Latest news with #NasscomFoundation
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Can Student-Led Startups Help Solve India's Social Challenges? Nasscom Foundation and Ciena Think They Can
When Nasscom Foundation joined hands with Ciena, the vision was bold: to create a structured ecosystem where college students could not just learn about innovation but lead it—through real-world problem-solving, guided mentorship, and technology-backed solutions aimed at societal good. That vision took shape as TechForChange, a program that has since become one of the most promising launchpads for youth-led social innovation. Can Student-Led Startups Help Solve India's Social Challenges? Nasscom Foundation and Ciena Think They Can 'Social innovation needs to be more than an afterthought—it must be the lens through which our youth approach technology,' says Jyoti Sharma, CEO of Nasscom Foundation. 'TechForChange was built to provide them with the structure, support, and space to do just that.' Spanning 18 months, the program serves as what the Foundation describes as a 'geek playground'—a place where experimentation is encouraged, failure is part of the process, and learning leads to lasting change. Through a four-stage model—Ideation, Product Development, Business Model Development and Startup Incubation—students from institutions like IIT Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia, and DTU build impactful ventures with hands-on training in AI, machine learning, design thinking, and business modeling. But beyond skill-building, TechForChange addresses one of the biggest gaps in India's social innovation ecosystem: early-stage support. Each cohort sees the top five teams receive seed funding of ₹5-6 lakh, enabling them to transition from prototype to product. 'We believe in tech with a conscience—technology that serves not just commerce, but community,' says Vineet Vohra, Vice President Software Development at Ciena India. 'Programs like TechForChange don't just support innovation, they support inclusion.' That inclusion is visible not only in the program's focus on rural challenges, education, agriculture, and health—but also in its commitment to gender diversity, with 30% women participants in its latest cohort. Turning Ideas into Impact Take the story of Shivam Gupta, for instance. Armed with a drone-based idea to support defense and agriculture sectors, he credits TechForChange for helping him navigate product development, investor pitching, and startup registration. Today, his venture House Technologies is not just an idea, but a registered company with seed capital and a growing impact footprint. Stories like his illustrate the program's broader mission: to translate academic potential into market-ready social innovation. At InnovateX, the program's annual showcase, student teams present their solutions to experts, ecosystem leaders, and policymakers—gaining both visibility and validation. Previous participants have developed AI-driven learning tools for visually impaired students, low-cost robotics for sanitation, and mobile-first healthcare tools for underserved communities. Filling Critical Gaps in India's Innovation Ecosystem India's grassroots innovation story is compelling—but not without gaps. Over 65% of rural areas still lack reliable internet, with rural penetration at just 35% as of early 2025 (TRAI). Despite PMGDISHA certifying over 47.8 million individuals, only 38% of households have a digitally literate member (NSS 78th Round, 2022). Moreover, early-stage social enterprises often struggle to attract commercial capital, making philanthropic and corporate-backed incubation programs like TechForChange critical to their survival. By providing a blend of mentorship, funding, and ecosystem access, TechForChange enables student entrepreneurs to overcome hurdles that typically halt progress at the ideation stage. It also complements India's national priorities—from Digital India and Startup India to its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. With an emphasis on building scalable, tech-led solutions for real-world problems, the program supports the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. What's Next? A New Generation of Changemakers With 16 startups already launched and hundreds of students trained, the ripple effect is just beginning. Alumni are going on to raise additional funding, partner with NGOs, and build solutions that impact communities far beyond their college campuses. 'We're not just nurturing startups—we're nurturing responsibility,' says Vineet. 'These students are the future architects of equitable, tech-driven development in India.' As more corporates look to contribute meaningfully to social progress, TechForChange offers a powerful blueprint—a model where technology, mentorship, and purpose converge to shape the next generation of changemakers. Note to readers: This article is part of HT's paid consumer connect initiative and is independently created by the brand. HT assumes no editorial responsibility for the content, including its accuracy, completeness, or any errors or omissions. Readers are advised to verify all information independently. Want to get your story featured as above? click here!
