T-Hub and Bala Vikasa Join Forces for Rural, Social, and Frugal Innovation

• ByStartupStory     |    February 3, 2024

T-Hub, an innovation hub and ecosystem enabler, has forged a partnership with Bala Vikasa, a community development enabler. The collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at the Social Start-up Expo organized by Bala Vikasa Center, sets the stage for joint efforts in fostering innovation, addressing grassroots challenges, and driving large-scale social impact.

The signing ceremony was graced by the presence of Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Minister for IT & EC, Industry and Commerce, Telangana government, underscoring the significance of the collaboration. According to a press statement, this partnership aligns with the Telangana government’s plans to unveil a new MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprise) policy, solidifying its position as a central hub for social innovation and entrepreneurial growth.

The collaborative efforts between T-Hub and Bala Vikasa will concentrate on social innovation, frugal innovation, and rural innovation, to make a substantial impact in rural spaces. T-Hub, known for its expertise in fostering startups, will offer specialized capacity-building programs in collaboration with Bala Vikasa to elevate skills and knowledge.

Anthony Anish, Chief Operating Officer of T-Hub, shared his thoughts on the collaboration, stating, “We aim to support promising innovations that cater to untapped rural markets and address critical social issues through accessible and affordable solutions. Together, we strive to empower startups, drive innovation, and create meaningful change in the startup ecosystem.”

Shoury Reddy Singareddy, Executive Director of Bala Vikasa, highlighted the immediate support towards the social business accelerator program by T-Hub. He said, “While we will be working on multiple activities in the realm of capacity building, mentoring, knowledge development, and ecosystem-strengthening in the coming days, we will be supporting the social business accelerator program by T-Hub immediately.”

As part of the collaboration, T-Hub will facilitate market access support, empowering startups within its programs, streamlining market access, and creating opportunities for pilot projects. The partnership envisions cross-utilization of infrastructure to maximize operational efficiency and foster innovation in the startup ecosystem.

T-Hub has a track record of nurturing nearly 110 social impact startups, including notable names such as Banyan Nation, Donatekart, Financepeer, and Kisanwala. With this new collaboration, the organizations aim to amplify their impact and contribute significantly to the advancement of social entrepreneurship and innovation in the region.

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