Observing partners of The 1010 Project in Kenya, as well as listening to our leaders in Kenya, I’ve discerned three elements that must be present for a business or community venture to succeed.

• Aptitude: The skill or competency which the entrepreneur is offering to their community and to the marketplace.
• Business Acumen: Knowledge of basic business principles and strategies
• Capital Investment: Resources for startup costs, including financial, intellectual, and human capital

In metaphor format, if the entrepreneur and their skill is a Computer, Capital is the hardware and Business acumen is the software.

Development at times has focused primarily on the third element, Capital Investment. And it is true that  hardworking, creative entrepreneurs in impoverished countries have remarkable aptitude but often lack access to basic capital.

However, as Michael Nyangi of LOMORO reminded me in February, many of these community leaders have not received the kind of business knowledge we take for granted in the United States. The average American would have a primary understanding of concepts like budgeting, marketing, and finding your business “niche.” In my experience, the same assumptions cannot be made in the developing world.

That is why The 1010 Project provides access to not just capital, but also training through the Kenyan 1010 Network. If you are interested in helping our business and community leaders gain this essential training, join us on a trip to Kenya this summer!

Interesting fact: these community and business leaders are often called “social entrepreneurs,” as their ventures provide both significant financial and social good!