Category Archives: Social & Green Entrepreneurs

EntrepreneurIndian StartupsInspiration

How adversity turned Josephine Selvaraj into an entrepreneur

Josephine_Selvaraj_2
| 15 hours ago

Besides her original name, Josephine Selvaraj is known by quite a few nicknames, and of the lot ‘Queen Bee’ is the one even she is proud to flaunt. Josephine Selvaraj is both an entrepreneur and a social entrepreneur. Unlike the many high profile women entrepreneurs we have written about in the past, Josephine turned entrepreneur to fulfill the most basic need that many Indian families still struggle for – three square meals a day. “We were a family of five me, my husband and three children. My husband earned Rs 2000 per month and things were difficult when you have children going to school and a family to support,” explains Josephine. She has a degree in history and at some point she also toyed with the thought of being a teacher. But a three-day course in bee-keeping at Krishi Vigyan Kendra(KVK) at Madurai changed her life forever.

Indian StartupsSocentSocial & Green Entrepreneurs

Giving wheels to dreams. How SMV Wheels is empowering lives of cycle rickshaw drivers

Naveen Krishna
| 2 days ago

Based in Varanasi, SMV is a social enterprise that serves cycle rickshaw drivers in India. The company sells cycle rickshaws to poor rickshaw drivers on a deferred payment basis so that they can make manageable weekly payments over approximately a one year period. By the end of this period, the drivers have full ownership of their own licensed rickshaw. In addition, by making the weekly payments, the drivers are able to establish a credit history which can prove beneficial if they seek any loan in the future and would be relevant to help improve their financial inclusion.

Social & Green EntrepreneursStartupStories

Commercially sustainable agri-services by leveraging technology- Startup Akshamaala

Soil testing in action
| 13 days ago

Agriculture is a huge sector of opportunity for a country like India (and so believe investors). Startups can bring about a much needed revolution in this sector which is grappling with inefficiencies. Founded by Amit Sinha, Ashok Prasad and Chetan Singh, Akshamaala is one such startup that works with farmers in rural India to help them make farming a commercially sustainable and profitable model

SocentSocial & Green EntrepreneursSocial & Green News

Aspada Investment Company to invest in the social impact space: Announces first investment

| 30 days ago

Aspada Investment is a VC that has been started by Thomas Hyland and Kartik Srivatsa to invest in sectors that create a social impact. Aspada recently received a $10 million commitment from the Soros Economic Development Fund (SEDF) to work to promote economic opportunity and sustainable impact in India. In an announcement, Aspada has made it’s first investment in Lawrencedale Agri Processing (LEAF).

LaunchNewsSocent

Villgro opens up applications for the 6th edition of its Fellowship Program

| 41 days ago

Villgro, an organization that seeks to catalyze development by fostering social entrepreneurship in rural India, today launches the sixth round of its Fellowship program. The Villgro Fellowship began in 2008 with a mission to attract talented human resources to the social sector. Since the launch they have helped match 29 fellows with social enterprises across India, giving them a new outlet to exercise their skill set and simultaneously create a social impact.

FundingFunding & DealsIndian Startups

Delhi based microfinance institution Satin Creditcare Network Limited raises $7.6 million in new funding

| 51 days ago

Satin Creditcare Network Limited (“SCNL”), a microfinance institution headquartered in Delhi has announced the successful completion of its round of funding to the tune of USD 7.6 million. The funding has been raised from MicroVest II, LP, ShoreCap II Limited (managed by Equator Capital Partners LLC) and Danish Microfinance Partners K/S (“DMP”). MicroVest has simultaneously purchased all equity shares from Lok Capital LLC, marking Lok’s complete exit from SCNL where it has been an early stage investor since 2008. Unitus Capital was the sole financial advisor to the transaction.