Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

Social impact startups in India are pioneering initiatives that prioritize addressing social and environmental challenges while striving for sustainable business models. These startups leverage innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship to create positive change across various sectors. Here’s an in-depth look at the top 10 social impact startups making significant strides in India:

1. SELCO Foundation

SELCO Foundation, founded by Harish Hande, focuses on providing sustainable energy solutions to underserved communities. It promotes solar power adoption among rural households and businesses, enhancing livelihoods and reducing carbon footprints in rural India.

Focus	Overview	Location
Industry	Renewable energy and sustainable livelihoods	Bengaluru, Karnataka
Description	SELCO Foundation promotes solar power adoption among rural households and businesses in India, aiming to improve livelihoods and reduce carbon footprints. Founded by Harish Hande.

SELCO Foundation – Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

2. Agastya International Foundation

Agastya International Foundation aims to transform education through hands-on learning experiences. It operates mobile labs and science centers that reach remote villages, inspiring curiosity and nurturing scientific temper among children and teachers.

Focus	Overview	Location
Industry	Education and STEM learning	Bengaluru, Karnataka
Description	Agastya International Foundation transforms education through hands-on learning experiences, reaching remote villages across India. Founded to inspire scientific temper among children by Ramji Raghavan.

Agastya International Foundation – Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

3. GoCoop Solutions and Services

GoCoop connects artisanal cooperatives directly to global markets through an online marketplace. Founded by Siva Devireddy, GoCoop empowers artisans with fair trade opportunities, preserves traditional crafts, and promotes sustainable livelihoods.

Focus	Overview	Location
Industry	Handloom and artisanal cooperatives	Bengaluru, Karnataka
Description	GoCoop connects artisanal cooperatives to global markets through an online platform, promoting fair trade and sustainable livelihoods. Founded by Siva Devireddy.

GoCoop Solutions and Services – Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

4. Sampark Foundation

Sampark Foundation, founded by Vineet Nayar and Anupama Nayar, leverages technology to improve primary education in rural India. It provides innovative, low-cost teaching-learning solutions to government schools, impacting millions of children across multiple states.

Focus	Overview	Location
Industry	Education technology and rural schools	New Delhi, Delhi
Description	Sampark Foundation provides low-cost teaching-learning solutions to improve primary education in rural India, impacting millions of children. Founded by Vineet Nayar and Anupama Nayar.

Sampark Foundation – Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

5. Agriya

Agriya, founded by Arun Ramanujapuram, uses technology to empower farmers by providing them with access to market information, financial services, and agricultural best practices. It aims to enhance agricultural productivity and income levels of farmers.

Focus	Overview	Location
Industry	Agriculture technology and farmer empowerment	Bengaluru, Karnataka
Description	Agriya uses technology to empower farmers with market information and agricultural best practices, aiming to enhance agricultural productivity. Founded by Arun Ramanujapuram.

Agriya – Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

6. Saahas Zero Waste

Saahas Zero Waste works towards promoting sustainable waste management practices. It offers waste collection, segregation, and recycling services to corporate offices, residential complexes, and municipalities, contributing to environmental conservation and resource recovery.

Focus	Overview	Location
Industry	Waste management and sustainability	Bengaluru, Karnataka
Description	Saahas Zero Waste provides waste collection, segregation, and recycling services, promoting sustainable waste management practices. Headquartered in Bengaluru.

Saahas Zero Waste – Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

7. Stellapps Technologies

Stellapps Technologies integrates IoT (Internet of Things) and data analytics in the dairy supply chain. Founded by Ranjith Mukundan, it provides dairy farmers with smart farming solutions to enhance milk production efficiency and improve their livelihoods.

Focus	Overview	Location
Industry	Dairy technology and farmer welfare	Bengaluru, Karnataka
Description	Stellapps Technologies integrates IoT and data analytics in dairy supply chains, enhancing milk production efficiency and farmer incomes. Founded by Ranjith Mukundan.

Stellapps Technologies – Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

8. Barefoot College

Barefoot College, founded by Bunker Roy, empowers rural women by training them in solar engineering and other sustainable livelihood skills. It promotes community-driven development and renewable energy adoption across rural India and globally.

Focus	Overview	Location
Industry	Women empowerment and rural development	Tilonia, Rajasthan
Description	Barefoot College trains rural women in solar engineering and other skills, promoting renewable energy and community-driven development. Founded by Bunker Roy.

