SKS Microfinance, GreenMango, PharmaSecure, Mobile Metrix and One Acre Fund may sound like familiar names to NextBillion readers and those that follow the "goings on" in this base of the pyramid space. What they all have in common (besides having been profiled in NextBillion at some point), is strong and commited leaders that listened to their moment of obligation and at one point just decided to take a step forward and push the "Go Button".   

Echoing Green has supported the leaders of the organizations mentioned above and has also done worked with many more that been bold enough to find and push their own Go Buttons to drive positive social change. Each year, after a process of open applications a very competitive process, a group of Fellows is selected, who receive support in the form of grants, networking, advice, mentoring and so forth, aimed at giving these entrepreneurs a platform to accelerate their growth and increase the viability of their ventures. Echoing Green Fellows are entrepreneurs, the leaders behind innovative ideas; the fellowship is a recognition to their drive and commitment, as well as to the relevance and innovativeness of their ventures.  

2009 Fellows were announced just a few hours ago and I was happy to find a familiar face from the BoP space in the list: David del Ser Bartolomé. I met David a few months back. We've become good friends and I have been able to work with him in Colombia while he launches his venture Frogtek. I'm happy for his accomplishment and look forward to seeing where this takes him and his venture.

Of the 2009 cohort, David's was probably the project most in line with the development-through-enterprise concept, but all of the new fellows have fascinating and inspiring ideas. I encourage you to take a look at the full list, learn more about the program, watch the video below and ultimately apply if you have what it takes.