The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid

Chapter III. Known Problems and Unique Solutions

The problems at the BOP are not new. However, they represent a new challenge. They demand innovations in how these traditional problems are addressed. For example, the solutions must be affordable. That means dramatic cost reductions from the solutions available to the top of the pyramid consumers in developed countries. Second, BOP consumers have unique demands based on the circumstances of their lives—poor infrastructure, lack of trained manpower, and lack of access to raw materials. Further, the poor educational attainment of BOP customers can also limit the solutions that are suitable for them, as we illustrate next.

The loss of a limb is not a new problem. This has often been a result of wars, ...