The William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan
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The William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan
@wdavidsoninst.bsky.social
Our Mission: To power entrepreneurs, enterprises & ecosystems in emerging markets with the business tools to succeed and scale impact.
📰 Our final newsletter of 2025 is out!

💡 Turning lab ideas into market solutions
🚁 Scaling drone healthcare in Africa
🌍 Students investing in impact startups
🎓 Entrepreneurship Exchange kicks off
⚡ Case: Schneider Electric & decarbonization

🔗 https://bit.ly/3XXjCZd

December 17, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Can a global company balance ambitious climate goals with business performance?
A new #casestudy from WDI Publishing explores how Schneider Electric sought to scale its flagship supply chain #decarbonization initiative, The Zero Carbon Project.
👉 https://bit.ly/4rZcx85
December 15, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A student perspective on the Entrepreneurship Exchange: "Entrepreneurship suddenly feels less like a distant concept and more like a skillset I can continue building." Undergrads and educators, learn more and find out how to participate! https://bit.ly/4iPlahk
December 12, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Breakthrough ideas are being born in labs every day, but too many never make it past the campus gates. In Mexico, a growing coalition is rewriting that story to turn academic innovation into real-world impact.💡 🔋 ⚡ https://bit.ly/3MErDj7
December 10, 2025 at 9:55 PM
From creative recycling models to innovations improving women’s mobility, undergrads in the Entrepreneurship Exchange are thinking big, while thinking local. Amy Gillett, WDI VP Education on how students are building relationships and businesses: https://bit.ly/4pORLGq
From Waste to Water to Women’s Mobility: The Breakthrough Ideas of the Entrepreneurship Exchange
A wellspring of cross-border creativity, hundreds of young innovators, and three standout social enterprise ideas have made Cohort 1 of the Entrepreneurship Exchange an energizing start to this new pr...
bit.ly
December 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Ready to turn real-world entrepreneurial stories into publishable teaching cases? Join our free webinar, “How to Write a Case Study: Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets,” at 10 am (ET) Dec. 11! Register to learn about 2026 Competition https://bit.ly/49VoKUL
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: How to Write a Case Study: Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
You are invited to join us for the first informational webinar for our “Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets: 2026 Global Case Writing Competition.” Discover how this exciting global competition is shining a spotlight on the powerful role entrepreneurs...
bit.ly
December 4, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Graduate students at Michigan Ross are gaining hands-on experience in global venture finance through the International Investment Fund—supported by WDI. Together, they're investing in startups driving impact across Africa and India. #frontierfinance https://bit.ly/4pL8ydq
December 3, 2025 at 4:15 PM
🚨 Launch Alert! WDI Publishing + Zell Lurie Institute @umich.edu kick off the "Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets: 2026 Case Writing Competition."
Submit an original case on entrepreneurship for a chance to win, get published, and inspire future leaders!

wdi.umich.edu/entrepreneur...
Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets: 2026 Global Case Writing Competition Launches to Spotlight Innovation and Challenges
WDI Publishing, in partnership with the University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Institute, invites faculty, students, and practitioners to submit original case studies capturing entrepreneurial ventures i...
wdi.umich.edu
November 24, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Our latest e-newsletter is live! Inside:

🧭 Why WDI’s refreshed brand reflects the future
⚡ Partnering with ADB & U-M on e-mobility
🚀 New report on strengthening accelerators
🌍 NextBillion turns 20
💼 2026 Case Competition

https://bit.ly/3LTbBl1
November 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
“This strategy reflects the world we see emerging — and the one we want to help shape and sustain. It’s a signal that WDI is doubling down on what we do best: turning ideas into action and optimism into opportunity.” WDI CEO Wendy Taylor
wdi.umich.edu/from-contrac...
From Contraction to Confidence: Why WDI’s New Brand and Strategy Reflect the Future Taking Shape
Our refreshed strategy captures WDI’s evolution as a solutions-driven organization that works alongside entrepreneurs, enterprises, and ecosystems in critical sectors like clean energy, e-mobility, he...
wdi.umich.edu
November 18, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Thrilled to announce The University of Michigan, led by School for the Environment and Sustainability, WDI, and the Asian Development Bank have established a partnership to strengthen collaboration on sustainable development initiatives across Asia and the Pacific. wdi.umich.edu/news/asian-d...
Partnership aims to advance clean energy innovation in Asia Pacific
The University of Michigan (U-M), led by the School for Environment and Sustainability, the William Davidson Institute (WDI), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a memorandum of understanding ...
wdi.umich.edu
October 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM
A critical topic at a critical time! Our colleagues on the WDI Energy & E-mobility team join fellow experts to discuss “Navigating the critical minerals opportunity: Global Lessons for increasing local economic value” at Africa E-mobility Week #AEW2025. Details 👉 lnkd.in/dBFUwwQr
October 6, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Proud to be a Content Affiliate for the upcoming #NorthCapitalForum 2025, in Mexico City. On Oct. 6, WDI Senior Director Diana Paez will moderate a session on the investments the region needs to compete and grow across #cleanenergy
🔗 www.northcapitalforum.com/ncf25 #NCF25
October 2, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Our latest newsletter is here! Highlights:

