New Report—Hardware Pioneers: Harnessing the Impact Potential of Technology Entrepreneurs
Hardware Pioneers: Harnessing the Impact Potential of Technology Entrepreneurs
This report investigates the obstacles that block entrepreneurs who are designing innovative technologies for people living in poverty in developing countries and identifies a variety of actors, from foundations to corporates, who are in unique positions to support these pioneers. These actors can leverage their unique resources to strategically support the journeys of these pioneers, from the initial inspiration to ultimate impact at scale.
Hardware Pioneers builds on previous learnings in From Blueprint to Scale (2012) and Beyond the Pioneer (2014) in which the authors developed frameworks to understand a pioneer firm’s journey and barriers to scale. But pioneers working with hardware such as solar lanterns and machines that manufacture affordable sanitary pads require unique support in order to flourish.
This report is intended to spark thought and conversation among all those who have a role to play in accelerating the access of affordable and practical hardware technologies throughout the world: pioneers, funders, nonprofits, corporates, impact investors, universities, and the technology sector.
