At VisionSpring, entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration are built into our DNA; we infuse them into all aspects of our work. While we remain laser-focused on our goals, we work in ever-shifting, challenging landscapes and therefore must remain highly flexible and adaptable. Through our partnerships with the best and the brightest in the fields of social enterprise, microfranchising, healthcare, economic development, and Base of the Pyramid markets, we are constantly refining our model to learn from our experiences and evolve our work to reflect the best of cutting-edge practices. We actively seek collaboration with a myriad of partners and welcome the opportunity to share our knowledge and experience with others working to improve the economic condition of the world's poor.
Impact Studies
Despite growing interest in the development of products and services for "Base of the Pyramid" markets, little has been done to quantify the impact of such projects on the lives of those who live on less than $4 a day. As a first-mover in the field, VisionSpring is committed to quantifying its impact and sharing knowledge to help other Base of the Pyramid enterprises to become more effective.
VisionSpring works with the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan to study the impact of its work on the lives of its customers and Vision Entrepreneurs. Focused on VisionSpring's India operations, the multi-year study is lead by Professor Ted London and top students from the Ross School of Business.
VisionSpring also collaborates with leading universities to measure its impact and document best practices, including Harvard University's Business School and School of Public Health (Project Antares), Columbia Business School and Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.
Product and Service Innovation
In partnership with USAID and the LV Prasad Eye Institute, VisionSpring is piloting the expansion of its services to include vision screenings and eye care referrals for children. As part of the pilot, VisionSpring will develop a line of ready-made distance vision glasses for adults and children in Andhra Pradesh, India.
In Guatemala, VisionSpring and its Franchise Partner Community Enterprise Solutions are working with the
DOB Foundation to pilot test
U-Specs (Universal Spectacles). U-Specs are glasses that the user can self-adjust without supervision from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
