New Narratives: Stories from Growth Markets

Advancing Innovation, Economic Agency, and Global Competitiveness across Global Growth Markets

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 blog by Dr. Nadia Shalaby explores the critical link between fertilizer production and food self-sufficiency in global growth markets. Tracing the history of the Haber-Bosch process and its outsized impact on modern agriculture, Dr. Shalaby examines why Africa—despite rapid population growth—re...

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 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...

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 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.