Upaya Social Ventures

We’re proud to partner with #SOCAP25! 🌟 Join our CoCEOs, Shruti Goel and Chakravarthy AB, from October 27 to 29 in San Francisco for a multi-day, action-oriented gathering of investors, entrepreneurs, and impact leaders. 🌍 With an agenda designed to spark deeper collaboration and align capital with impact in more intentional ways, this year’s event is all about building relationships that drive meaningful change. 🌱 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gshzFTjU If you’ll be at SOCAP or in San Francisco, DM us to connect with our CoCEOs! 📩

💡 How can data drive impact, not just reporting? In the latest SCALE 360 Philippines session, the cohort explored the “L – Learning by Evaluating Performance” principle with expert guidance from Mallory St. Claire (Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs ANDE), Sneh Bhardwaj (Upaya Social Ventures), and Hilda Carreon & Jan Ralph Ebora (New Energy Nexus #Philippines). From using meaningful metrics and global standards to refining programs through data-driven insights, this session highlighted how strong #MEL systems support effective, inclusive entrepreneurship, making data work for entrepreneurs, not against them. Up next: "E – Leading by Example" 💼✨

🎉 Congratulations to Kishan Karunakaran , Founder of Buyofuel , for receiving the Golden Pass from Chakravarthy AB at the GSS Event 🎟️✨ This Golden Pass is more than recognition — it’s a gateway to the Startup Singam Season 2 Show, where visionary founders get the stage to scale their dreams. 🚀 A special thanks to Chakravarthy AB from Upaya Social Ventures for empowering and supporting bold entrepreneurs on their journey. Phase 2 Applications are open : https://lnkd.in/garnRkaS HEMACHANDRAN L Balachandar R Kumar Vembu Arun Nair Chakravarthy AB Kishan Karunakaran Sadayappan Subramanian Siddharth Ramasamy Manikanda Prasad Thirzah Ravikumar

We’re expanding our #team! Upaya is hiring for a Manager – Institutional Partnerships to drive our mission of creating dignified jobs by strengthening our institutional relationships and fundraising pipeline. In this role, you’ll lead relationship management, market research, program development, and high-quality documentation to expand Upaya’s visibility and partnerships for greater social impact. 📍Bangalore | 💼 Full-time If you’re a strong communicator and passionate networker ready to make an impact, we want to hear from you! For more details, visit: https://lnkd.in/gmbw9Fs #ImpactInvesting #DignifiedJobs #UpayaSocialVentures Shruti Goel | Chakravarthy AB | Naveen Raj

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 | 𝗨𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 We’re delighted to have Upaya Social Ventures join us as a Silver Partner for India Green Investment Forum (IGIF) 2025. Upaya Social Ventures is an impact-first investor with a mission to fight poverty by creating dignified jobs for those living in extreme poverty in India. Upaya invests in early-stage companies creating jobs that are safe, stable, inclusive, and rewarding, generating a transformative impact on families, communities, and economies. Upaya’s award winning ‘recycling philanthropy’ model pools in philanthropic funds to create recoverable grants that not only facilitate impactful investments into for-profit small and growing businesses but also ensures that the resources can be recycled and reinvested for sustained growth in the future. As early stage investors, they provide intensive technical assistance and advisory support to their portfolio companies. They have a deep impact portfolio of over 40 companies across sectors like waste management, agriculture, rural manufacturing and the creative economy. ✨ About IGIF 2025 IGIF is a one-of-its-kind convening of stakeholders from across the climate ecosystem: investors, policymakers, innovators and thought leaders. The forum is designed to offer action-oriented insights into the capital needs and priorities for scaling climate investments in India and beyond. Together, we will explore how innovative financing models, partnerships and policy frameworks can accelerate the transition towards sustainability. 🌿 Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with leaders shaping the future of climate finance and investment. 🔗 Register now and be part of the dialogue that will set the tone for green investments in the year ahead: https://lnkd.in/dsqPfUzr 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀! If you’re interested in partnering, please reach out to: 📧 Varun Reddy - varun.reddy@iiic.in 📧 Mansi Kanoi - mansi.kanoi@iiic.in

