Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

Here are the top 10 social impact startups in India:

1.Goonj:

Description of Paytm: Paytm is one of India’s leading financial inclusion startups, initially launched as a mobile payments and digital wallet platform. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Noida, India, Paytm has expanded its services to include digital payments, money transfers, bill payments, online shopping, and financial products such as insurance and wealth management.

2.SELCO India:

Description of SELCO India: SELCO India, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Bengaluru, is a social enterprise that aims to improve the quality of life in underserved communities by providing sustainable energy solutions. SELCO designs, sells, and services solar energy systems tailored to the needs of rural and urban poor households, businesses, and institutions.

3.Agastya International Foundation:

Description of Agastya International Foundation: Agastya International Foundation, established in 1999 and headquartered in Bengaluru, is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming and innovating science education for rural and underserved children in India. Through hands-on learning and creative teaching methods, Agastya aims to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among students and teachers.

4.Rang De:

Description of Rang De: Rang De is a peer-to-peer lending platform founded in 2008 and headquartered in Bengaluru, India. The organization aims to combat poverty by providing affordable and accessible credit to underserved communities, particularly in rural areas. Rang De connects individuals who need loans for education, entrepreneurship, and other purposes with social investors who fund these loans at low-interest rates.

5.Embrace Innovations:

Description of Embrace Innovations: Embrace Innovations is a social enterprise founded in 2008 and headquartered in Bengaluru, India. The company focuses on providing affordable and innovative healthcare solutions for newborns, particularly in underserved regions. Their flagship product, the Embrace Warmer, is a low-cost, portable device designed to regulate the body temperature of premature and low-birth-weight infants, reducing neonatal mortality and improving health outcomes.

6.Pollinate Group:

Description of Pollinate Group: Pollinate Group is a social enterprise established in 2012 and headquartered in Bengaluru, India. The organization focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs in underserved communities to distribute affordable and sustainable products such as solar lights, clean cookstoves, and sanitary products. Through its unique model, Pollinate Group provides training and support to women, enabling them to generate income and improve their livelihoods while promoting the adoption of clean energy and health products.

7.Avanti Fellows:

Description of Avanti Fellows: Avanti Fellows is a non-profit organization founded in 2010 and headquartered in Mumbai, India. The organization aims to provide affordable, high-quality science and math education to underserved students, particularly those preparing for competitive exams like IIT-JEE and NEET. Avanti Fellows utilizes a peer learning model and technology-driven approach to deliver educational content, helping students improve their academic performance and access higher education opportunities.

8.Barefoot College:

Description of Barefoot College: Barefoot College is a non-profit organization founded in 1972 and headquartered in Tilonia, Rajasthan, India. The organization focuses on empowering rural communities by providing education, vocational training, and sustainable energy solutions. Barefoot College is renowned for its innovative approach to community development, particularly its Solar Mamas program, which trains rural women to become solar engineers, enabling them to bring electricity to their villages.

9.Digital Green:

Description of Digital Green: Digital Green is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in New Delhi, India. The organization focuses on leveraging technology to improve agricultural practices and rural livelihoods. Digital Green collaborates with local partners to produce and disseminate videos that feature successful farming techniques and practices, empowering farmers with practical knowledge and skills. Through its participatory video approach, Digital Green enhances agricultural extension services, facilitates peer-to-peer learning, and strengthens community engagement in rural development.

10.Neev Fund:

Description of Neev Fund: Neev Fund is an impact investment fund established in 2015 and headquartered in Mumbai, India. The fund focuses on investing in sustainable infrastructure and development projects that have a positive social and environmental impact. Neev Fund targets sectors such as renewable energy, water and sanitation, affordable housing, and sustainable agriculture, aiming to promote inclusive growth and contribute to India’s sustainable development goals.

These startups focus on various aspects of social impact, including education, renewable energy, healthcare, financial inclusion, and rural development, aiming to bring positive changes to underserved communities in India.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about top social impact startups in India:

1. What is a social impact startup?
   • A social impact startup is a business that aims to address social, environmental, or economic issues through innovative solutions, with the primary goal of creating a positive impact on society.
2. What are some examples of social impact startups in India?
   • Notable examples include Goonj, SELCO India, Agastya International Foundation, Rang De, Embrace Innovations, Pollinate Group, Avanti Fellows, Barefoot College, Digital Green, and Neev Fund.
3. How do social impact startups differ from traditional startups?
   • While traditional startups primarily focus on profit generation, social impact startups prioritize creating a positive societal impact alongside financial sustainability.
4. What areas do social impact startups in India focus on?
   • They focus on various sectors, including education, healthcare, renewable energy, financial inclusion, rural development, and sustainable agriculture.
5. How do social impact startups measure their success?
   • Success is measured not only by financial performance but also by the tangible social and environmental impact, such as the number of lives improved, communities served, or environmental benefits achieved.