Impact over means – entrepreneurship in emerging economies

Impact instead of growth – how social entrepreneurs in emerging markets are rethinking problems

Food shortages in Africa, high infant mortality in India, or lack of access to education in Guatemala. There are many problems. But it doesn't always take a lot of money to make a big impact—often all it takes is a clear head, a good concept, and the courage to break out of familiar patterns of thinking. The following examples show that if you really understand a problem, you can make a big difference with a well-thought-out, entrepreneurial idea. It's not technology or capital that comes first, but the question: How can the problem be solved systematically, simply, and effectively? Entrepreneurship is not about taking risks, but about thinking smarter.

The following examples show that well-developed concepts can have a big impact. These are people who developed simple concepts for their communities and are now successfully playing in the big leagues.

Dharavi Market
Megha Gupta is a journalist in Mumbai. She often reports on poor living conditions, especially in the Dharavi slum. There she discovers that many artisans produce high-quality bags and accessories, but are unable to sell them. She asks herself: How can people buy these products without being there in person? This gave rise to her idea: an online marketplace where producers can offer their goods directly and tell their stories. Production takes place in small residential units, with each step—from cutting the leather to sewing it together to embossing the logo—organized independently. This allows everyone to work more efficiently. Today, over 150 tailors are employed and over 500 people are financially secure—their income has increased by more than 20%.

HelloTractor
In Kenya, agriculture is essential for the population. There are many small farmers who work their fields without technology and mostly by hand. Jehiel Oliver thought about how he could help these farmers.
His idea: a digital platform that connects farmers with tractor owners – an “Uber for tractors.” This allows expensive machines to be shared, utilization to increase, and fixed costs to decrease. This entrepreneurial design has enabled over a million farmers to work faster and more efficiently. They achieve higher yields, their incomes rise, and regional food security improves significantly. A simple concept with a big impact.

MicroConsignment
Yoly Acajabón and Clara Luz de Montezuma know life in remote villages in Guatemala from their own experience. They saw how families had to get by without glasses, clean water, or light – not because these products were unavailable, but because they were unaffordable or simply unattainable. It was not profitable for established manufacturers to sell their products in the remote regions of Guatemala.
Their idea: women from the communities receive simple products such as glasses, solar lamps, or water filters on commission – without any upfront costs. They sell them on at low prices, directly to their neighbors. Based on the principle of the friendship economy. This is how the microconsignment model came about. The implementation was simple and effective: access to important products, new sources of income, and more self-determination for hundreds of women.

Proximity Designs
Jim Taylor and Debbie Aung Din founded Proximity Designs with the goal of sustainably improving the lives of rural families in Myanmar. They realized that many farmers in remote regions did not have access to affordable and effective agricultural equipment, which severely limited their yields and incomes. This led to the idea of developing easy-to-use and inexpensive solutions such as foot-operated water pumps and drip irrigation systems. To make these innovations widely available, they built a network of local distributors and agents who sell the products directly on site. Today, they reach nearly 75% of farmers in Myanmar. The impact is clear: farmers are increasing their yields and incomes by up to 30%, leading to a noticeable improvement in quality of life and strengthening rural communities.

Cocoa360
Shadrack Frimpong grew up in a poor village in Ghana and suffered from a serious waterborne disease as a child. His family lived off cocoa, but despite the rich cocoa sector, many villagers had little access to education and healthcare. To solve this problem, he founded Cocoa360. The company operates a community cocoa farm, the proceeds of which finance a free girls' school and a clinic. In return, the villagers work on the farm. Since 2015, Cocoa360 has enabled over 120 girls to attend school and provided care for thousands of patients, thereby sustainably improving the quality of life in the village.

Embrace Innovation
Many newborns die every year in India. One of the reasons for this is the lack of incubators, devices designed to keep babies warm. These are usually stationary and very expensive.
Rahuel Panicker wondered how he could develop the technology for 1% of the cost. As a result, he founded Embrace Innovation. The Indian entrepreneur developed a portable baby incubator that is easy to use and costs a fraction of the price of conventional incubators. This has already saved thousands of newborns, significantly reduced the mortality rate in underserved areas, and given families a better chance at a healthy life.

„Deep knowledge and understanding comes from living among those you aim to serve.”
John Perkins, writer

These initiatives show that solutions arise where people understand the problems on the ground and tackle them entrepreneurially with clear, simple concepts. It's not big resources that make the difference, but good ideas.

Do you have a good idea for solving a problem in the world? Then take part in the Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition! We're not looking for finished businesses, but simple, smart ideas with impact.

Participation is free of charge. You will have access to courses, videos, podcasts, and literature to help you develop your idea further.

Submit your idea now – until July 11, 2025!