The quality of health care is one of the issues that highlights the great divide between advanced and less developed societies. In this chapter we present a view of the global healthcare industry, describing key indicators and its many different activities. Then, we look at trends and innovative actions that are shaking the industry, along with the drivers of health care shortly. Afterwards, we present a broad panorama of health care in Latin America. Five exemplary cases serve the purpose of illustrating how companies and individuals are bringing new solutions to the market, thus fostering change and improving the quality of life for many people. Those cases refer to dental services, specialized clinics for diabetes, pharmacies, home care services, and hospitals. We look at the founders of the chosen organizations, scanning the steps taken until the complete success of their proposals. Thus, we drive our quest for those elements of their business models that are suitable to reproduce in emerging nations with similar market conditions. In the end, we present some recommendations for companies of any size that are willing to venture into the healthcare industry in Latin America.

The world is witnessing unparalleled shifts in income distribution. How people with lower income are benefiting from improvements in their standard of living is a well-debated topic in managerial literature, not so much the changes occurring in the middle of the pyramid (MoP). We analyze the advance of that segment of the population across emerging economies, with a comparison of the performance of selected nations across the world. Additionally, we look at how different groups within those societies are moving from the base of the pyramid upward to reach middle-income status. Then, we focus our research on Latin America, looking for those factors that are revamping the business context in the region. First, we study the local consumer, describing the peculiarities of the leading markets, such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. Afterwards, we look at the positive impact of innovation in the betterment of middle-classes in Latin America. Finally, we share the conclusions from our study, to demonstrate how innovation is a primary factor for the new prosperity of the middle-classes and how original proposals may fit as well into other emerging economies.

The challenge of education for everyone is a problem for middle-income countries around the world. The experience demonstrates that these nations cannot provide an extensive and quality education, specifically in the secondary and tertiary Education. At the same time, this reality is a significant opportunity for business. In fact, where the presence of State is weak to fulfill its social obligations to citizens, new opportunities for enterprises emerge. This chapter analyzes the condition of education in Latin America and how some schools and universities that focus on the population of the middle of the pyramid have emerged. As the middle class has risen in these countries, the demands for an accessible and quality education have increased. Therefore, the “emerging middle class” in Latin America is a critical economic and social actor because of its potential as an engine of growth and a way to solve social demands. The analyses of six cases in Peru, Colombia, and Mexico evidence that it is possible to offer quality academic services to the population sector. This article concludes emphasizing the importance of the innovation process to expansion and consolidation of the educational market.