Six social ventures awarded INR 57 lakh at SBI YFI Conclave

• Kenono Foundation from Nagaland gets INR 11 lakh

Winners of the SBI Youth for India Conclave 2025, along with guests and officials, pose for a group photo at the event held in Guwahati, on April 15.

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• DIMAPUR — Six promising social ventures were awarded a total of INR 57 lakh in support funds during the SBI Youth for India (YFI) Conclave 2025, hosted by the SBI Foundation in Guwahati on April 15.
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• The initiative, aimed at fostering grassroots social entrepreneurship, saw ten enterprises pitch their impact-driven ideas at ‘Sahyog—The Pitch Fest’, according to an update.
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• SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of the State Bank of India, hosted the YFI Conclave, bringing together social entrepreneurs, development sector experts, academicians, and SBI YFI Alumni to discuss scalable solutions for rural transformation.

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• The Conclave was attended by Padmashri Bertha Dkhar, executive director, Bethany Society, Shillong; Sanjay Prakash, MD and CEO, SBI Foundation; Jagannath Sahoo, president and COO, SBI Foundation; and other dignitaries who shared insights on youth-driven social innovation and rural development.
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• The winners of this year’s Pitch Fest were chosen by a panel of jurors that included Anupam Joshi and Swapnil Sinha and will receive funding along with strategic mentorship from SBI Foundation and industry leaders.
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• In the last four years, SBI YFI Sahyog has supported 24 social ventures with a total funding of INR 1.06 crore, enabling them to scale and sustain their initiatives.
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• List of winning ventures and funding received:
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• Himalayan Blooms (INR 11 lakh): Founded by Pratibha Krishnaiah and Anvi Mehta, this Uttarakhand-based initiative empowers women through crochet and knitting, linking rural artisans to wider markets and preserving traditional crafts.
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• Kenono Foundation (INR 11 lakh): Established by Ruchinilo Kemp in Nagaland, the foundation integrates forest conservation with community-based enterprises to promote sustainable rural livelihoods.
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• Be-ecoliteracy Pollinator Conservation and Research Foundation (INR 11 lakh): Founded by Teja Sanjay Ghorpade, it supports tribal women through sustainable beekeeping, pollinator conservation, and honey-based micro-enterprises.
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• dVerse Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (INR 8 lakh): Led by Krishna Thiruvengadam Rajagopal, dVerse builds accessible STEM education tools for visually impaired students using tactile graphics and AI-powered applications.
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• Fishy Farmers Pvt. Ltd. (INR 8 lakh): T Sai Krishna’s venture offers innovative, low-maintenance aquaculture solutions, already operational with over 70 lakh litres of installed capacity across India.
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• UdyamWell (INR 8 lakh): Founded by Sachin Korla, UdyamWell is a tech platform supporting rural enterprises in accessing e-commerce, market linkages, and digital business tools via the ONDC network.
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• Speaking at the event, Sanjay Prakash, managing director and CEO of the SBI Foundation, emphasised the need for young changemakers to lead India’s rural development efforts.
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• He mentioned that for over 14 years, the SBI Youth for India Fellowship has acted as a catalyst for social change, empowering 640 dedicated individuals to co-create sustainable solutions at the grassroots level. Through a focus on key thematic areas, including education, healthcare, women empowerment, and rural livelihoods, the Fellows have made a lasting impact across 21 states and union territories, transforming the lives of over 1,50,000 people.
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• Launched in 2011 by SBI Foundation, the SBI Youth for India Fellowship is a 13-month programme offering talented young professionals the opportunity to work with rural communities and implement sustainable development projects. Over the last decade, the programme has empowered 640 Fellows, impacting over 250 villages across 21 states.