1. Entrepreneurial Networks in the Co-Production of Knowledge in Kenya
Dr Robert Newbery

2. Area of Challenge Developing integrated pilot projects
Networks to empower
Disadvantaged groups
Rural communities / agriculture

3. Problem
Current formal institutions inadequate for poor farmers and rural areas
Many entrepreneurs but
Replicant / copy cat (Alvarez & Barney)
Few systemic / innovative entrepreneurs (Sautet)
Top-down development unsuitable

4. Solutions therefore need these characteristics
Institution / eco-system builders
Inclusive of
innovative entrepreneurial minority
Replicant / copy-cat majority
Platforms for iterative development
What we might call
Inclusive Growth Business Models

5. Micro-franchise networks
Franchise foundation
Founded on successful pilot / business models
Replicable
Economies of scale
Micro-franchise
Low-cost franchise set-up
Low barriers to entry

6. Levels of network entrepreneurship
Innovative Entrepreneur
Core foundation for the model
Replicant Entrepreneur
Suitable for local / copy-cat entrepreneurs
Platform for those inbetween
Pre Entrepreneur
Supportive of customers not regarded as entrepreneurs
Network Entrepreneur
Broker of knowledge / funds / resources
Bridger of structural voids

7. Farm Shop Trust Micro-franchise network of agri-vets Quality inputs
Availability
Knowledge at the point of sale

8. Integrated Supply Chain Access to Finance Branding & Marketing
Training & Systems
SUPPLIERS
SMALLHOLDER
FARMERS
(FRANCHISEES)
(FRANCHISOR)
Agri-inputs: Seeds, fertilizers, agro-chemicals, animal feeds & veterinary medicine, farm tools, finance

9. Innovative entrepreneur
Innovative idea
Founded by Farouk Jiwa and Madison Ayer
Seen as a key gap or shadow opportunity
Business model viability risks of scalability retained

10. Replicant entrepreneur
Willingness to replicate
Existing or new small business people willing to take some risk
Unwilling to take the risk associated with innovation or
Unable to create / discover new opportunity
Observe existing franchisee
Room to derisk and grow

11. Pre entrepreneur
Operating under a boundary condition e.g. poverty / low resource base
Unable to take risk
Willing to try something new (proactive)
Can be supported through network
Funding
Farming knowledge
Entrepreneurial knowledge
Key leverage point for Ent. Education

12. Network entrepreneur Spanning structural voids (Burt)
A broker of knowledge
Neo-endogenous development
Academic institutions
Plymouth Fellows
Funding
NGOs / other networks
Institutional thickness (Amin & Thrift)
Community of Practice (Wenger & Lave)

13. Impact 74 shops 148 Franchisee / assistants and employees
Approx. 20,000 repeat customers
47% take-up
34% relative improved agricultural income
Virtuous eco-system
June 2016

14. Questions