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Nasscom Foundation launches CSR initiative for marginalized youth with support from nine tech SMEs
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: Nasscom Foundation , in collaboration with the Nasscom SME Council , announced the launch of the project, 'Ascend: Skilling Youth in Emerging Technologies' that brings together nine tech SMEs from the Nasscom on the success of last year's collaborative effort, the project aims to address the skilling and employability gap among marginalized youth—while also enabling SMEs to contribute meaningfully to social impact through Global Skills Gap Report cites that 92% of employees in India believe that there is a massive skills gap in the country. The project aims to close these gaps through skilling 150 marginalized youth across Delhi-NCR, Trivandrum, and Pune. Participants will be trained in high-demand domains like Data Analytics and Java Full Stack, complemented by soft skills development and career readiness support. To bridge the gap between skilling and employment, selected trained and certified students will also be offered placement opportunities within relevant the significance of this collaboration, Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation said, in a statement, "Enabling TechForGood lies at the heart of everything we do at Nasscom Foundation. This initiative is a powerful example of how collaboration can drive meaningful social impact, making technology-led skilling accessible to marginalized youth. By bringing together nine visionary tech SMEs in this cohort, we are not only equipping the young minds with future-ready skills but also empowering businesses to embrace inclusive and responsible growth. Together, we are creating a scalable model that transform lives, fosters equity, and ensures that technology becomes a force for sustainable progress."Despite their critical role in driving India's innovation economy, many SMEs face challenges in executing impactful CSR—ranging from budget constraints and regulatory complexity to limited awareness of CSR frameworks. Recognizing these constraints, Nasscom Foundation has designed a collaborative model that fosters shared responsibility, deeper impact, and inclusive growth. By bringing together like-minded SMEs under a unified CSR platform, this approach not only eases the operational burden on individual enterprises but also significantly amplifies collective impact. More importantly, it fosters a strong sense of community, shared purpose, and mutual accountability, enabling SMEs to contribute meaningfully to social development while growing Bhansali, CEO, NetWeb Software Pvt. Ltd. & Chair – SME Council said 'The success of last year's initiative clearly showed the power of collective action among SMEs to drive social change. We are excited to once again partner with Nasscom Foundation to take this vision forward. This collaboration not only enables us to contribute to nation-building through skilling but also reflects the SME Council's commitment to creating inclusive opportunities for youth, especially young women from marginalized communities. Together, we are proving that when purpose and partnership align, how purpose-driven SMEs can create a big impact.'The initiative will be delivered in a hybrid model (80% physical and 20% virtual) through SME training partners, emphasizing diversity and inclusion, with a strong focus on gender equity, targeting 60% women beneficiaries. Participants will also gain real-world exposure through mentorship from industry experts, project-based learning, and corporate engagements.
Hans India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Nasscom Foundation, 9 tech SMEs to address skill gap among marginalised youth
Nasscom Foundation, in collaboration with nine tech SMEs, on Tuesday launched a project to address the skilling and employability gap among marginalised youth in the country. According to the Global Skills Gap report, 92 per cent of employees in India believe that there is a massive skills gap in the country. The new project aims to close these gaps through skilling 150 marginalised youth across Delhi-NCR, Trivandrum, and Pune. The participants will be trained in high-demand domains like data analytics and Java full stack, complemented by soft skills development and career readiness support. Further, selected trained and certified students will also be offered placement opportunities within relevant sectors, the Foundation said. "By bringing together nine visionary tech SMEs in this cohort, we are not only equipping the young minds with future-ready skills but also empowering businesses to embrace inclusive and responsible growth. Together, we are creating a scalable model that transforms lives, fosters equity, and ensures that technology becomes a force for sustainable progress," said Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation. Despite their critical role in driving India's innovation economy, many SMEs face challenges in executing impactful CSR -- ranging from budget constraints and regulatory complexity to limited awareness of CSR frameworks. Recognising these constraints, Nasscom Foundation launched the collaborative CSR initiative in partnership with the Nasscom SME Council. By bringing together like-minded SMEs under a unified CSR platform, this approach not only eases the operational burden on individual enterprises but also significantly amplifies collective impact. More importantly, it fosters a strong sense of community, shared purpose, and mutual accountability, enabling SMEs to contribute meaningfully to social development while growing responsibly. The initiative will be delivered in a hybrid model (80 per cent physical and 20 per cent virtual) through SME training partners, emphasising diversity and inclusion, with a strong focus on gender equity, targeting 60 per cent women beneficiaries, the Foundation said.
