Assistant Professors Natalia Rigol and Benjamin Roth: Empower

Assistant Professors Natalia Rigol and Ben Roth are development economists who study how to empower small businesses in the developing world. Their case, “Husk Power: Scaling the Venture,” about a clean energy company helping entrepreneurs overcome challenges they face in a poor country—and how to do this sustainably over time—spurred a new research agenda based on questions students raised in the classroom. Rigol’s “Collab Capital” case similarly explores how to empower Black entrepreneurs and make venture capital more inclusive. They agree that a great case often raises more questions than answers.