There are a lot of different definitions of who qualifies as living at the base of the economic pyramid (or “BoP”) in India. We reviewed a number of studies with varying conclusions and have created our own working definition for rural and urban BoP.
As context, Unitus Ventures invests with a Profits and Values approach in startups that primarily serve BoP populations. So, as we review a seed investing opportunity, we look at the target customer base for the business.
Unitus Ventures’s definition of BoP in India
1) BoP comprise the 1.05 billion people in India (5 out of 6 Indians) who live on an annual household income of less than INR 200,000 as of 2005. This is equivalent to less than INR 16,667 monthly household income. By 2015, size of the BoP is projected to be 997 million, still nearly 80% of the population
2) In urban India, where cost of living is higher, we consider BoP to have an annual household income of less than INR 300,000. This is equivalent to less than INR 25,000 monthly household income.
3) In rural India, we consider BoP to have an annual household income of less than INR 160,000. This is equivalent to less than INR 13,333 monthly household income.
