Base of the pyramid (BOP) as a source of innovation: Experiences of companies in the Kenyan mobile sector

Mobile innovations have been seen as one of the success stories of ‘base of the pyramid’ (BOP) business models. Nevertheless, deeper analysis of their commercial scalability has been lacking. This article focuses on the Information and Telecommunications (ICT) and mobile boom in Kenya, which is a major economic driver in the whole country. The article describes how social needs are seen as a basis for innovating technological solutions and what strategies are used to make them commercially viable. The article is based on empirical data on the Kenyan mobile industry where companies are designing socially oriented technological innovations for low-end consumers. This research contributes to the ongoing discussion on successful BOP entrepreneurial models and innovations.