Startup

Basavaraj S left home with just Rs 1,000 and a heart full of rejection. Today, he runs Rafter — a sustainable gifting startup changing how companies welcome new employees. From bamboo bottles to rice husk mugs, his story is one of resilience, purpose, and giving back to the planet with every gift.

Disappointed by wilted roses and dull bouquets, Vikas Gutgutia didn’t just walk away — he built Ferns N Petals from scratch, worked with farmers, faced shutdowns, and called customers himself. Today, his idea blooms across over 100 countries.

Sahar Mansoor, the woman behind Bare Necessities, took an ‘accidental entrepreneurial’ leap that reshaped her life and the future of eco-friendly skincare. From humble beginnings in a garage to creating a zero-waste brand, she has saved over 68 million units of plastic and diverted 155,000 kg of waste, all while empowering women in sustainable jobs.

Inspired by a neighbourhood kabadiwaala, Henik Gala and Shreyas Jalapur built ScrapJi — a tech-enabled scrap collection startup that now recycles over 10,000 kg of waste every month in Thane. Their mission? A trash-free India by 2030.

Only 2.5 percent of India’s climate tech startups reach growth-stage funding. Here’s why long-term investment, better infrastructure, and patient capital are key to scaling impact.

Chennai entrepreneur Charanya Kumar started Chittam to help children connect with Indian culture through games. Today, her eco-friendly, storytelling-based kits are bringing families together — one story, one state, one card at a time.

After years of serving the nation, many retired army personnel face uncertainty about what comes next. This inspiring initiative is changing that—by equipping veterans with the tools, mentorship, and confidence to become entrepreneurs. From farming to oil processing, these faujis are finding new purpose—as founders.

Rituricha Jain is reimagining paper production with Paperdom, crafting sustainable, 100% tree-free paper from banana fibre and textile waste. Dive into her journey of innovation and creativity that is reshaping the paper industry and helping the local farmers in Surat.

Nahaz Basheer quit a lucrative job in Qatar to introduce high-quality yoghurt to India. Despite initial skepticism, he launched Crèmberie, achieving massive success with prestigious clients, and earning Rs 15 crore annually through his dedication to quality and innovative yogurt flavours.

By offering restaurant-grade packaging that’s spill-proof, heat-safe, and 98% biodegradable, Aecoz is changing how India’s food industry tackles its plastic problem and showing small businesses that sustainability is possible without compromise.