On May 12th the CBS student organization Develop hosted the second BOP Innovation Day in cooperation with DI International Business Development (DIBD) and the Danish biotech company ViroGates.
A total of 20 creative and highly motivated Masters students with various study backgrounds participated in the event where they got the chance to explore their innovative business potential within a ‘Base of the Pyaramid’ (BOP) context.
This year’s case company was the Danish start-up company ViroGates. ViroGates has developed the suPARnostic® biomarker which is a prognostic tool that allows early detection of critical diseases such as HIV/Aids and tuberculosis. The students’ task was to develop a business plan for the company for the Kenyan market while keeping in mind the challenges and opportunities of doing business in a BOP market.
Students were divided into teams and spent the day working intensely with issues such as market entry, distribution and promotion. At the end of the day, the four teams presented their business solutions in front of the jury who consisted of representatives from ViroGates and consultant David Barnekow Erichsen from DIBD. The winning team was the “suPAR Tigers” whom the judges rewarded for their thorough analysis and out of the box thinking.
The event was a wonderful opportunity for students, ViroGates, DIBD and the Develop organizing team to meet and continue the discussion on how to create profitable and sustainable business solutions in a BOP market.
Develop is a non-profit student organization working within the field of business and development. Develop hosts various events on topics such as CSR, microfinance, sustainability, BOP and social entrepreneurship. See www.develop-dk.dk for more information.
The happy winners of BOP Innovation Day 2010 (from left): Mette Crisp (CBS), Elizabeth Preisler (CBS), Danny El Dakak (Aalborg University), Oluseyi Eweoya (Aalborg University) and Katsiaryna Dzenisiuk (CBS).