Enterprise Solutions to Poverty

Abstract

This is a study in collaboration with enterprises and four B-schools (HBS, Wharton, IIMA, and CEIBS of China) to conduct a live country study (USA, Mexico, Columbia, lndia, and China). ESP seeks to build and expand competitive but inclusive business models to benefit the populace at the bottom of the pyramid taking into consideration social and environmental concerns. As part of the ESP study in lndia, the focus is on investigating how ICT can be used for: value chain financing with small fruit and vegetable farmers; making correspondent banking and no frills savings financially viable; mobile payments and microfinance for rural areas; rural distribution systems; and aggregation models in fruits and vegetables for small farmers.