VILLGRO, a prominent social enterprise incubator, in collaboration with the Cisco India Cash Grant Program, has announced the successful conclusion of the TVARAN Acceleration programme, according to a recent press release. This unique initiative was meticulously designed to bolster the market presence of early-stage startups led by women in sectors related to renewable energy, water and waste management, and climate-smart agriculture.
At the program’s closing event, Dr. Renu Swarup, Former Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, extended recognition to the inaugural cohort of outstanding startups. This accomplished group included innovative ventures such as Climate Sense, Green Grahi, Green Delight, MOWO Fleet, Swachha Eco Solutions, KNP Arises Green Energy, and Bharat Krushi Seva.
During this milestone event, the spotlight was on these startups’ entrepreneurial journeys and achievements, acknowledging the hurdles they overcame throughout the program. The initiative provided an invaluable platform for the startups to articulate their strategies for future expansion and sustainable growth, stated the press release.
The accelerator program spanned six months, during which the participating startups received essential support from Cisco mentors who shared their expert insights into technology and strategic planning. It also facilitated meaningful connections with market and channel partners, capitalizing on the extensive networks of both Villgro and Cisco, with the aim of aiding in the commercialization and scaling of their innovative ventures. Additionally, startups were introduced to potential investors and venture capitalists to secure funding for their groundbreaking projects. A financial grant of Rs 20 lakh was allocated to each startup to facilitate the execution of their go-to-market strategies.
In the period of the program’s duration, the startups successfully expanded their operations into new geographic areas, recorded substantial revenue growth, secured investments from venture capitalists, and effectively launched commercial pilots of their products in partnership with various businesses and channel partners.
Bharat Krushi Seva, for instance, expanded its reach into two new regions and engaged 400 farmers in the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices. GreenGrahi Solutions is embarking on a commercial pilot of its insect-based fertilizer in Karnataka, in partnership with ESSMART, a B2B e-commerce platform focused on rural networks, as part of the program. GreenDelight is set to initiate its commercial B2B pilot with a commercial bank in Bengaluru, which boasts over 3,000 women employees.
In collective efforts, these startups have successfully raised funding of Rs 3.05 crore in the form of grants and equity investments.
“As a technology company, we recognize the tremendous potential of digital technology and the transformative impact of data and emerging technologies. Throughout TVARAN, we observed these attributes playing a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of each startup,” emphasized Harish Krishnan, Managing Director and Chief Policy Officer, Cisco India & SAARC.
Kalyani Krishna, Manager of Gender Inclusion at Villgro, expressed, “Villgro has had the privilege of supporting seven women-led startups through this initiative. This program seamlessly aligns with two of Villgro’s core priorities: climate action and gender equality. Our partnership with CISCO has been invaluable, with their support playing a pivotal role in mentoring the startups within this cohort.”
The TVARAN initiative garnered a total of 140 applications from various regions across India. After rigorous evaluation, 11 startups were carefully selected to receive one month of dedicated support focused on go-to-market strategies and scaling. This support included four essential masterclasses covering topics such as finance for scaling, the strategic value of impact data, customer understanding through design thinking, and effective pitch building.
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In March of this year, an expert jury meticulously evaluated the startups based on their business readiness, market preparedness, technological relevance, and overall impact to form the first cohort of seven innovative startups.
