Inclusive Entrepreneurship – Scaling-Up in Developing Markets

From Classroom to Market

The real value of an idea can only be understood in market places where low-income consumers shop and make purchases. This consumer segment is incredibly diverse: men migrating for seasonal labor, women playing key roles in agricultures, and refugees in semi-permanent settlements. Combine this diversity with global trends like globalization, climate change and increasing access to technology, it is clear that targeting this 4 billion population will be a real challenge to get it right and profitable.

This course will be taught by collaboratively with experts and practitioners from the BoP Innovation Centre (Bopinc). In this course, students will understand the consumer, up through the value chain that intends to serve them.

The 5-day course will start with a Discover Phase, where students will discover the dynamic low-income markets and existing best practices. Students will walk away with a toolbox of practical frameworks to initiate and augment inclusive business initiatives in their communities.

Moving to the Experience Phase, students will deep dive into low-income markets and consumers on a fieldwork location. This is a respectful engagement with diverse low-income consumers and market actors in rural areas. Students will also be engaged in thoughtful discussion with companies, social enterprises and non-profits active in the inclusive business space.