PORTRAITS

Each month we will offer you a portrait of an entrepreneur who has altered the way that they do business and who, by doing so, has discovered an innovative solution to a social problem (eg, housing, nutrition, small farmers, environment) but still maintained the value of their business.

We also invite you to enjoy our interviews with the institutions or NGOs that we meet along the way.

Meet the new type of entrepreneur:

Muhammad Yunus - Social Business (Bangladesh, July 2009)

We met Professor Yunus last summer in Grameen Bank Head Office. He presented us his definition of Social Business and gave some advises to the next generation on who to create systemic change in the world. We are very please to present you our interview through a short video. Video

Portrait LV Prasad - Eye Health Care now available to the poorest (India, July 2009)

Doctor Rao’s teams set up a unique system able to provide the full range of eye care services to the poorest and the most remote area of India. Using innovating financial schemes and incentives to its staff, LV Prasad Eye Institue is nearly reaching a solution eradicating eye care issues in India ! Snapshot / Full Portrait / Video

Portrait Vision Spring - Access to eye glasses (India, July 09) Vision Spring is tackling Presbyopia and has created a unique way to distribute low cost eye glasses called “Business in a Bag”. Eye glasses are sold in remote areas for 4 USD. Snapshot / Portrait Complet / Video

Portrait Naandi - Access to drinkable water (India, July 09)

37 millions person in India drink unsafe water for their day-to-day consumption. Naandi developed an innovative public-private partnership to tackle this issue and deliver drinkable water. Snapshot / Full Portrait / Video

 

Portrait Selco - Solar energy for disadvantaged communities.(India, July 09)

Selco suceed to touch the more remote comunities bringing them an economic, eficient and safe lighting solution. Snapshot / Full Portrait / Video

 

Portrait Gaz Natural - A community gets organized and everything is possible ! (Argentine, Feb -09)

A Gas access is now posible thanks to ProVivienda foundation, to Gaz Natural but mainly to the organized community. Gaz Natural business case is the best exemple of access to energy for low income communities.  Snapshot / Full Portrait / Video

Portrait Colceramica - Ceramic is not luxury anymore (Oct 08)

The Colombian group, Corona, revolutionised 60 years of “Know How” by designing a new product lign for low income communities. Ceramics increase drastically the quality of life and health environment. Snapshot / Full Portrait / Video

 

Interview Avina - (Colombia, Nov 08)

Avina Foundation is one of the leading institutions spreading Sustainable Development through Latin America. In the past decade, Avina invested in projects allying social impact with economic solutions. Video

 

interviewT4BoP - (Mexico, Oct 08)

Francisco de la Torre strongly believe that access to technology is a key element in fighting poverty. Discover his vision ! Video

 

Portrait Asembis - Eye care solution for an entire country (Costa Rica, Oct 08)

Rebecca developed an innovativ  business model which eradicate vision issues for a whole country. Asembis clinics  are now ready to expand overseas.

Snapshot / Portrait Complet / Video

 

Interview Holcim Apasco (Mexico, Sept 08)

Leader of the ciment industry, Holcim Apasco launch the ‘Mi Casa’ program, helping the low income communitie for the auto-construction. Video

 

Interview FinComun - Bank products for all (Mexico, Sept 08)

Interview only available in french (Video in english)

 

Portrait Compartamos - Microcredit for all (Mexico, Sept 08)

Carlos Danel is frustrated to spend most of his time trying to find some funds for a small NGO. With some friends, they created in 1990 Banco Compartamos that will became, 18 years later, the leading microcredit institution in Latin America. Snapshot / Full Portrait / Video

 

Interview MeXvi - A solution for hurricanes (Mexico, Sept 08)

Interview only available in french (Video in english)

 

 

Portrait FairTrasa - Green Gold (Mexico, Sept 08)

Patrick Strübi swop his briefcase and senior management role to open a Fairtrade business in avocado… Zoom on a men that is changing the life of Mexican farmers.  Snaphshot / Full Portrait / Video

 

Interview Comercio Justo - The South Side of Fair Trade (Mexico, Sept 08)

Interview only available in french (Video in english)

 

 

Portrait IGNIA Fund - Investment at the BoP (Mexico, Sept 08)

Alvaro Rodriguez Arregui strongly believe that business solutions can solve poverty in the world. One year ago, he created IGNIA Fund , a specialized fund in the ” Bottom of the Pyramid “. Snaphshot / Full Portrait / Video

 

Portrait SINEO - Car cleaning water free (France, Aug 08)

Sineo, was created in 2004 by Olivier Desurmont, a 28-year-old entrepreneur from Lille who wanted to give more purpose to his career. Spotlight on an unique entrepreneur. Snapshot / Full Portrait