- New partnership with Adaptive Change Advisors
- Join us Oct 1 for journalist Bill Spindle
- Youth #leadership with LEAP Africa
- Smarter #data, stronger #ecosystems
- Rethinking fast fashion

🔗 https://bit.ly/4nwGOId
September 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
#EVs vehicles present both an opportunity and a dilemma for well-established automakers like General Motors. In the Case of the Month from #WDIPublishing authors plug into GM’s 2021 declaration to sell only zero-emission cars & light trucks by 2035. Learn more: bit.ly/3V2JUaU
September 9, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Michigan Undergrads! This is your final call to apply for cohort 1 (of 3) of our inaugural Entrepreneurship Exchange program! This free global entrepreneurship training experience is your virtual ticket to connecting w/ students from Egypt, Libya, Morocco. entrepreneurship-exchange.org
September 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by The William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan
Building Smarter Data Practices in Entrepreneurship Support Ecosystems: How Entrepreneurs, Investors and Other Stakeholders Can Drive Systemic Change

nextbillion.net/building-sma...

@wdavidsoninst.bsky.social #entrepreneurship #data #SocialEnterprise #ImpactInvesting #SocialImpact
Building Smarter Data Practices in Entrepreneurship Support Ecosystems: How Entrepreneurs, Investors and Other Stakeholders Can Drive Systemic Change
How entrepreneurship support ecosystems can improve their monitoring, evaluation and learning and data-sharing practices.
nextbillion.net
August 18, 2025 at 4:37 PM
From leadership milestones to climate tech maps, WDI’s Aug newsletter is packed with global insights.
🚀 Student entrepreneurs unite across continents
⚡ Bridging Africa’s data divide
💡 AI & sustainability at Microsoft
Read more → mailchi.mp/umich/back-t...
August 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
We’re thrilled to announce a new strategic partnership with Adaptive Change Advisors to co-develop programs and platforms that empower leaders to innovate & drive transformation in emerging markets. Together, we’re bridging persistent gaps in the innovation ecosystem. wdi.umich.edu/news/wdi-par...
WDI Partners with Adaptive Change Advisors
WDI and Adaptive Change Advisors partner to deliver adaptive leadership programs, empowering leaders to drive innovation and transformation in emerging markets.
wdi.umich.edu
August 13, 2025 at 7:09 PM
The time for climate-related mitigation and adaptation is now, and climate tech is a critical tool to address these issues. Mapping the climate tech landscape is a first step—and WDI has recently completed a Climate Tech Ecosystem report on Chihuahua, Mexico. bit.ly/45uQqgp
August 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The #Philippines is transitioning to #EVs to cut fossil fuel imports, improve air quality & unlock economic opportunity. Our new report with ADB_HQ & Apl.de.Ap Foundation explores policy, market, & workforce trends to support this shift.
bit.ly/40DMLu2
July 29, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Our Energy & Mobility team is unveiling new research developed for the Asian Development Bank. "Accelerating Innovation in Transport – E-mobility in the Philippines" assesses the electric vehicle market, analyzes the current policy framework and key workforce needs. bit.ly/4liqRoj
July 9, 2025 at 1:56 PM
We’re hiring an Exec Assistant to the CEO & Student Engagement Liaison. Support leadership, engage with @michiganross.bsky.social students, and enjoy hybrid work + health & retirement benefits. Apply today: bit.ly/45PfsHZ #hiring #jobs
July 1, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Last week's deep dive discussions for the #glocal2025 conference yielded some incredible insights, new ways of thinking and novel approaches to yielding impact. We've put all four into this handy playlist, truly made these sessions worth your time.

wdi.umich.edu/news/wdi-hos...
June 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Mini-MBA — our flagship collaboration with ‪the Stockholm School of Economics‬ in Riga. Launched in 2005, the certificate program equips professionals with a cross-functional understanding of business through a global lens. Heres to 2 great decades & more!
May 31, 2025 at 2:48 PM