-
New Ventures Ditch the Product Invention Lab, Target Distribution Instead: The 12 D-Prize Competition winners are all about sharing proven tech, innovations – not inventing them
Some 500 teams of aspiring entrepreneurs pitched their idea for a new poverty-fighting venture as part of the D-Prize competition. This is no doubt impressive. But what is truly remarkable is that not one single team sought to invent a new technology or poverty intervention. Instead of spending resources inventing a new product, these ventures will distribute solutions that already exist.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Comply or Explain: Corporate India takes on a new model of CSR
Corporations and NGOs are still working to interpret and implement India’s Companies Act, which requires corporations to spend 2 percent of their average net profits on corporate social responsibility. The law affects about 8,000 companies that will spend a combined total of about $3.2 billion. The Companies Act was the centerpiece of the 2nd Global Conference on CSR in India last week.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
ICD boosting activity in Africa to widen Islamic finance appeal
The private sector arm of the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank [ISDBA.UL] plans to increase its activities in Africa, part of plans to widen the appeal of Islamic finance across the region, its chief executive said.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
The democratic disruption of finance
Bitcoin is just one example of a process that will challenge regulators to adapt.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Vodafone’s mobile wallet service M-Pesa in Kerala
Vodafone India and ICICI Bank today announced the launch of 'M-Pesa', a mobile money transfer and payment service, in Kerala. 'M-Pesa' is the trademark of Vodafone. The service was formally launched today by Suresh Kumar, operations director - south; S Murali, Business head - Kerala and Suresh Sethi, business head of M-Pesa.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Insights from Everyday Entrepreneurs: In Accion’s inaugural Orange Book, very small businesses share their stories
Very small businesses—those with five employees or less—represent over 90 percent of all small businesses in the U.S. As economic drivers in their communities, these businesses have valuable perspectives on entrepreneurship and the economy. Accion has released the Orange Book, a compilation of quantitative and anecdotal data sourced from these everyday entrepreneurs.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Tags
- microfinance
-
NexThought Monday: Who will grab the fortune at the base of the pyramid?
In a recent post on NextBillion, Stuart Hart, who co-authored The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid with C. K. Prahalad, wrote with concern about the potential of creating disruptive innovations for poor customers that can trickle up to Western markets. We don’t believe Professor Hart has anything to worry about — because major corporations have demonstrated no meaningful interest in the bottom-of-the-pyramid market. And we don’t think they’re likely to do so in the future, either.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Mor panel’s financial inclusion report may be put on back burner in India
The Union finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have raised questions on viability and implementation of the recommendations made in the Nachiket Mor committee's report. The panel had, among other things, suggested a new banking structure to foster financial inclusion.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.