Sankalp Forum, an Intellecap initiative, announced 24 high impact finalists of Sankalp Awards 2014 - India’s leading social enterprise recognition platform. The finalists have been shortlisted from across seven critical needs sectors including – Agriculture, Food and Livelihood; Clean Energy and Technology; Health, Water and Sanitation, Education and Vocational Training; Financial Inclusion; Technology for Development; and Women Empowerment.
The finalists include three enterprises that have been shortlisted for the Sankalp Alliance Award for Innovation in Clean Cooking solutions that address the problem of indoor air pollution that impacts nearly 3 billion people around the world.
The Awards create a well-rounded enabling platform for early-stage enterprises that show the maximum potential to scale and drive impact. Director-Sankalp Forum, Aparajita Agrawal said, “We are excited to see great innovations focused on tackling social challenges at the BoP. This year, over a third of our finalists cater to India’s low income states, and about 45% of them have a woman in their senior leadership teams.” She added, “The finalists are looking to raise nearly 200 Cr (USD 32 Mn) cumulatively, and this a great opportunity for impact and mainstream investors. Sankalp Forum will enable up to USD 70,000 in cash grants, and forge several investor and mentoring connects.”
These finalists will also be competing for the Sankalp People’s Choice Awards, which will be decided by the global online community.
| Award Category | Enterprises |
| Agriculture, Food & Livelihood | Akshayakalpa Farms and Foods Pvt Ltd |
| Krishi Star | |
| Swayambhu Biologics Private Limited | |
| Clean Energy & Clean Technology | Aura Herbal Textiles Limited |
| Navdurga Metal Industries(Bharat) | |
| Pollinate Energy | |
| Education & Vocational Training | CAP Workforce Development Institute Private Limited |
| InOpen Technologies Pvt. Ltd. | |
| Karadi Path Education Company Pvt. Ltd. | |
| Financial Inclusion | BeWo Technologies Pvt Ltd |
| Kinara (Visage Holdings and Finance Private Limited) | |
| MicroGraam | |
| Health, Water & Sanitation | Aaji Care-at-Home Services LLP |
| iKure Techsoft Pvt Ltd | |
| Sevamob Ventures | |
| Technology for Development | DreamWeavers InfoCom Private Limited |
| iMerit Technology Services Pvt Ltd | |
| Spatial Ideas Web Solutions Private Limited | |
| Women Empowerment | Hello Health Services Pvt. Ltd. |
| iSTAR Skill Development Pvt Ltd | |
| Menstrupedia | |
| MicroGraam | |
| Sankalp-Alliance Award for Clean Cooking Solutions | Nokooda Solution Systems Pvt. Ltd. |
| Project Dharma | |
| Swami Samarth Electronics Private Limited |
Instituted to discover and bring to the spotlight leading social innovations for wide scale impact, the Sankalp Social Enterprise Awards are also designed create a holistic nurturing environment for early-stage businesses and address key issues faced by entrepreneurs. Furthermore, with its recent expansion into Africa, the Forum opens up knowledge corridors and business opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs there.
The Sankalp Awards Finalists will also have the opportunity to present to a global audience of donors, investors, foundations & enablers at the global annual conference in Mumbai in April, the Sankalp Unconvention Summit 2014.
Source : Sachin Murdeshwar