Social Enterprise

Have a great idea that has the power to transform lives but unsure of how to see it to fruition? This list of social incubators is just the thing you need.

In the race to reduce white pollution in India, many startups are finding alternatives to plastic. Bagasse, the fibrous remains left behind after extracting sugarcane juice, can be used to make disposable cutlery. Pappco, a greenware manufacturer, is tapping into this market in India by creating awareness, with good results.

This couple went searching for furniture for their new home and ended up making bamboo houses for others. Now, Prashant and Aruna have moved on to manufacturing all things recyclable.

Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, introduced the Persian craft of wooden toy making to the small town of Channapatna, around 200 years ago. Today, when the survival of many Indian arts and crafts is bleak, this small town is seeing the revival of this art form – with a touch of modernity.

Street vendors with hand carts, selling ice cream on hot summer days, are not equipped to keep their products properly frozen for long. This Mumbai man has a solar-based solution to their problem, plus some extra features to help them earn more money.

Scaling a social enterprise is about more than just an increase in numbers. UnLtd India shares our four major learnings from coaching social impact organisations that are scaling their operations and increasing their impact.

From the outside it may look like a regular spa, but step in and you will realize why it is special. The Metta spa, which gets its name from a Pali word translated as ‘loving kindness,’ only hires visually impaired masseurs. And for its kind and special owner, Joanita Figueredo, there is no greater joy than seeing her employees fulfil their ambitions in Mumbai, the city of dreams.

In a country where women often have to walk miles to find and collect drinking water for their families, the WaterMaker project to produce water from thin air is no less than magical. It is, in the words of one grateful recipient, “khuda ka paani.”

One young lady from Jaipur came up with an interesting idea to create a paper that could be planted. Skeptical about her own idea, Kritika didn't know that it would one day become a successful project. She started a company called Tomato & Co. that designs a paper, which can grow into beautiful saplings.

The social enterprise will help the rural youth earn an extra income and, at the same time, provide clean drinking water to the villagers. It will just require Rs. 99, 000 as initial investment and can help one family earn a profit of about Rs. 30,000.