Unleashing Entrepreneurship in Low-income Countries

Fledgling social entrepreneurs in Bottom-of-the-Pyramid markets could become far more effective and successful with support such as business advice and finance early on. The financial markets tend to target small enterprises at the very low end through microfinance, and then again only at a more advanced stage through multi-million dollar loans.

There is a large niche to be filled - serving the many entrepreneurs who do not need a multimillion dollar investment, yet something beyond microfinance.

GEXSI proposes to pilot innovative mechanisms to enable emerging social entrepreneurs in bottom-of-the-pyramid markets early on -- long before they are able to competitively attract standard private sector investments for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).