In the News
Hapinoy Is An Open Source Model for Low-Income Markets
Hapinoy Is An Open Source Model for Low-Income Markets reposted from NextBillion.net. Original article here Editor’s Note: The following is the second of two posts on Hapinoy and its microfranchise/distribution model. The first can be found here. As Hapinoy expands, it reaches more of the BoP market. Through its network of suki stores, the... »
Awakening a ‘Sleeping Giant’, Microfranchise as a Distribution Platform
Awakening a ‘Sleeping Giant,’ Microfranchise as a Distribution Platform reposted from NextBillion.net. Original article here. Editor’s Note: This is the first of a pair of posts on Hapinoy and its microfranchise/distribution model. If you’ve ever been to the Philippines, you’ve no doubt seen a row of identical tiny stores selling Coca-Cola and laundry detergent.... »
Using a Microfranchise as an Open-Source Platform
I was recently interviewed by Josh Weinstein, one of the premier thought leaders in the BoP/social enterprise space; I (virtually) met him a couple of years ago via email exchange when he was in the Philippines working with NWTF; A few weeks back, he got reacquainted with Hapinoy from a conversation with one of... »
Finding Strength and Happiness – in Numbers
reposted from BusinessWorld. i wish this was for Social Enterprise of the Year – to recognize the HaPeeps, CARD, and of course all the Hapinoy Storeowners Paolo Benigno Aquino IV Mark Joaquin Ruiz President/Managing Director MicroVentures, Inc. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, And... »
Making Filipinos happy through Hapinoy
reposted from the Philippine Star, September 23 By The Go Negosyo Team (The Philippine Star) Updated September 23, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0) MANILA, Philippines – Bam Aquino and Mark Ruiz are partners in crime. Their felony? Founding MicroVentures Inc. (MVI), a social enterprise that services microfinance institutions and their clients. MVI is the... »
Channel [V]‘s V-Life on Social Entrepreneurs
Some time back, Pam Imperial got in touch through the Life’s Direction’s Community (thanks AJ!) about making a special episode of Channel ‘s V-Life on Social Entrepreneurs, featuring myself and Reese Little did we know that it would really be a rather lengthy episode! (Well, the upside is I think we’ll just show this... »
R2R President Reese Fernandez Chosen as Rolex Young Laureate!
Rags2Riches President Reese Fernandez was selected as one of the 5 inaugural Rolex Young Laureates! While this is most certainly an award for my fiance’ (!) , it’s also a glowing testament of the work that Rags2Riches is doing. In fact, as Reese is the first to always mention – this award truly belongs... »
JCI Entrep Summit 2009 : Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders
I’ve been invited to share in this event. See you there! JCI Entrep Summit 2009 : Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders Ideas and stories from business people who are ahead of their time. “Are You Ready to be an Entrepreneur?” – Rudy Ang, Dean, Ateneo de Manila’s School of Management “How Belo became Belo” – Vicky... »
Congratulations to Asia Society’s Philippines21 Batch ’09!
Bam and I gave a talk on Innovation and Social Business Entrepreneurship to AsiaSociety’s Philippines21 Batch 2009 last Thursday; It was an extremely interesting mix of people, a veritable cross-section of young leaders from business, social development, culture, and governance. We then attended the gala dinner that night to welcome the new batch and... »












