Today, Bill Gates’ speech at Davos has thrown the spotlight on “creative capitalism” and an emerging groundswell of interest in market-based solutions and business models that can drive positive social and environmental change. The excitement around these ideas to create self-sustaining, scalable options for development at the bottom of the economic pyramid (BoP) is encouraging, and the potential for a snowball effect of increased action is huge.
Yet all of the grand words and fanfare remind me that what is most riveting – what really seems to capture attention and combat ingrained suspicions (about “development aid” and about “capitalism”) – are the actual stories of the models themselves.
So, today I’d like to provide a brief vignette of pieces that NextBillion has posted over the last few years that give direct windows onto how “creative capitalism” works, and what it looks like in action:
Large companies serving the BoP:
Casas Bahia
Codensa
Cemex
ITC’s e-Choupal
ICICI Bank
Intel’s World Ahead
MicroPlace
Smart Communications
Vodafone’s M-PESA
Small entrepreneurs serving the BoP:
DESI Power
Drishtee
Gram Mooligai
Healthstore (SHEF/CFW)
Landwasher
Mi Farmacita
Scojo Foundation
Solar Electric Light Fund
Water Health International
Non-profits using market-based models:
Envirofit
International Development Enterprises (IDE)
Kiva
Patient Capita/Venture Philanthropy:
Acumen Fund
Aavishkaar
Design and Technology for the BoP:
MIT’s D-Lab
Mobile Phones
One Laptop Per Child
RIOS Institute
For more organizations, case-studies, and current information related to the BoP space, search our resource library, follow the latest news, and subscribe to our RSS to keep up-to-date on our latest blogs!
