Enterprise Solutions to Poverty

Launched in 2006, Enterprise Solutions to Poverty mobilizes and supports leading companies and entrepreneurs in building profitable and inclusive businesses that incorporate millions of low income people as suppliers, distributors and consumers of asset-building products. Our goal is to double the income and assets of over 50 million low income people by 2012.

 

ESP will initiate activities in Brazil at end 2008 and build up its program and network of key actors throughout 2009 and beyond. ESP is looking for a team of Columbia MBAs to identify leading large local companies, MNCs and emerging entrepreneurs who can be champions for change, and develop a viable strategy for ESP to successfully promote inclusive businesses in  Brazil, making a major impact on low income people

 

Our team identified and profiled leading large local companies, MNCs and emerging entrepreneurs in Brazil that are engaging significant numbers of low income people as suppliers, distributors, and consumers of products that build income and assets, based on information gathered from interviews, ESP internal resources, and secondary sources. The team also developed ESP‘s strategy for Brazil, based on the research and analysis discussed above, focusing on issues of large firms and young entrepreneurs.

 

Deliverables

 

1. Identification of 20 to 30 large local companies and MNCs capable of being champions for change in Brail and completion of a 2-page profile on each. Each profile should include:

a) Profile of CEO – background, strategic vision

b) Information demonstrating how each company meets the criteria supplied by ESP

c) Description of the part of the business model which engages low income people

d) Analysis of how many low income people engaged, how much they are earning, how this segment has grown over the last five years

e) Students‘ assessment of potential areas for action

2. Identification of 15 to 20 emerging entrepreneurs in Brazil capable of being champions for change and completion of a 2-page profile on each, based on same requirements outlined in (1) above.

3. Recommendations – presented in Powerpoint format – for ESP‘s strategy for Brazil, including:

a) Recommended members of ESP Innovation Groups in the four target sectors, with potential

leaders identified for each.

b) Recommended members of ESP Entrepreneurs Network with potential leaders identified

c) Of the potential ESP activities in country, which ones do companies feel would be most useful in building inclusive business strategies in Brazil? (Note: ESP has already identified a list of potential activities to be carried out in each focus country. We will share and  discuss these activities with the MBA team.)