India Today
27-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Maharashtra partners with Nasscom foundation to boost micro-entrepreneurship
Aligned with MSME Day, Nasscom Foundation signed a flagship Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd. (MSSIDC), Government of Maharashtra. The collaboration aims to drive a large-scale capacity building program focused on strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of 15,000 Udyam-registered micro and small entrepreneurs across the state with special focus on empowering women entrepreneurs. Nasscom Foundation will work closely with MSSIDC officials and the KPMG-led State Program Implementation Unit to strengthen the capacities of these micro initiative will be implemented under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme, supported by the World Bank. It focuses on women entrepreneurs across key sectors such as energy efficiency, textiles, coir, handicrafts, renewable energy, manufacturing, waste management, and ODOP industries, enabling them with better access to digital tools, finance, and and training on the (Intellectual Property Rights) IPR Scheme for MSMEs, guidance on loans and digital loan application processes, and financial knowledge and managThrough this project, Nasscom Foundation will deliver a structured capacity-building program focused on three critical areas. ement. The initiative is designed not just to inform but to equip entrepreneurs with practical tools they need to formalize their businesses, access credit, and scale sustainably. Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation, emphasizing on the need for this initiative in today's business landscape commented, "Our MSMEs don't lack ideas, they often just lack access. This partnership with Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation is about changing that. By offering targeted capacity building, we are not only supporting the entrepreneurs especially the women entrepreneurs, understand policies and processes but giving them the tools to build stronger, more resilient businesses. It's a step toward making India's MSME sector truly inclusive, digitally equipped, and globally competitive."advertisementPrashali Jadhav Dighavkar, Joint Managing Director, Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd., said, "Strengthening MSMEs is central to driving Maharashtra's economic growth, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are a critical part of that journey. By building awareness about IPR across the state, we aim to equip small-scale industries with the knowledge and tools they need to protect their innovations and scale sustainably. These joint efforts are not just about legal awareness-they are about fostering innovation, encouraging ideation, and enabling the incubation of new businesses and entrepreneurial ventures that will shape the future of Maharashtra's MSME ecosystem."While MSMEs form the backbone of India's economy, they continue to face systemic challenges such as informal operations, limited access to credit, lack of awareness about government schemes, and weak digital adoption. This program addresses these challenges by offering entrepreneurs clarity, capability, and connection. By focusing on practical knowledge, scalable delivery, and strong government collaboration, this initiative aims to build a stronger, more future-ready MSME ecosystem in Maharashtra-and eventually, across Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd., (MSSIDC), was established on October 19, 1962, with a view to giving a new orientation and strength to the development of Small Scale Industries (SSI) in the State of Maharashtra. The main objective of MSSIDC is to aid, counsel, assist, finance, protect and promote the interests of Small Industries. The Corporation renders assistance to approximately 30000 SSI units in the State. MSSIDC plays a vital role in revival, development, and growth of traditional handicrafts of Maharashtra by responding to the diversified needs of rural artisans and marketing their products in India as well as abroad.- Ends
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Nasscom Foundation Signs MoU with Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd.
Mumbai: Aligned with MSME Day , Nasscom Foundation signed a flagship Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd . (MSSIDC), Government of Maharashtra. The collaboration aims to drive a large-scale capacity building program focused on strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of 15,000 Udyam-registered micro and small entrepreneurs across the state with special focus on empowering women entrepreneurs . Nasscom Foundation will work closely with MSSIDC officials and the KPMG-led State Program Implementation Unit to strengthen the capacities of these micro entrepreneurs. The initiative will be implemented under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme, supported by the World Bank. It focuses on women entrepreneurs across key sectors such as energy efficiency, textiles, coir, handicrafts, renewable energy, manufacturing, waste management, and ODOP industries, enabling them with better access to digital tools, finance, and information. Through this project, Nasscom Foundation will deliver a structured capacity-building program focused on three critical areas. Awareness and training on the (Intellectual Property Rights) IPR Scheme for MSMEs, guidance on loans and digital loan application processes, and financial knowledge and management. The initiative is designed not just to inform but to equip entrepreneurs with practical tools they need to formalize their businesses, access credit, and scale sustainably. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation, said, in a statement, 'Our MSMEs don't lack ideas, they often just lack access. This partnership with Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation is about changing that. By offering targeted capacity building, we are not only supporting the entrepreneurs especially the women entrepreneurs, understand policies and processes but giving them the tools to build stronger, more resilient businesses. It's a step toward making India's MSME sector truly inclusive, digitally equipped, and globally competitive.' Prashali Jadhav Dighavkar, Joint Managing Director, Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd., said, 'Strengthening MSMEs is central to driving Maharashtra's economic growth, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are a critical part of that journey. By building awareness about IPR across the state, we aim to equip small-scale industries with the knowledge and tools they need to protect their innovations and scale sustainably. These joint efforts are not just about legal awareness—they are about fostering innovation, encouraging ideation, and enabling the incubation of new businesses and entrepreneurial ventures that will shape the future of Maharashtra's MSME ecosystem.' Live Events While MSMEs form the backbone of India's economy, they continue to face systemic challenges such as informal operations, limited access to credit, lack of awareness about government schemes, and weak digital adoption. This program addresses these challenges by offering entrepreneurs clarity, capability, and connection. By focusing on practical knowledge, scalable delivery, and strong government collaboration, this initiative aims to build a stronger, more future-ready MSME ecosystem in Maharashtra—and eventually, across India.
