Entrepreneurship at the Bottom of the Pyramid

Carol Dalglish is an Associate Professor at Queensland University of Technology, Australia. Marcello Tonelli is a researcher at Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

• 1. Introduction to the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) 2. Poverty 3. Entrepreneurship 4. Factors that Impact Entrepreneurial Success 5. The Informal Sector 6. Micro-credit 7. Models to Support Entrepreneurial Activities in Developing Countries: Community Development 8. Models to Support Entrepreneurial Activities in Developing Countries: The Role of Large Corporations 9. Models to Support Entrepreneurial Activities in Developing Countries: The Role of Aid Agencies 10. Models to Support Entrepreneurial Activities in Developing Countries: The Role of Governments 11. Conclusions

"Entrepreneurship at the Bottom of the Pyramid offers a thorough explanation of how entrepreneurship can positively influence the poorest in the world…The role of entrepreneurship as a stimulus to economic development is much debated in the developed world, but much less is understood of entrepreneurship in developing countries, where it can be found and what it looks like…This book represents a critical reference for practitioners as examples and guidelines are provided to assist anyone with an interest in supporting entrepreneurial development at the BoP." — Casa Africa, Spain (public consortium formed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Government of the Canary Islands, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation and the Town Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria)"Future business leaders need to intimately understand how to do business at the Base of the Pyramid, a market that is both challenging and complex. Dalglish and Tonelli provide a compelling case for why this market is important and how to effectively engage with its nuances. I would recommend this book for anybody interested in learning about this exciting new global market." — Ranjit Voola, Associate Professor at University of Sydney Business School and Co-Founder of Social Good Summit Australia"This book provides important insights into the range of challenges and disputes that entrepreneurs at the bottom of the pyramid are confronted with. What I like most are the numerous practical examples, from a broad variety of supporting actors such as NGOs, large corporation, communities and governments. This broad view on how to support entrepreneurial activities in the bottom of the pyramid is a valuable resource for practitioners and academics in the field of entrepreneurship and shows the authors’ deep understanding of this unique context." — Patrick Vermeulen, Professor of Strategic Management and International Management, Radboud University Nijmegen"This is comprehensive and engaging book on a very important subject. Carol Dalglish and Marcello Tonelli have done an excellent job of describing the nature of poverty and the lives of those at the bottom of the pyramid around the world. They then go on to delve deep into the many ways in which entrepreneurship and innovation can and are being used to improve the lives and livelihoods of those at the BoP. The book is full of wonderful graphics, pictures, cases, exercises and insights that not only educate but also entertain and empower. This is a must read for anyone interested in how business, entrepreneurship and innovation can make the world a better place for all." — Jaideep Prabhu, Nehru Professor of Indian Business at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom"The eradication of poverty is a global challenge. The authors give their contribution by shedding light on the powerful role of entrepreneurship to tackle this issue. Dalglish and Tonelli have succeeded in capturing the many facets of the phenomenon that involves different players, and move a step forward by expanding the analysis to the informal ecosystem which is often underestimated. This book offers great insights on how to manage successful business in a context where—quoting the authors—‘the environment is not business friendly’." — Laura Michelini, Associate Professor in Management at LUMSA University"Poverty eradication is an over-arching global challenge. Success in this endeavour requires that the entrepreneurial abilities of the poor be harnessed to this task. However, much less is known and understood about how to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among the poor. Dalglish and Tonelli did a good job of shedding some light on this important issue. The book provides many interesting insights, case studies as well as graphics and pictures for instruction as well as for entertainment. It is a recommended reading for policymakers and social entrepreneurs interested in developing entrepreneurship of the bottom billions." — M.G.Quibria, Professor of Economics at Morgan State University