Workshop archives for January, 2005

Articles about business, poverty, and innovation in the the Base of the Pyramid (BOP), the 4+ billion people living in the base of the world's economic pyramid. Suggest an article or story.

Going Beyond Networking - Launching a Venture in the Base of the Pyramid

Posted Sun, 01/30/2005 - 03:24 by Patrick@BRINQ

"How do I get the resources I need to start my BOP business?"

This question came up in a recent discussion with a colleague from the Univeristy of North Carolina. Dozens of students graduate each year from UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School with a top-rated MBA degree and a passion to pursue Base of the Pyramid (BOP) opportunities, but few companies are hiring for these types of positions. You can always start your own business, but how does an aspiring entrepreneur from the top of the pyramid attract the resources needed to launch a new business in the BOP?

Just like any other entrepreneurial endeavor, it's all about building credibility.

Rapid Prototyping for the Masses?

Posted Thu, 01/27/2005 - 01:51 by Patrick@BRINQ

One critical tool for innovation is the ability to do rapid innovation and testing, or as they say in open-source "release early and often." How can rapid prototyping be handled by aspiring designers living in the BOP?At BRINQ, we promote the innovation and design capabilities of people in the Base of the Pyramid (BOP), with a particular focus on toy design in Latin America.

Brazilian Toy Libraries Bring Out the Child in Us All

Posted Mon, 01/24/2005 - 23:37 by Patrick@BRINQ

CCF Brazil has established 24 toy libraries in several rural communities which serve nearly 600 children and 300 adolescents daily. Discarded socks, aluminum cans, and corncobs may look like trash to some, but to nine-year-old Junior of Brazil, they are balls, cars, and dolls in the making.

Every Toy Tells a Story

Posted Mon, 01/24/2005 - 22:08 by Patrick@BRINQ

Children's toys from the developing world appear in a special exhibit of toys created by Christian Children's Fund children around the world. The collection, currently in the lobby of CCF's Richmond headquarters, features about 250 toys, each with its own story. Plans are underway to exhibit the toys in children's museums around the U.S. A doll made of rolled-up white material has a special meaning in Belarus. Some 40 years ago, the country experienced an epidemic of scarlet fever. In one of the villages, almost all the children died.

India - Innovation Central

Posted Fri, 01/21/2005 - 22:38 by Patrick@BRINQ

India comes into its own as a hub for innovation as companies and organizations respond to problems with new innovations. The Economic Times and Wired Magazine report on new inventions coming out of India: a water-riding bicyle, electronic sticks for the blind, handwriting emails and more.Different problems require new innovations in India.

The Economic Times of India reports a number of "Bond-like" innovations:

Geppetto's Dilemma - the Decline of Traditional Toy Making in Viet Nam

Posted Thu, 01/13/2005 - 19:21 by Patrick@BRINQ

Tet Trung Thu, the Mid-Autmun Children's Festival, is Viet Nam's festival for children. However, even during this old and beloved Vietnamese tradition, Viet Nam's industry of traditional toys and crafts is on the decline.

What is the most popular holiday in Viet Nam?

Building a Better ATM

Posted Wed, 01/12/2005 - 15:20 by Patrick@BRINQ


Who: PRODEM FFP

Where: Bolivia

What: For half the cost of a traditional ATM, a network free, multilingual, voice-driven system for delivering banking services, and with no chance of forgetting your PIN!

Playing on Empty - Toys from the Developing World

Posted Sat, 01/08/2005 - 20:36 by Patrick@BRINQ

An exhibit of toys and photographs from the developing world taken by New Zealand Volunteer Services Abroad. The exhibit ran at the PATAKA Museum in Porirua City, New Zealand from July – November 2004. Text and photos courtesy of PATAKA.

Keeping it Cool - Clay Pot Refrigeration

Posted Sat, 01/08/2005 - 05:33 by Patrick@BRINQ



Who: Mohammed Bah Abba
Where: Nigeria
What: For less than $2 for a clay pot system to refrigerate up to 12 kg of produce.

What is Disruptive Innovation?

Posted Fri, 01/07/2005 - 19:26 by Patrick@BRINQ

The disruptive-innovation theory explains why new firms armed with relatively simple, straightforward technological solutions can beat powerful incumbents, often creating entirely new markets and business models. The disruptive innovation theory was popularized in Harvard professor Clayton Christensen's "The Innovator's Dilemma".