At the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) lies a largely untapped market of over 4 billion people who live on less than a few dollars a day. While they may face significant challenges—limited access to healthcare, education, and essential services—they also represent immense potential for innovative businesses that aim to solve real-world problems.

By addressing these needs, companies can create social impact and business growth at the same time. The key is to shift the perspective from seeing BoP communities as recipients of aid to seeing them as partners and customers in building sustainable solutions.

But how can businesses succeed at the BoP? The answer lies in affordable, scalable, and accessible innovations—solutions that change lives while fostering local entrepreneurship.

One inspiring example is the Mitra Eye Program, a model of how businesses can unlock opportunity at the BoP while creating lasting impact.

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👁️ The Mitra Eye Program: A Vision for Change

The Problem: India is home to 500 million people without access to vision care, resulting in $227 billion in lost productivity. Poor vision isn’t just a personal hardship—it’s a barrier to education, work, and overall quality of life for millions.

The Solution: The Mitra Eye Program empowers rural entrepreneurs to address this gap. By training them to provide basic eye tests and affordable glasses, Mitra creates a network of local vision care providers in underserved areas. These entrepreneurs aren’t just healthcare workers—they’re business owners improving their communities.

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🌱 The Impact So Far

• 5,500 Eye Mitra shops across 14 Indian states have already helped 10 million people regain their sight.
• This access to affordable eye care has boosted India’s economy by $440 million through improved productivity and job creation.
• The program empowers rural entrepreneurs, offering economic opportunity and independence, while improving health outcomes in their communities.

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🚀 What’s Next: Scaling the Vision

Eye Mitra’s journey doesn’t end here. With plans to expand across India and into other BoP markets like Bangladesh, the program aims to bring life-changing vision care to even more people.

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✨ A New Lens on Business and Responsibility

The Mitra Eye Program is proof that business can do more than generate profit—it can transform lives. It’s a reminder that innovation at the BoP isn’t just about serving a market; it’s about unlocking human potential and creating a better future.