Last week's paradox has persevered into this week. More RSS feeds - plus some handy Google News and Google Blog alert feeds - means there's more BoP stuff out there than I can do justice to individually. As such, here's today's roundup:

SKS Microfinance founder/CEO Vikram Akula has a new article out in the Harvard Business Review, Business Basics at the Base of the Pyramid. In the article, Akula offers a three-part prescription for success at the BoP:

Adopt a profit-oriented approach in order to access commercial capital; boost capacity by standardizing products, training, and other processes; and use the latest technology to reduce costs and limit errors.

Only the abstract is available for free, but this article is worth the $6.50 for a PDF copy.

Sriram Thodla is a dual-degree student at the Institute of Design // Indian Illinois Institute of Technology. When not studying for his Masters in Design or MBA, he writes a great blog appropriately titled Musings About Innovation and Design. A recent post argues that design FOR the base of the pyramid is 'annoyingly paternalistic.' He suggests design BY the BoP. I suggest design WITH the BoP. Check it out.

Ryan Gunderson at Riches for Good complains that, at $9 per day, the BoP cutoff is too high. I respond.

(This post continues past the break; click "Read More" to continue)

If you've noticed a few unfamiliar names floating around the site lately, you're not alone. I have heard from some NextBillion.net readers asking who Joseph and Theresa are, and what their roles will be on-site.

So, without further ado, introductions: Joseph and Theresa are Summer Associates working with World Resources Institute (Joseph) and Acumen Fund (Theresa) this summer. We're incredibly happy to have them on board. Already, Joseph has been posting news and events on-site; Theresa's edited our blogroll and has begun working on the Resources page.

Still curious?

Joseph graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy from Whitman College; he is a 2007 Truman Scholar and a 2008 Watson Fellow. Joseph has co-founded Whitman Direct Action (www.whitmandirectaction.org) which is a student organization dedicated to helping marginalized communities through economically, socially and environmentally sustainable initiatives.

Theresa is pursuing her MPA at NYU's Wagner School of Public Service and is a Catherine B. Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. She spent the past nine months on the communications team at Coro New York Leadership Center. Prior to that, Theresa worked as an editor and producer at the WashingtonPost.com, and as a program manager at Princeton Project 55. She received her BA in Comparative Humanities and Spanish at Bucknell University in 2004.

Welcome to both of you!