Origo applies an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving that draws on our experience across the private and social sectors.

Strategy Consulting

Origo works closely with clients to address issues that impact the long term success of their organizations. Our value added comes from the experience of our team, a fresh perspective unencumbered by traditional assumptions and a “systems” approach that sees each assignment within its larger context.

Our strategy work encompasses business planning, competitive analysis, market selection, market entry strategy and supply chain innovation. While our client base is diverse – including both businesses and non-profit organizations, startups and multinational companies –our fundamental approach is the same and is grounded in our belief that excellence in business design necessarily includes consideration of social and environmental impacts.

Partnership Development

Our experience has repeatedly highlighted the importance of partnerships to the development of successful emerging markets business. Origo helps clients to understand areas of opportunity for partnership, identify potential partner organizations and negotiate an appropriately structured relationship. Our particular expertise is in seeing the unusual or unexpected partnership. For a business this might mean exploring a relationship with a government funded development agency or a small neighborhood association. For a non-profit organization that has traditionally had a confrontational relationship with “big business” we challenge them to see the potential of a collaborative relationship that harnesses the profit motive.

While partnerships hold much promise, we recognize that they are not an end in and of themselves and so we start every engagement by critically analyzing if and how the benefits of working with external partners outweigh the costs.

Financial Structuring

Origo works in areas that involve consideration of financial, social, and environmental value creation simultaneously. The existence of these multiple sources of value means that a wide variety of types and sources of capital may have an interest in supporting our clients’ business ventures. Therefore we advocate “distributed capital strategies” that recognize this fact as an opportunity and optimize an organization's capital raising accordingly.

Origo has significant experience helping clients to design and implement strategies for raising capital from investors with motivations that range from purely profit focused to purely charitable to some mix of the two. Our specific services include: development of novel financial structures and instruments, creation of financial models and other planning tools, research on potential investors and assistance with communication to investors.

Research

Origo conducts both independent and contracted research on excellence in business design and emerging market opportunities. From white papers to targeted strategy guides, this body of original, thought-leading material forms a rich and growing base of knowledge which our consulting work both draws from and adds to.

For example, Origo worked with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in the research and writing of three landmark publications:

‘Doing Business with the poor: A field Guide’

‘A Business Guide to Development Actors”

‘Finding Capital for Sustainable Livelihoods Business'