Event Summary: Inclusive Tech: Taking Innovation to Scale in Emerging Markets

Businesses change and shape our lives through their products, services and ways of operating. They are in a unique position to change lives in low-income communities and solve local and global development challenges.

What types of challenges and opportunities exist for companies working in emerging markets? How can impactful innovations be localized, customized and scaled for emerging markets? What can impact-minded enterprises and more established companies learn from each other? How can companies from small startups to large multinationals work together, with governments and other actors for mutual benefit? How can other ecosystem players support innovators to scale into emerging and developing markets?

To address these questions, the Business Call to Action partnered with SLUSH, the biggest Nordic and one of the world's leading tech startup events, on an interactive discussion session that took place as part of the 2-day forum bringing 15,000 participants to Helsinki. During the session titled, Inclusive Tech: Taking Innovation to Scale in Emerging Markets, two BCtA members shared their insights on how technological innovations with potential to impact the lives of people living at the base of the pyramid can be sustainably scaled through inclusive business models in emerging markets.

The session was opened by H.E. Sinikka Antila, Ambassador for Trade and Development, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, who highlighted the important role private sector plays in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Ambassador encouraged companies in Finland to explore the Business Call to Action and inclusive business as a means to achieving scale and positive impact.

Ting Shih, CEO and Founder of the U.S.-based global tech enterprise ClickMedix, presented her work in deploying technology to enable community health workers and clinicians to deliver cost-effective healthcare in India and other emerging markets. Ting also highlighted the nexus of M&M - media and money, the benefits of leveraging platforms such as the BCtA for meeting peers and showcasing one's business to a wider audience, and the importance of building partnerships to scale services. You can download Ting's presentation by clicking here, and learn more about ClickMedix's BCtA commitment by reading the Guardian Sustainable Business article here and by downloading the case study here.

Alloysius Attah, the Co-Founder and CEO of the leading Ghana-based technology provider of mobile services Farmerline, discussed how his company is working to meet the needs of rural farmers in Africa. Alloysius emphasized the importance of a supporting environment for start-ups including mentorship programmes, and highlighted the need to understand the local environment, including government actors, to leverage local partnerships. You can download Alloysius presentation by clicking here, and learn more about Farmerline's BCtA commitment by reading the Guardian Sustainable Business article here.