Cisco has recently partnered with Villgro to choose seven winning startups to explore and accelerate over the next months.
This program, named Project Tvaran, aims at supporting the growth and expansion of women-led social enterprises in climate action. The term “tvaran” means “acceleration” in Hindi. Each winning startup selected is focused on promoting climate resilience.
Founded in 2001, Villgro is a social enterprise incubator with a mission to create successful, innovative, and impactful social enterprises.
Villgro’s mission is aligned well with Cisco’s purpose to “power an inclusive future for all.” According to Cisco, their technology provides the security, connectivity, and user experience that lets people and organizations innovate, collaborate, and make a difference worldwide.
With Cisco and Villgro partnering together for Project Tvaran, they are able to realize their missions. Here is the news and a closer look at these winning startups.
- GreenGrahi Solutions
GreenGrahi Solutions is a circular economy company that upcycles food waste into top-notch plant and animal nutrition ingredients using an insect bio-conversion process.
They take food waste from bulk waste generators. Then, they let insects use these in climate-controlled chambers powered by an algorithm and a network of sensors. Finally, they convert the results into high-quality insect protein, fat, and fertilizer.
- Green Delight Innovations
Green Delight Innovations was founded to solve two major challenges stemming from plastic waste disposal.
First, the challenge with plastics. According to the website Down To Earth, almost 113,000 tons of hygiene products are disposed of yearly in India. Often, these are burnt for disposal, which may emit harmful gases and toxins into the atmosphere.
Then, the challenge with chemicals. BBC reported that almost 70 percent of India’s reproductive diseases are caused by poor sanitary pad hygiene. Green Delight Innovations aims to put an end to these problems.
- Bharat Krushi Seva
The third startup chosen by the partnership is Bharat Krushi Seva. They utilize remote sensing technology to drive digital and climate-smart agriculture, providing help for farmers so they can make more informed decisions and focus on precision farming. The gathered information is crucial for farmers looking to mitigate the impacts of climate change without compromising their profitable and sustainable farming practices.
- Swachha Eco Solutions
The use of packaged products, such as multi-layered plastic (MLP), has exponentially increased. Long-term exposure to the chemicals with this MLP results in water and soil pollution.
With the help of Swachha Eco Solutions, this MLP can be collated, shredded, and blended with hot bitumen. The formulated plastic waste mixture is then added to course aggregate, resulting in a mix that can be utilized for road construction and repair.
This startup aims to reduce emissions and lifecycle carbon intensity from dumped single-use plastics, such as MLPs.
- KNP Arises
The next organization chosen by the partnership is KNP Arises. This startup was founded to collect used cooking oil and convert it into fuel. This prevents severe health problems like non-communicable diseases, heart diseases, and organ damage that arise from reusing cooking oil.
- Farmers for Forests
Farmers for Forests was founded to restore and project India’s biodiverse forests in collaboration with agrarian and indigenous communities.
With the use of technological innovations like modified open-source artificial intelligence algorithms, satellite data, and drones, this startup is able to count trees, identify species, and track forest cover to know the health of trees and their risk potential for forest fires.
- Mowo Fleet
The last startup chosen by the Cisco and Villgro partnership to accelerate is Mowo Fleet.
Mowo Fleet gives women the steering wheel so they can participate in mobility-related livelihoods. This startup utilizes the best of technology to optimize and schedule commutes, as well as delivery services, so women can consider driving for their careers and also earn a living.
