Next Generation Business Strategies for the Base of the Pyramid: New Approaches for Building Mutual Value

by Ted London, Stuart L. Hart

More and more enterprises are seeking to craft winning "base of the pyramid" (BoP) ventures, serving the world's four billion poorest customers while alleviating poverty at the same time. Early first-generation ventures focused primarily on selling products to this massive and growing under-served market. Many of these initiatives did not scale, and some have failed. Crucial lessons have been learned along the way, and innovators are now succeeding with a more sophisticated and nuanced approach to "BoP." These second-generation business strategies have remained invisible to many leaders in the for-profit, non-profit, and development communities--until now. In this book, Ted London, Stuart L. Hart, and nine leading BoP thought and practice leaders show how to apply today's most significant BoP innovations, techniques, and business models. London, Hart, and their contributors go beyond providing low-cost products and extending distribution reach, demonstrating how to promote market development, innovation, and capability creation "with" BoP new customers, not "at" them. Readers will learn how to reconceptualize their opportunities, create sustainable business ecosystems, design new technologies with BoP in mind, and even transform entire sectors through collaborative entrepreneurship. From start to finish, this book shares proven, "on-the-ground" insights for building scalable, profitable businesses that are sustainable, and truly can help alleviate social ills.

Genres: Design, Business, International Development, Poverty

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 19, 2010

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to news ways of thinking about doing business with people in the base of the economic pyramid--poor people in the developing world. Some key insights here from a variety of thoughtful authors.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as prep for a research paper. Was OK but perhaps a bit redundant, in part due to the fact that it's a compilation from various authors who touch on some of the same ideas.