Barefoot College – Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

9. Rang De

Rang De, founded by Smita Ramakrishna and Ramakrishna NK, operates a peer-to-peer lending platform that connects low-income borrowers with individual lenders. It provides affordable microcredit to entrepreneurs and individuals in underserved communities, fostering economic inclusion.

Focus	Overview	Location
Industry	Peer-to-peer lending and financial inclusion	Bengaluru, Karnataka
Description	Rang De operates a P2P lending platform connecting low-income borrowers with lenders, facilitating microcredit and economic inclusion. Founded by Smita Ramakrishna and Ramakrishna NK.

Rang De – Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

10. Sustainable Agro Commercial Finance Ltd. (SACF)

SACF provides customized financial products and services to small and marginal farmers in India. It supports sustainable agriculture practices, promotes rural entrepreneurship, and enhances farmers’ access to credit and market linkages.

Focus	Overview	Location
Industry	Agriculture finance and rural development	Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Description	SACF provides financial services to small and marginal farmers, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and rural entrepreneurship. Headquartered in Ahmedabad.

Sustainable Agro Commercial Finance Ltd. (SACF) – Top 10 Social Impact Startups in India

frequently asked questions (FAQs) for each of the top 10 Social Impact startups in India:

What are social impact startups?
- Social impact startups are ventures that aim to address social or environmental challenges through innovative business models. They prioritize creating positive impact alongside financial sustainability.
Which is the most successful startup in India?
- The definition of success varies, but some widely recognized successful startups in India include Flipkart, Ola, Paytm, and Zomato, among others. In the social impact sector, SELCO Foundation and Rang De are notable examples.
What are social impact companies?
- Social impact companies, also known as social enterprises, are businesses that integrate social or environmental objectives into their operations. They measure success not only by financial metrics but also by their positive impact on society.
Top 10 social enterprises in India
- This list includes SELCO Foundation, Agastya International Foundation, GoCoop Solutions and Services, Sampark Foundation, Agriya, Saahas Zero Waste, Stellapps Technologies, Barefoot College, Rang De, and Sustainable Agro Commercial Finance Ltd. (SACF).
Top 20 social entrepreneurs in India
- Notable social entrepreneurs in India include Harish Hande (SELCO Foundation), Ramji Raghavan (Agastya International Foundation), Siva Devireddy (GoCoop), Vineet Nayar and Anupama Nayar (Sampark Foundation), Arun Ramanujapuram (Agriya), among others.
Social startup example
- One example of a social startup in India is Rang De, which operates a peer-to-peer lending platform connecting low-income borrowers with lenders to facilitate microcredit and economic inclusion.
Social impact of startups
- Startups contribute to social impact by addressing societal challenges such as poverty, education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. They innovate solutions and empower communities through their business models.
Social entrepreneurship examples companies in India
- Companies like SELCO Foundation (renewable energy), GoCoop (artisanal cooperatives), and Saahas Zero Waste (waste management) exemplify social entrepreneurship in India by integrating social and environmental goals into their operations.
For-profit social enterprises in India
- For-profit social enterprises in India include organizations like SELCO Foundation, which generate revenue through their operations while achieving social objectives such as providing clean energy access to rural communities.
Social impact India
- Social impact in India is significant, with startups and enterprises playing a crucial role in addressing poverty, education gaps, healthcare access, environmental sustainability, and promoting inclusive economic growth.
What are social impact startups?
- Social impact startups are ventures that aim to solve social or environmental issues using innovative business models while maintaining financial sustainability and scalability.
Which is the most successful startups in India?
- The success of startups in India is often measured by factors like market valuation, revenue growth, impact on industry, and innovation. Companies like Flipkart, Ola, Paytm, and Zomato are considered highly successful in their respective domains.

Conclusion:

These top 10 social impact startups in India exemplify the growing trend of businesses that prioritize social and environmental outcomes alongside financial sustainability. By addressing critical challenges such as renewable energy adoption, education access, artisanal livelihoods, and sustainable agriculture, these startups contribute significantly to India’s socio-economic development goals. Their innovative approaches and scalable solutions are instrumental in creating inclusive growth and positive impact across diverse communities in the country. As they continue to innovate and expand their reach, these startups play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable and equitable future for India.