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VC / Investor Mumbai, Maharashtra Est. 2011

Upaya Social Ventures

Nonprofit impact investor backing early Indian businesses that create jobs for people in extreme poverty, 35,000+ so far.

1 program listed

About Upaya Social Ventures

A nonprofit launched in 2011, Upaya Social Ventures sets out to build a dignified economy by investing in and supporting early businesses that create safe, stable, inclusive jobs for people in extreme poverty in India. It deliberately serves the missing middle, firms too small for commercial VC yet too big for microfinance, and backs founders who draw at least half their workforce from extreme-poverty communities.

Portfolio companies have together created more than 35,000 dignified jobs since the start. Its Dignified Jobs Accelerator helps entrepreneurs scale and get investment-ready, and the Dignified Jobs Collaborative, launched in 2023, gathers seven mission-aligned investors to benchmark the quality of jobs that small and growing businesses create, all anchored in an impact-first view of work that is safe, stable, inclusive, and rewarding.

Early social-enterprise founders in India who generate employment for people in extreme poverty benefit most, especially businesses in agriculture, manufacturing, services, and rural livelihoods serving base-of-pyramid communities that need patient capital, operational help, and impact measurement. It is online at upayasv.org.

Who they work with

Stages
MVP / Prototype
Sectors
Social Impact Agritech & Food

Programs by Upaya Social Ventures 1

Closed Grant
FundingUp to Rs. 63 lakh
Equity-free Early Revenue

The ClimaFii Alliance is a five-year initiative anchored by Shell Foundation in partnership with Accion, with co-funding from UK aid through the UK government's Transforming Energy Access platform. Upaya Social Ventures leads the India program, supporting SMEs and startups delivering clean energy and Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) solutions to micro-entrepreneurs. The program targets sectors such as Food, Agriculture & Allied, Waste Management & Circularity, Mobility & Logistics

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Frequently asked questions

What funding programs does Upaya Social Ventures run?

Upaya Social Ventures currently has 1 program listed in this directory, including ClimaFii Alliance Program by Upaya Social Ventures. Each program page covers the funding amount, eligibility and application process.

Is Upaya Social Ventures a government organisation?

Upaya Social Ventures is listed as a vc / investor. It is not a government body, and its programs follow the organisation's own selection process.

How do I evaluate whether a Upaya Social Ventures program fits my startup?

Start with the stages and sectors shown on this profile, then open the program pages for eligibility conditions and document checklists. If you want a structured view, send an enquiry below and an IncorpX advisor will walk you through fit and readiness.

Do I apply to these programs through IncorpX?

No. Applications are always submitted in your own name with the respective program authority. IncorpX is independent of Upaya Social Ventures and provides assistance for application preparation, document organisation and prerequisite registrations such as incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST.

Enquire about Upaya Social Ventures

Tell us what you are building and which Upaya Social Ventures program you are evaluating. An IncorpX advisor will help you assess fit and get application-ready.

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Your enquiry goes to the IncorpX advisory team, who will help you evaluate fit and prepare. We are independent of Upaya Social Ventures and never contact organisations on your behalf.

Important disclaimer

IncorpX is a private platform operated by a private company. It is not a government department, agency or official portal, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government body or of any organisation, incubator, accelerator, investor or partner listed in this directory. All program names, logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only.

This directory is compiled from publicly available official sources and is provided for general information only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax or professional advice. Funding amounts, eligibility criteria, required documents, deadlines and availability are determined by each program authority and change with every cycle, so the details shown here may be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm the current terms on the official program source before you apply or take any decision.

IncorpX charges no fee for the information in this directory and does not collect, process, lodge or submit any application on your behalf. Applications are made by you, in your own name, directly with the respective program authority. IncorpX provides assistance only for application preparation and for related registrations such as company incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME (Udyam) and GST. Eligibility, approval, disbursement and selection rest solely with the respective program authority, and IncorpX makes no representation or guarantee as to any outcome.

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