EYElliance is an NGO that is dedicated to solving the visual divide by enabling both public and private sector to work towards addressing the 1 billion people who do not have equitable access to eyeglasses–disproportionately based in low and middle income countries. Historically, NGO’s have only been able to address less than 3% of this underrepresented public health crisis – EYElliance believes the private sector holds the solution through an inclusive optical approach.
EYElliance has undertaken primary research across Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia in the inclusive optical sector which has informed our global strategy. We developed the Scale Out Program in collaboration with the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship. This is an accelerator for the inclusive optical sector based on our study of a successful business based in Mexico called Ver de Verdad; this unique company targets low and middle income customers and has scaled profitably to over 150 stores in the country.
Through our data driven understanding of these regions, we have successfully onboarded entrepreneurs from each of these regions to our Scale Out Program. We are working to develop a pipeline of investment-ready inclusive optical retailers that are actively looking to scale; therefore, allowing low-and middle-income consumers to reliably access glasses in order to avail themselves of vital educational and economic opportunities. Over the past two years, we have focused on investment facilitation to ensure that both investors and businesses receive the necessary support for pioneering investments in this market.
Further to the above, we have undertaken primary research with investors in this highly underfunded sector. Given that investment has been obtained by some of our portfolio companies, we have had the privilege of access to funders and investors who have provided us with unparalled insights decision criteria for this sector. We therefore play a unique role of addressing the mismatch between capital providers and capital seekers though innovative funding mechanisms.
We would like to hold a round-table discussion on how best to solve for the missing middle financing gap among retail SMEs in LMIC’s. Topics include learning from other sectors, public private partnerships, technical assistance and market shaping.
