Mission: Possible – Innovating for the World’s Most Marginalized

Description What if a smartphone could help solve one of the world’s most overlooked health problems—preventable blindness? In this episode, we explore the story of Peek Vision, a social enterprise using mobile technology and data intelligence to bring quality eye care to the most remote and underserved communities. Join us as we unpack how Peek’s innovative platform—combining smartphone-based vis...

Description What happens when a cement company decides to tackle poverty, not just sell products? In this episode, we dive into the story of Patrimonio Hoy—an award-winning social innovation launched by CEMEX in Mexico that revolutionized how low-income families build their homes. Facing a housing deficit, financial exclusion, and the inefficiencies of informal construction, Patrimonio Hoy created...

Description: In this episode, we explore how DotGlasses is transforming access to vision care in some of the world’s poorest communities. With a simple, low-cost eyeglass kit and a powerful idea—train local people to test eyesight and deliver glasses on the spot—DotGlasses is proving that you don’t need a clinic or an optometrist to help someone see clearly. We unpack how their smart design, innov...

Description: This episode explores the extraordinary world of Mumbai’s Dabbawalas—an iconic, century-old delivery network renowned for its near-perfect accuracy. We unpack how a semi-literate workforce built one of the world’s most reliable logistics systems using bicycles, trains, and an ingenious coding system. Listeners will learn how strong community roots, cooperative ownership, and disciplin...

Description: In this episode, we dig into how Hello Tractor is revolutionizing farming for millions of smallholder farmers across Africa. Often described as the “Uber for Tractors,” Hello Tractor uses mobile technology, booking agents, and IoT devices to match idle tractors with farmers who need them most. But it’s more than just tech—it's about trust, jobs, and community-powered solutions. W...

Description: In this episode, we explore the extraordinary journey of Grameen Shakti, a Bangladeshi social enterprise that brought solar energy to over a couple of million rural people. From solar home systems to biogas and clean cookstoves, Grameen Shakti’s market-based approach transformed the energy landscape of Bangladesh’s villages—without waiting for the grid. We unpack how they scaled susta...

Description Can clean energy transform lives at the base of the pyramid? In this episode, we explore d.light’s journey from a student project to a global solar powerhouse serving low-income communities across Africa and Asia. With innovations in product design, pay-as-you-go financing, and last-mile distribution, d.light has helped millions escape the dangers of kerosene and the limitations of unr...

Description: In this episode, we unpack the groundbreaking story of M-PESA—the mobile money service that changed how millions of people manage, move, and multiply their money. From its origins in Kenya as a humble SMS-based tool for microfinance repayments to becoming a full-fledged financial ecosystem across Africa, M-PESA has redefined what inclusion looks like in the digital age. We explore how...

Description This episode explores how organizations innovate their business models to serve low-income communities at the Base of the Pyramid. Drawing on research from water and sanitation initiatives around the world, we unpack how companies overcome challenges such as low incomes, poverty penalties, heterogeneous needs, weak payment rates, and slow scaling. Listeners will learn five types of bus...

Description How do you fix a fragmented drug supply chain across an entire continent? In this episode, we dive into mPharma’s bold mission to make high-quality medicines affordable and accessible across Africa. From its innovative Vendor Managed Inventory system to its Mutti pharmacy network and pay-as-you-go pricing, mPharma is reimagining how healthcare reaches people at the last mile. We unpack...

Description What happens when a simple idea meets a complex crisis? In this episode, we explore how Sarvajal is turning the tide on India’s drinking water challenge—one community at a time. Born from a bold experiment in rural Rajasthan, Sarvajal blends technology, entrepreneurship, and social innovation to bring clean, affordable water to the underserved. From Water ATMs and smart sensors to its...