Ecosystem Building and Systems Change

The Center officially kicked off our multi-year collaboration with the Government of Botswana, marked by a series of exciting events including the first Foundry Fellow Reunion in Africa, the start of our 12-week early-stage entrepreneurship program with over 31 startups and the preparations for exci...

What do pink hens, digital twins, and mighty microbes have in common? MIT – and global changemakers seeking to transform their regions.

Why are so many founders in Central Asia building companies with one foot out the door? In this provocative piece by Shamil Ibragimov, Beyond the Hype: Rethinking Innovation Ecosystems in Central Asia, Ibragimov challenges the dominant startup narrative in emerging markets. Rather than fueling br...

From corporate-unicorn partnerships to the power of local trust, here how our Entrepreneur-In-Residence Andrea Kates outlines the real-world imperatives facing entrepreneurs, scaleups, and executives alike. The blog previews upcoming topics in the series, including AI in emerging economies, infrastr...

This raises another question: how can SMEs afford annualized rates exceeding 70%? The answer lies in short loan tenures and high profit margins. Many supply contracts have short tenures of 1-2 months, meaning the interest accumulated is minimal relative to the loan term. Moreover, as I learned durin...

In this blog, Micheil Banoub, Director of Programs at Kuo Sharper Initiative (KSI), shares his firsthand experiences navigating the complexities of currency risk management in Zambia. Drawing insights from over 23 meetings with financial leaders and SMEs in Lusaka, Micheil explores the challenges of...

Responsibly Financing Africa’s Missing Middle Africa’s SMEs are crucial drivers of economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction, especially in underserved rural areas. Yet, a $331 billion financing gap leaves them in the “missing middle”—too large for microfinance but too small for traditio...

The blog, written by Isha Doshi , explores the challenges posed by currency volatility in sub-Saharan Africa, where erratic exchange rates impact both international investors and local economies. TLG Capital, with over a decade of experience investing in African SMEs, highlights how factors like rel...

This blog, written by Salma Baghdadi, explores the critical challenges faced by African ecosystem builders, particularly the issue of foreign dependency. While international funding and support play a pivotal role in nurturing African ecosystems—fueling innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity-b...

As we explore Dubai's progress, we will shine a light on the strategic governmental initiatives that have shaped its entrepreneurial landscape, the advanced infrastructure that supports business growth and innovation, and the vibrant cultural diversity that fuels creative and collaborative business ...