Philanthropy Asia Summit: Indian rural-focused start-ups showcas growth by promoting livelihood of farmers, poor
Five rural-focused start-ups of India showcased their growth stories, innovative business models and scaling strategies at the Philanthropy Asia Summit (PAS) here on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, highlighting how technology-driven businesses are improving livelihoods and promoting sustainable development in rural India.
The second day of the summit, themed “Innovation Agenda”, brought together innovators, start-ups and social enterprises working in the fields of agriculture, renewable energy, rural development and sustainable livelihood.
For dairy farmers
Mumbai-based Digivriddhi (DGV), an integrated finance, insurance and market platform for dairy farmers, highlighted how it has built a digital financial ecosystem serving nearly 10 lakh farmers in less than seven years.
DGV, which operates in eight states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra, works with banks and financial institutions to bring small dairy farmers into the formal financial system.
“The firm provides the financial foundation that rural dairy farmers never had,” said DGV Executive Director Sowmiya Venkatesan during his presentation at the summit.
To talk HinduDGV Group Founder and CEO Ragavan Venkatesan said the company aims to disburse ₹300 crore loans to dairy farmers during 2026-27. “In the last financial year, DGV disbursed around Rs 100 crore to dairy farmers through various banks and cooperatives,” he said.
The company, which has a workforce of approximately 150 people, plans to raise US$10 million to expand its operations. DGV has also integrated insurance with loans to ensure faster recovery and reduce risks for lenders.
Re-evaluation of temple flowers
Phool, another Indian start-up founded by Ankit Agarwal, has shown how it has solved the problem of dumping temple flower waste into rivers like the Ganges by turning it into eco-friendly products.
The Kanpur-based company has developed ‘Fleather’, a biodegradable plant-based alternative to animal and synthetic leather.
“It transforms daily waste from culturally entrenched practices to sustainable use,” Mr. Agarwal said.
Phool employs women and low-income workers in labor-intensive activities such as sorting, rolling and packaging flower waste, thereby providing stable livelihoods for communities with limited employment opportunities. Mr. Agarwal said the company plans to expand its operations to more Indian cities.
Solar powered food processing
Founded in 2013 by Vaibhav Tidke and others, S4S Technologies has demonstrated how solar-powered food processing can reduce post-harvest losses and increase farmers’ incomes.
The company supplies the food and beverage industry by converting damaged or surplus farm produce into food ingredients at the farm gate.
Beyond food processing, S4S promotes women-led micro-enterprises and helps develop local skills and income ownership in rural communities.
Mr Tidke said the company provides affordable solar dryers and food processing equipment that allow farmers to preserve their crops locally rather than relying on expensive cold storage systems. He said thousands of small-scale women farmers associated with S4S had recorded significant increases in their income.
clean energy
Other start-ups at the summit included e-Bik Accelero, which focuses on electric bicycles and tricycles, and Envo Renewable Energy Solutions (ERES), which provides affordable clean energy solutions in remote areas of Northeast India.
Startups highlighted how rural innovation and sustainable business models create economic opportunities while tackling environmental and social challenges.
More than 30 start-ups from across Asia showcased their growth stories throughout the day.
(Nagesh Prabhu is in Singapore at the invitation of the Asian Philanthropy Alliance)
It was published – 19 May 2026 13:51 IST
