In recent years, we have seen an explosion of innovation business models blazing new trails in emerging markets; achieving commercial success while transforming the lives of low-income populations. What your company knows about a particular industry in its local market, however, does not guarantee future success in developing economies – all sectors impact one another. To complete successfully, small and large companies, at both the local and global levels, must document and test their assumptions, experiment to learn what works in different cultural contexts, and adapt their operating model accordingly.Focused on innovation, adaptation, and execution, this course is designed to help company directors, entrepreneurs, and managers promote innovative product development and drive growth to create social value as new markets rapidly emerge.

Using cases of both early-stage entrepreneur-led ventures, and later-stage public or large-cap firms, this course will examine best practices for scaling new enterprises in emerging markets. It will do so, primarily, through the lens of a potential investor. It will also explore what is required to spark, nurture, and scale sectors that serve rapidly growing, often low-income, markets. What does it mean to work in markets with limited infrastructure? What common mistakes are made – whether in business model design, supply chains, or dealing with government agencies – and how can we avoid them? What are the best business models to serve markets that corporations have traditionally ignored, and which governments have failed to deliver?The business model encompasses our product or service, our customers, and the economic engine that will enable us to meet our profitability and growth objectives. Business model analysis is important for both startups and new businesses, which need to discover a successful business model, and for established businesses, which often need to defend or evolve their business models.This course develops a structured way to think about business models and uses exercises and examples to train you in the science of business model analysis to help you practice the art of business model construction.