Social entrepreneurship
September 2024
ThriveAgric case A: An Agritech entrepreneurial opportunity in Africa
By Rupert Merson
The case series surveys the formation and early development of ThriveAgric, a Nigerian-based startup facilitating the financing and effectiveness of smallholder farmers. The C case briefly surveys the growth of the business after its successful post-Covid turnaround and its expansion beyond Niger...
September 2024
ThriveAgric case (B): Entrepreneurship as turnaround
By Rupert Merson
The case series surveys the formation and early development of ThriveAgric, a Nigerian-based startup facilitating the financing and effectiveness of smallholder farmers. The B case describes the crisis confronting the business caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which initially threatened its existe...
September 2024
ThriveAgric case C: Growing the entrepreneurial business
By Rupert Merson
The case series surveys the formation and early development of ThriveAgric, a Nigerian-based startup facilitating the financing and effectiveness of smallholder farmers. The A case discusses the “need” – i.e. the poverty of smallholder farmers in Nigeria caused by structural inefficiencies ...
September 2021
Treeapp: Plant a tree for free, every day
By Ioannis Ioannou
The case describes the launch in the UK and Ireland in April 2020 of the mobile app Treeapp, intended to help combat the effects of climate change by enabling users to plant trees for free. The app is funded by Treeapp’s brand partners, who pay £1 to Treeapp every time a user watches an advert on...
August 2021
Fatima Akilu: Staying true to her values (B)
By Randall Peterson
In 2016, four years into her role as Director for Behavioural Analysis and Strategy at Nigeria’s Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Fatima Akilu was summarily dismissed from her position, amid accusations of corruption at the organisation, and subsequently charged with fraud. Nigeriaâ€...
August 2021
Fatima Akilu: The rise of a quiet leader (A)
By Randall Peterson
In 2015, Fatima Akilu found herself sitting at the kitchen table with her sister, shocked and saddened by what has just happened to her, wondering what to do next. Should she fight to defend her reputation? Or return to a quiet life away from the big government role she has just been fired from? Fa...
August 2021
Quiet Charisma: Fatima Akilu at the Neem Foundation
By Randall Peterson
When Fati Ibrahim lost her husband and eldest son after Boko Haram insurgents attacked their town of Gwoza in north-eastern Nigeria, she wasn’t alone. She was one of dozens of women who lost family members, homes and livelihoods. Three years later, she found herself queueing outside a tent near Ma...
January 2020
Sofar Sounds: Charting the next stage of growth
By Julian Birkinshaw, David Mather, Bryan Stroube, Aharon Cohen Mohliver
This case traces the development of a live entertainment company, Sofar Sounds, from a conversation among three friends about their frustrations with live music events, through early success and now to a point where the CEO, Rafe Offer, has to make important decisions about its future growth. Sofar ...
December 2018
M-KOPA Solar: Using Digital Disruption to Connect the World’s Poor
By Nader Tavassoli
Launched in East Africa, M-KOPA is an innovative pay-as-you-go solar system that provides reliable energy to low-income households. To serve these customers profitably, M-KOPA’s solution relies on digital innovation and the integrated adaptation of every element business model, including a new pro...
November 2012
innocent Drinks: Maintaining Socially Responsible Values During Growth (B)
By Celia Moore, Luis Fischer, Mike McCarthy
This is part of a case series. This case explores the process a social venture went through in raising funds to expand its business. The case focuses on the risks and opportunities of possible funding methods, and actions that can be taken to protect key values throughout the process. The case provi...