This is the video supporting my submission to Project 10 to the 100 for Enterprise Development Corps. Read more about the project we did at www.projectporridge.blogspot.com. Here's a bit more about Enterprise Development Corps:
A marketing expert can help 1 person tutoring English in her neighborhood, but could she help 100 employees giving marketing advice to a cereal manufacturer in Ghana?
At its heart, Enterprise Development Corps (EDC) is simple: Get the marketing expert to Ghana.
In rich countries, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are a vital engine of growth and innovation, making up half of GDP. In much of the developing world, SMEs are the missing middle - facing so many challenges that they barely exist.
Among others, google has recognized this need, contributing through their SME initiative. Money is a start. But many SMEs lack the vital skills and knowledge to grow and compete.
The plan:
1.Partner with non-governmental organizations like CARE, technoserve and The Peace Corps to identify SMEs in developing countries with problems they need to solve.
2.Create a network of large corporations who are willing to sponsor their employees to work with these businesses, by giving them time off and access to resources.
3.Build a portal to track progress, celebrate achievements and engage the public.
4.Raise an investment fund to provide loans to help these businesses grow.
SMEs would be linked to corporations with appropriate skills for their business problem. Volunteers from those corporations would visit partner companies, help address their business issues, transfer knowledge, recommend their growth projects to the investment fund, and remain a source of business advice whenever they are needed. A real commitment to a real problem.
We know it works. Our video shows how we helped a company in Kenya develop a new product that will create jobs.
In wealthy economies, we have the skill and the will to help thousands of companies like the one we worked with. Lets build the network and watch it happen.
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