sustainable Enterprise Program in August 2000. She is the Manager for Mexico, India, and the Andes in the New Ventures project and coordinates the New Ventures Mentoring Program. The launch of the BOP Circle in Mexico City last week presented a window into the...
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Profit-Driven Problem Solvers – The Fast 50 Awards
BOP businesses and entrepreneurs, take note: Fast Company wants you. The magazine?s sixth annual Fast 50 Awards will spotlight businesses that are helping to save the world ? a can?t-miss opportunity for worthy base of the pyramid initiatives to make waves in the mainstream media. From...
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Rising Ventures: Cuadritos Fights Hunger With Business
It is tragic that in a country where 17,000 tons of food are thrown away every day, 10% of the population is malnourished. That is what struck Hector Gonzales, anyway, when he decided this issue was far too important for a business such as his to ignore. It is upon this foundation of...
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