ORI
Where We’re Going

Infrastructure Building in Developing Economies

Description

Relief and development is a massive worldwide industry, albeit conducted on a nonprofit basis, while “bottom of the pyramid” strategies have been attractive to multinational companies looking to radically expand their user base through products and services that are accessible to low-income individuals and families. As important as these strategies are, neither is likely to generate long-term growth in countries with below-average GDP.

Instead, the greatest opportunities for social impact in developing contexts will come from infrastructure that allows for more infrastructure— systems that encourage businesses to create jobs, health systems to provide a higher baseline of care, and governments to root out corruption.

We're interested in ventures with a scalable view of infrastructure creation. Much has been done through microfinance and banking over the past few decades, but more is possible. As worldwide payment systems modernize, health care systems improve, and technology offers opportunities to leapfrog broken Western systems, opportunities abound.

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Praxis Ventures

Ventures within the Praxis community working on this ORI.

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Verdant Frontiers

develops large-scale businesses that deliver compelling returns for investors and create life-changing jobs in Africa (Scott Friesen, Business 2016).

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Turaco

offers simplified insurance and credit solutions distributed through mobile technology to solve the healthcare financing needs of customers emerging into the financial system in Africa (Ted Pantone, Business 2019).

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PortX (Formerly ModusBox)

builds the future of seamlessly interoperable digital payments using 100% open-source software, providing access to financial services for the next two billion people (David Wexler & Brad Allen, Business 2020).

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Davis College

leads a network of colleges in East Africa offering a unique model of competency-based education diplomas and short courses, including the Akilah Women’s Center (Elizabeth Dearborn Hughes, Business 2017).

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