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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
-1744823862506.jpg)