The BoP Learning Lab (Southern Africa) came into being in 2008, as part of an informal, global network of 15 similar initiatives in Latin America, Asia, Europe and North America. 

The stated purposes of the BoP Learning Lab network are to:

1.     Generate specific action research
   

2.     Disseminate knowledge through workshops, seminars, conferences, case studies, publications and the media
   

3.     Identify, design, incubate and promote innovative business models with companies and other stakeholders that will improve the social and economic lifestyles of BoP communities
   

Since 2008, over 30 lunch hour sessions have been organised in Cape Town, with regular attendance and corporates including large corporate citizens such as Clicks, Standard Bank, Danone, ABSA, Sanlam, FNB, Psitek, Vodacom, Safmarine, etc, but also smaller innovative businesses such as the Department of Coffee, BreadRev, iShack and Eco-Brix, NGOs and public sector organisations such as the City of Cape Town and Learn to Earn. 

The Learning Lab has, over the past few years, built up a database of fact sheets that summarise, document and analyse innovative business models operating at the base of the pyramid in Southern Africa. 

Through Reciprocity, the Lab also provides specialised services to corporates as well as business schools, including:

1.     Immersions and innovation seminars in BoP environments 
   

2.     Research and publications
   

3.     Market research 
   

4.     Support to implementation in the form of testing innovative business models