#ChangemakersOfUpaya (Part 1/2) 🌟 💭 Entrepreneurs dream big. 💚 Social entrepreneurs dream better! They’re the superheroes redefining success—creating #jobs that uplift, empower, and transform communities. 🦸♀️🦸♂️ Upaya is proud to power the ambition of our amazing #portfolio of enterprise partners who inspire us to do better every day. Our investment and support to these changemakers is enabling pathways for families to move out of #poverty and gain access to essentials like food, housing, clothing, and education. Here's to the #entrepreneurs lighting the way toward a more inclusive and equitable world. ✨ Bintix | Sirohi | Hasiru Dala Innovations | Country Chicken Co. | Agrify Fresh | MANIKSTU AGRO PRIVATE LIMITED | Bastar Se Bazaar Tak Pvt Ltd | PickMyWork | I was a Sari | Certified B Corp | Pasidi Panta | Amounee | Biofics Private Limited | Haqdarshak | Amwoodo | Raheja Solar Food Processing | Ecoright

✨In collaboration with ANDE South Asia, we co-hosted “Capital for Inclusive Circularity,” bringing together founders from the #DignifiedJobsAccelerator Circular Innovation Cohort 2025 and investors from ANDE’s Access to Green Finance Investor Cohort to explore pathways for unlocking capital towards a more #inclusive and circular economy. ♻️ With sessions facilitated by Rachna Nandakumar and Terrarium, the founders came together for a day of deep reflection, peer learning, and collaborative problem-solving. The sessions explored how to align people, #impact, and systems within the waste and circularity space, while also creating space for peer-led discussions on shared challenges, allowing founders to exchange #insights, experiences, and strategies for scaling their impact. 🚀 🌟 ANDE hosted a roundtable exploring innovative approaches to meet the capital needs of businesses in the #circularity sector. The discussion covered capital structures, current challenges, risks, and shared learnings—sparking rich conversations on how to strengthen #access to capital for solutions that are at the forefront of circular innovation.💡 The event wrapped up with a pitch session from the Circular Innovation Cohort, showcasing 10 businesses driving inclusive solutions across plastic, textile, and fashion #waste, followed by a networking mixer where #founders and investors exchanged ideas, shared perspectives, and sparked collaborative action.🤝 Led by Upaya in partnership with Global Business Inroads (GBI) and rePurpose Global, this accelerator program is made possible with the support of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) and IKEA Foundation under the Investment Innovation Fund, aimed at improving access to finance for #circular enterprises in India and Kenya. 🔗 Read more about the cohort here: https://lnkd.in/dbqgzhFc 📸 Image Credits: Nishant Ratnakar Rachna Chandrashekhar | Abishek Mahendra Kumar | Ankur Mehta | Vineetha Venugopal | Ananya Saini | Sucharita Kamath (She/Her) | Harsha Lingam | Leena Pishe Thomas | Shruti Satsangi | Pooja Moitra | Pranav Narang Baeru | I was a Sari | Certified B Corp | Kadam Haat | KOSHA.ai | North East Granulators | RDRKD Rubber & Plastic Industry Pvt Ltd | ReCircle | Sunbird Coconut Leaf Straws | Saltech Design Labs | ScrapUncle

Why does a dignified job matter? ✨ 🏚️ Poverty is multifaceted. 💼  A job that improves income is just a starting point for someone in extreme poverty. To truly create a sustainable pathway out of #poverty, dignified jobs address the socio-economic factors that contribute to the marginalization of individuals and communities. 🤝 Jobs that go beyond #income to provide safety, stability, inclusivity, and meaningful rewards are crucial for people in poverty to earn a dignified living. By 2030, Upaya will help mission-aligned businesses create 300,000 dignified jobs in #India through responsive capital, evidence, and strong partnerships. 🌍 Because when work is #dignified, people don’t just survive—they thrive. 🌱 ✨ Join us in building an inclusive future for all. #DignifiedJobsForAll 🪔

Looking forward to being in San Francisco #SF later this month for #SOCAP2025 along with my amazing co-CEO Chakravarthy AB and passionate colleague Amy Pettigrew We’re excited to share how venture philanthropy can be catalytic in creating dignified jobs and fighting poverty — and to learn from others driving inclusive change. After SOCAP, I’ll also be in Austin and NYC — always eager to meet fellow changemakers. If you’re around, let’s connect! Or if you have recommendations on people I should meet who are passionate about driving inclusive economic growth in #India then please DM.