Our previous post on informal entrepreneurship in Alexandra focused on the typical challenges encountered by mainly informal entrepreneurs and microbusiness owners. This second post will focus on the supporting entrepreneurial ecosystem: Who are the key role players, and what kind of support is available to a typical entrepreneur in Alex? Does this ecosystem provide what is needed, and what is the actual experience of entrepreneurs in navigating this ecosystem?
This is the first article of a 3-part series on informal entrepreneurship in emerging markets, based on empirical research conducted in the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Wheeler Institute research: Understanding the impact on 134 micro-entrepreneurs who have been clients of MBA students.
Since 2012, London Business School has offered a Global Business Experience (GBE) programme as part of its full-time MBA course in the township of Alexandra (colloquially known as Alex), a low-income suburb of Johannesburg. The focus of the GBE is to facilitate the survival and growth of existing small businesses (micro-entrepreneurs) that are owned and managed by historically disadvantaged South Africans. Over the course of this period, 134 micro-entrepreneurs from Alex have engaged with 710 LBS MBAs. After eight years of this unique programme running, the Wheeler Institute is now working to understand if its objective has been realised.
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