Center for Development & Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
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Rethinking Innovation Ecosystems in Central Asia
Why are so many founders in Central Asia building companies with one foot out the door? In this provocative piece by Shamil Ibragimov, Beyond the Hype: Rethinking Innovation Ecosystems in Central Asia, Ibragimov challenges the dominant startup narrative in emerging markets. Rather than fueling br...
MIT Kuo Sharper Webinar Series
From corporate-unicorn partnerships to the power of local trust, here how our Entrepreneur-In-Residence Andrea Kates outlines the real-world imperatives facing entrepreneurs, scaleups, and executives alike. The blog previews upcoming topics in the series, including AI in emerging economies, infrastr...
Mighty Microbes for Africa!
In the second blog of her two-part series, Dr. Nadia Shalaby explores how cutting-edge microbial technology could revolutionize agriculture across Africa. Building on research from MIT’s Furst Lab, she introduces “Mighty Microbes”—bioengineered, antioxidant-coated organisms that survive extreme cond...
Fertilizer Production & Food Self-Sufficiency in Global Growth Markets
This blog by Dr. Nadia Shalaby explores the critical link between fertilizer production and food self-sufficiency in global growth markets. Tracing the history of the Haber-Bosch process and its outsized impact on modern agriculture, Dr. Shalaby examines why Africa—despite rapid population growth—re...
MIT Foundry Fellows Egypt Ecosystem Tour
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, January 2025 — The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is excited to announce the second ecosystem tour of the 2024-25 Foundry Fellowship program, set to take place in Egypt from January 17-24, 2025. Over th...
Milk Without the Cow
This thought-provoking blog post by Shamil Ibragimov explores the intricate relationship between freedom, innovation, and economic growth. Using MIT Professor Loren Graham’s vivid metaphor, it examines why true innovation flourishes only in environments that foster openness and freedom. The post del...
PRESS RELEASE: The Legatum Center Announces the 2024 - 2025 Foundry Fellows
The Legatum Center at MIT proudly announces its largest Foundry Fellowship cohort yet, featuring 15 entrepreneurs from Africa's rapidly growing economies, committed to innovation-led entrepreneurship.
The Legatum Center at MIT Announces the 2024-2025 Student Fellows
The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) proudly announces the selection of its 17th cohort of Legatum Student Fellows for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
PRESS RELEASE: Legatum Center at MIT Successfully Concludes Bootcamp for Early-Stage Innovators in Ghana
The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT, in partnership with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), the Ghana Hubs Network (GHN), The She Hub Ghana and with the generous support of the Mastercard Foundation, successfully concluded its intensive bootcamp for early-stage innovators...
PRESS RELEASE: Legatum Center Hits Milestone of Support for Over 300 African Entrepreneurs Driving Innovation Across the Continent
The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) celebrated over 15 years of advancing innovation and entrepreneurship by unveiling its 15-Year Impact Report at the "Innovation in Global Growth Markets: Prosperity Through Entrepreneurship" Co...