Center for Development & Entrepreneurship
New Narratives: Stories from Growth Markets
Milk Without the Cow
This thought-provoking blog post by Shamil Ibragimov explores the intricate relationship between freedom, innovation, and economic growth. Using MIT Professor Loren Graham’s vivid metaphor, it examines why true innovation flourishes only in environments that foster openness and freedom. The post del...
Responsibly Financing Africa’s Missing Middle
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...
Currency Conundrums: Volatile African Exchange Rates and What Can Be Done
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...
What Keeps African Ecosystem Builders Awake at Night? The Challenge of Foreign Dependency
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...
PRESS RELEASE: The Legatum Center Announces the 2024 - 2025 Foundry Fellows
The Legatum Center at MIT proudly announces its largest Foundry Fellowship cohort yet, featuring 15 entrepreneurs from Africa's rapidly growing economies, committed to innovation-led entrepreneurship.
The Legatum Center at MIT Announces the 2024-2025 Student Fellows
The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) proudly announces the selection of its 17th cohort of Legatum Student Fellows for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
PRESS RELEASE: Legatum Center at MIT Successfully Concludes Bootcamp for Early-Stage Innovators in Ghana
The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT, in partnership with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), the Ghana Hubs Network (GHN), The She Hub Ghana and with the generous support of the Mastercard Foundation, successfully concluded its intensive bootcamp for early-stage innovators...
Reflections on Over 15 Years of Impact
Reflections on Over 15 Years of Impact at the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship
PRESS RELEASE: Legatum Center Hits Milestone of Support for Over 300 African Entrepreneurs Driving Innovation Across the Continent
The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) celebrated over 15 years of advancing innovation and entrepreneurship by unveiling its 15-Year Impact Report at the "Innovation in Global Growth Markets: Prosperity Through Entrepreneurship" Co...
PRESS RELEASE: USADF MIT Accelerator Completes its Pilot Program
The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) and the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT Sloan) announced the successful completion of the USADF Accelerator pilot program powered by the Legatum Center at the MIT Sloan Scho...