business
ture the Aquasifs, which they then market and sell for $5 per unit, enabling them to make a
the success of the model, Village Forward
profit while ensuring that the filters remain affordable for low-income communities. In
is expanding into India, joining forces with
addition, Village Forward provides entrepreneurs with ongoing technical and business
an established company. They are also
training and short-term funding to help them build robust micro businesses.
introducing a portable version of the
Over 90,000 people are currently using the Aquasif household water treatment system in
Aquasif ��� the Silveraqua ��� that will have an
Nepal, and eight microfranchises have been successfully incubated to date. Having proven
even lower price point and be able to be
mobilized in emergency situations. A forprofit sister company will manufacture,
sell, and distribute the Silveraquas, and the
proceeds will provide working capital to
finance Village Forward���s expansion.
As a result of this hybrid business model
and talented and dedicated leadership,
Village Forward is saving lives and creating
viable economic opportunity: clean water
reduces the spread of germs ��� water purified
through the Aquasifs and Silveraquas meet
the World Health Organization���s tough
standards for safe drinking water ��� and
franchisees retain 100% of the profits from
the sale of additional Aquasifs. What is
more, by fostering these for-profit franchises, Village Forward is developing an
essential commercial industry, which can
be sustained with limited future donor contributions, maximizing Village Forward���s
scalability and long-term impact.
Village Forward is part of the social
entrepreneurship movement that has gained
significant momentum in recent years. Like
traditional business entrepreneurs, social
entrepreneurs like Elliott are catalysts and
innovators. They think differently, identifying, developing, and implementing new
approaches to address challenges in education, health care, poverty alleviation, eco-
32 ��� north bridge magazine
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SPRING/SUMMER 2013