Harvard Business Review
JUNE 13, 2012
Business cost structures in low-income markets are daunting: Operational expenses such as distribution frequently dwarf the costs that companies face in developed markets, while customer acquisition and retention often demand unusually intense — and costly — levels of consumer engagement.
Harvard Business Review
MARCH 22, 2013
We're more likely to scale up birthing kits that cost less than 50 cents apiece than mobile apps that might diagnose disease; more likely to open one-room schools in rented spaces or even boats , where children sit on the floor and learn to think creatively, than insist that every pupil have Internet access. Immerse yourself in the details.
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Harvard Business Review
JANUARY 11, 2013
Six years ago, David and Donna Allman approached Opportunity with an idea that fell outside our traditional microfinance model: to build a Community Economic Development (CED) program in Nicaragua. On a recent trip, he briefed me on his business plan and on the school's operations with the maturity and confidence of a seasoned entrepreneur.
Harvard Business Review
MARCH 22, 2013
We're more likely to scale up birthing kits that cost less than 50 cents apiece than mobile apps that might diagnose disease; more likely to open one-room schools in rented spaces or even boats , where children sit on the floor and learn to think creatively, than insist that every pupil have Internet access. Immerse yourself in the details.
Harvard Business Review
SEPTEMBER 7, 2016
With valuable learnings from the solar salesmen, we began the search to build our own dedicated team of salespeople to help us “open up shop” across each region of operation. Experiment #5: Microfinance Institutions. Customers show up regularly to take out loans, arrange payments, and track their finances.
Harvard Business Review
JANUARY 21, 2013
One way to tell the story of mothers2mothers' growth is as follows: since 2001, the organization has expanded its operations to nine countries with an approximately $20 million operating budget. Successful examples of this approach are still rare; most people point to microfinance. my money built X number of schools).
Harvard Business Review
MARCH 17, 2014
As the sector grows through this period of creative destruction, models that don’t work will die out, models that survive will attract copycats, operating costs will go down, and winners will rise to the top. We allowed microfinance and the venture capital industry the time and space to develop over a few decades.
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