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Untapped helps entrepreneurs in frontier markets meet the needs of their growing communities. Unlike small businesses in rich countries, entrepreneurs in developing markets have limited access to financing. This makes essential services such as clean water, affordable healthcare, a safe motorcycle ride, or healthy food more expensive and harder to find. It impacts everyone, but especially the poorest.
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We believe that the poor can lift themselves out of poverty . . . .
by empowering local entrepreneurs to solve everyday problems for themselves and their communities.
by empowering local entrepreneurs to solve everyday problems for themselves and their communities.
OUR MISSION
Untapped’s mission is to help entrepreneurs in frontier markets solve everyday problems with the right technology and access to capital.
Our innovative model combines asset financing with digital management to help small businesses get equipment and materials so they can offer more services and grow. Having these assets help them make more money while offering life-changing services.
Everything is done with mobile money through our digital platform. Money and data flow back to investors who see returns and large-scale impact for their investment.
Our innovative model combines asset financing with digital management to help small businesses get equipment and materials so they can offer more services and grow. Having these assets help them make more money while offering life-changing services.
Everything is done with mobile money through our digital platform. Money and data flow back to investors who see returns and large-scale impact for their investment.
OUR IMPACT
We have supported entrepreneurs and projects through East Africa, West Africa, and the Caribbean (Haiti), supporting over 500 entrepreneurs and small businesses. They generate over $2 million in incremental revenue each year for local communities while delivering essential services to over 200,000 people
OUR WORK HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PRESS :
African startups secure capital through the nest, a digital "shark tank"
Untapped sponsors and operates The Nest to promote investments from angel investors worldwide, with a particular focus on Africa. Read more here.
DloHaiti Taps VC Funding as it Brings Haiti Clean Water and Jobs
dloHaiti was excited to be a part of Wall Street Journal's Venture Capital blog. Read here about how our company is working to bring an innovative business model to Haiti to help address the need for clean drinking water.
Meet the Entrepreneur Who’s Making Clean Water Accessible Across Haiti
Jim Chu, the founder and CEO of dloHaiti, is bringing safe, affordable water to thousands in Haiti. Chu recently participated in diaspora engagement roadshows hosted by USAID INVEST, which encouraged members of the Haitian diaspora to invest in the country’s private sector. Read more here
Political Turmoil and Impact on Business in Haiti
Devex highlights the challenges and opportunities of working admist the political turmoil in Haiti in this article. "The idea for us is that we will take our model globally. Haiti is representative of many developing countries, with its lack of public infrastructure, its dynamic informal economy, and its heavy reliance on water trucking. And Haiti is the proving ground for a business model that can be successful in a number of developing country environments." Jim Chu
IFC Helps DloHaiti Provide Access to Safe Water for Underserved Haitian Communities
Read about how the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and one of dloHaiti's investors, is helping the company build a network of kiosks to provide underserved Haitian communities with access to affordable, safe drinking water while also creating job opportunities.
See the press release here.
CEO Jim Chu guest blogs for WASHfunders.org on Entrepreneurship and Aid
im Chu, CEO of dloHaiti, had the opportunity to do a guest blog for the Foundation Center's WASHfunders.org, a group established to inspire donors to support WASH initiatives worldwide. His post was the most trafficked post in 2013 at WASHfunders.org.
In the piece, Jim discusses the importance of sustainable water and sanitation infrastructure, as well as the benefits of using a market-driven approach in addressing the world's water challenges.
Read more about how dloHaiti is Putting the Entrepreneur into WASH.
Imagine H20 Names Winners of Consumer Innovations Prize
dloHaiti was selected as a Runner Up in the 2013 Imagine H20 Water Entrepreneurs Competition. Imagine H20 is a nonprofit organization and leading water innovation accelerator. The Consumer Innovation Competition does not usually include companies focusing on developing world innovations, but this year dloHaiti was honored to be a part of those in the running.
dloHaiti is excited to see that there is a shift toward entrepreneurs and investors paying more attention to providing products and services to those at the bottom of the pyramid.
Check out the press release here.
Co.Exist covers dloHaiti
Fast Company's Co.Exist blog named dloHaiti as one of three companies that "could change the way we use water."
Co.Exist noted that dloHaiti and companies like it have discovered the potential of creating business models that combine water innovation with cost effective consumer products. The original piece is here.