
Overcoming Africa’s Tech Startup Obstacles
Established enterprises can help Africa’s innovators overcome the region’s structural barriers and scale up.
While emerging markets may be divergent in their growth rates, there are still global growth hot spots—opportunities with higher-than-average growth rates—for companies to chase. Hot spots include countries and regions, such as Cuba and Myanmar, as well as particular industries or consumer segments within those regions, such as the automotive industry in China.
Peru should rank high in the strategic planning of global companies considering its relatively high and stable economic growth.
Learn more about PeruThe liberalization of Cuba’s economy could lead to rapid growth, especially for those companies and investors that staked an early claim.
Learn more about CubaFollowing a decade-long boom and two-year recession, Brazil’s economy finally seems to be approaching stability.
Learn more about BrazilWith a population topping 1 billion that speaks more than 2,100 languages, Africa is tough to categorize. But a vast amount of untapped potential awaits those companies that plan to build their Africa capabilities now.
Learn more about AfricaIndia offers a huge opportunity for companies that understand the country’s extraordinary diversity and engage its online consumers as individuals.
Learn more about IndiaWhile the economic integration of Southeast Asia is progressing, companies must not rely on a one-size-fits-all strategy.
Learn more about Southeast AsiaLatin America needs a significant increase in investment and productivity to sustain economic growth.
Learn more about Latin AmericaAsia comprises about 150 million people and accounts for $3 trillion in annual spending.
Learn more about AsiaRising incomes and greater digital access are leading to a far more heterogeneous consumer market in China.
Learn more about ChinaRussia’s economy shows signs of stability following their financial crisis.
Learn more about RussiaPeru should rank high in the strategic planning of global companies considering its relatively high and stable economic growth.
Learn more about PeruThe liberalization of Cuba’s economy could lead to rapid growth, especially for those companies and investors that staked an early claim.
Learn more about CubaFollowing a decade-long boom and two-year recession, Brazil’s economy finally seems to be approaching stability.
Learn more about BrazilWith a population topping 1 billion that speaks more than 2,100 languages, Africa is tough to categorize. But a vast amount of untapped potential awaits those companies that plan to build their Africa capabilities now.
Learn more about AfricaIndia offers a huge opportunity for companies that understand the country’s extraordinary diversity and engage its online consumers as individuals.
Learn more about IndiaWhile the economic integration of Southeast Asia is progressing, companies must not rely on a one-size-fits-all strategy.
Learn more about Southeast AsiaLatin America needs a significant increase in investment and productivity to sustain economic growth.
Learn more about Latin AmericaAsia comprises about 150 million people and accounts for $3 trillion in annual spending.
Learn more about AsiaRising incomes and greater digital access are leading to a far more heterogeneous consumer market in China.
Learn more about ChinaRussia’s economy shows signs of stability following their financial crisis.
Learn more about RussiaEstablished enterprises can help Africa’s innovators overcome the region’s structural barriers and scale up.
Governments that can balance urgent economic stabilization with structural reforms supporting long-term development will build a stronger foundation for the future. Nigeria’s inclusive approach is a case in point.
Collaboration between governments and online marketplaces will help these digital platforms create jobs and spur growth across the continent.
Africa’s digital maturity trails other regions, but its digital adoption is rapid. To maintain momentum, companies and governments need to coordinate to build scale, nurture talent and build innovation hubs.
Companies looking for growth in slowing Asian economies should aim for the upper-middle-class. There are approximately 150 million upper-middle-class consumers in the developing countries of Asia right now—accounting for more than $3 trillion in spending annually. And this number could easily swell by 100 million or more in the next few years.
For CPG companies, Brazil is a tough market. To run a successful supply chain, they must break some rules and adopt unconventional approaches.
To find growth opportunities in the midst of Brazil’s current recession, companies can now leverage big data and analyze granular consumer-spending data to adjust their strategies.
Even in the midst of crisis, Brazil has more than 200 million people and many local, regional, and sector-specific economies—each with its own defining characteristics, drivers, and trends.
Managers need a comprehensive approach to pursuing strategic priorities amid digital uncertainty in Brazil.
China’s growing One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative means existing players must remain on their toes, innovating, refocusing, and partnering to succeed.
China’s overall economic growth is slowing, but consumption is soaring. Here are the megatrends and shopping behaviors that companies need to understand in order to succeed in a market worth trillions of dollars.
Despite economic volatility, consumers’ spending patterns in China are holding up: good news for companies that understand the shifts underway.
In light of the power shift away from insurers in China, BCG asked 3,200 consumers what is essential in a life insurance or an auto insurance provider. Trust and simplicity top the list.
Improved relations with the US have created a potential boom for travel companies. To capitalize, they should invest for the long term and build relationships with Cuba’s government.
Cuban consumers have more discretionary income to spend—but first, companies must understand their culture.
A comprehensive BCG survey looks at the purchasing power, brand preferences, and shopping patterns of Cuba’s consumers and foresees a market that will become increasingly attractive.
As US-Cuba relations improve, many companies are showing interest—with good reason. Cuba’s economy has the potential for significant growth in the long term.
India is poised to become the third-largest consumer economy by 2025. But behind the growth headlines is an important story of shifting shopping behaviors and spending patterns.
Traditional spending habits are giving way to a focus on experiences, customized products, and time-saving services.
Retailers must understand changing consumer behavior in India or risk losing out to startups.
No technology, no matter how powerful or pervasive, will affect India’s 1 billion consumers—of whom 50% will soon be online—in the same way.
Access to more granular consumer data is the key uncovering powerful insights on India’s future hot spots.
The last decade was a turbulent one for Latin America. But these elite companies still achieved above-average growth. Here are the secrets to the multilatinas’ success.
To identify new hot spots, consider the size of the growth opportunity and the pace of change in various economies.
—The New Globalization: Going Beyond the Rhetoric
Despite recent increases in its wealth and the well-being of its people, Peru must make greater effort to improve.
Companies that align their strategies with budget-conscious households will find many opportunities in Russia.
As Southeast Asians grow more affluent, the rapid spread of digital technologies and social media is binding them together into one of the world’s largest megamarkets.
A regional market of 57 million people is growing rapidly—and it is much more accessible than many companies realize.
Bangladesh has provided electricity for over 90% of its population, but the push for higher wattage by 2030 will require a lot of outside investments. Interested investors should develop strategies beyond just one project.
Thai consumers want experiences and luxuries, and Thai women are making more and more purchasing decisions. Armed with insights into these and other trends, companies can determine where their investments will deliver the biggest payback.
These two very different countries are at very different stages of economic and political development, but they have similar growth trajectories.