Published on November 30, 2021
Nudging and nurturing top talent to solve for India’s most pressing challenges
Empowering entrepreneurial energy in the development sector, The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) is actively incubating and accelerating high-potential startups that can catalyze social transformation. The/Nudge CSI has today announced the winners/finalists of six of their programmes – Cisco Agri Challenge, The/Nudge Incubator Cohort, Meri Mitti Challenge, Facebook Pragati Cohort, The/Nudge Accelerator, and State Street Fund.
Like other sectors, the development sector too must be disrupted by startups. A new breed of audacious nonprofit founders (both technology based startups and non-technology based) who have innovation, speed and scale as their DNA are at the core of the systems change required.
The/Nudge CSI backs such disruptors whose breakthrough work will take us closer to the vision of a poverty-free India, with a bottom-up approach in solving problems for the underserved and underprivileged – in livelihoods, agriculture, healthcare, education, water sustainability and other areas.
Speaking on the occasion, Sudha Srinivasan, CEO, The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation said,” The pandemic has forced us to regress on several developmental indicators – and while we have demonstrated an admirable ability to bounce back, thanks to the tireless efforts of civil society institutions and government at all levels, there is far more to be done, at a far greater pace. Further, Beyond the pandemic – the work of nonprofit organizations will be critical in accelerating our recovery and eventual attainment of sustainable development. Through these cohorts under various challenges, we are looking at catalyzing social transformation so that we truly can address poverty at all levels.”
Cisco Agri-Challenge
The/Nudge’s Cisco Agri Challenge calls for solutions that ‘enhance profitability of small scale farmers’, since ~86% of farmers are small and marginal. Solutions with a potential to reach 10 million people, that deliver positive economic, social and environmental value compete for an INR 2 Cr prize purse. Over a period of one year, an ecosystem of producers, experts, investors, enablers and supporters have come together to accelerate learning and help refine these solutions.
This year, the following startups have been finalized, the first 5 teams from which will win INR 15 lakhs as Milestone Grant whereas other teams will be wildcard entrants.
Incubator Cohort
The/Nudge Incubator is a catalyst for the nonprofit sector, nudging capable and committed problem solvers to work on some of the toughest problems faced by India’s poor. The aim of The/Nudge incubator is to incubate high potential nonprofit across, giving them access to a powerful ecosystem of mentors, knowledge partners, technology partners, policy circle and legal network access, investors and other partners. The startups in the new cohort announced are:
Meri Mitti Challenge
With the Meri Mitti Challenge, The/Nudge aims to support rural organizations to develop innovative solutions and strengthen existing interventions designed to improve land access and ownership for women in rural communities. The winning startups are as below :
Facebook Pragati
Facebook Pragati is a CSR initiative of Meta (earlier Facebook) powered by The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation to incubate and accelerate, early stage women led non-profits that are working in the areas of women entrepreneurship and to drive awareness and adoption of technology among women in India. The selected startups in the cohort are:
The/Nudge Accelerator
The/Nudge Accelerator is the first of its kind ₹40 crore startup fund designed to accelerate nonprofits that are ready to grow and scale. Announcing cohort 8, supported by Mphasis, Skoll Foundation, HCL Foundation, Meta (earlier Facebook), and State Street Corporation.
State Street Fund
The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) and State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) launched a $750,000 fund to incubate non-profit start-ups through a 3-year partnership. With a focus on job creation and enhancing the livelihoods of underprivileged urban youth in India, State Street will work with The/Nudge CSI to accelerate four to six high-potential start-ups in this sphere. The below two have been chosen for the first round: