categories
HOT TOPICS
- The Accelerator Conundrum
- The Startup Velocity Question
- Platform as a Service
- Man and Superman
- Web 3.0 = (4C + P + VS)
- The Future: End of Capitalism
- Capitalism 2.0
poverty
Venture Capital for MicroFinance: Chris Brookfield (Part 1)
Chris Brookfield is the Investment Director at Unitus Investment Management Company. He has been a venture capital and private equity investor his entire professional career. In 2004 he co-founded Open Water Investors. Chris has also been an Associate at Redleaf Venture Management, a Silicon Valley seed stage venture investor, and is familiar with pure play
Microfranchise: Future Needs
By David Stoker, Guest Author What is the next step for MicroFranchising? First there is an enormous need for innovation in Design. There are a number examples of current projects designing specifically for the bottom of the pyramid: the $100 Laptop, Tata’s proposed $2000 car, AIDG products, or innovations out of the D-Lab at MIT,
Research on MicroFranchising
By David Stoker, Guest Author While the concept of microfranchising sounds simple and exciting, and successful models are starting to emerge, there are endless opportunities for research in methodology and impact evaluation. One university that is dedicating specific resources to researching the field of microfranchising is Brigham Young University in Utah. Their business school houses
Social Entrepreneur: Harish Hande (Part 14)
We continue our discussion on India’s economic development, and the gaining affluence of the middle class. Harish challenges the common statements that there is high economic growth, countering that the growth only affects a very limited portion of the population. SM: So the middle class has created affluence. HH: 18% of the wealth is with
Social Entrepreneur: Harish Hande (Part 13)
Here Harish and I begin a more philosophical discussion regarding the recent economic development of India. SM: Of course the people you are dealing with are operating in a capital market, and they get rewarded by maximizing shareholder value. The solution you need does not exist. HH: The logic that we are doing it in
Social Entrepreneur: Harish Hande (Part 12)
The recent solar energy boom in Germany has placed a significant strain on Selco. Selco will need to face the possibility of continued high demand in developed countries which are already highly industrialized, can pay big dollars, and suck up the supply of solar panels. SM: One of the points I would like to discuss
Social Entrepreneur: Harish Hande (Part 11)
We continue our discussion on the challenges of human resources, and then move on to discuss business strategy. Selco has developed quite well to date by offering unique services and customized solutions. However, they now face the difficulty of hiring strategic thinkers who can continue this model for such low pay. The need to productize
Microfranchise: Endless Possibilities
By David Stoker, Guest Author When we stop and think of the number of businesses that fall under the umbrella of Franchising in the developed world and the dearth of those business models at the bottom of the pyramid, it is exciting to think of the possibilities. A list of Franchise businesses: Automobile dealerships, Professional
