Your best chance to turn a small impact business into a national game changer!

We daily get queries from readers asking how to turn a small idea with real-world impact into a large-scale business? Here's the answer! [View this email in your browser]( Your best chance to turn a small impact business into a national game changer! It would perhaps amaze our readers the number of times The Better India was told it would fail. It was not (always) said negatively. In many cases, it came from well-wishers and advisers. After all, accepted wisdom, even a few years ago, held that you could do good things, have a positive impact and change lives... OR ...you could be a viable business that makes a profit. "Leave the impact to NGOs and the government," we were told. "Focus on profit". As our readers perhaps know, The Better India did not (wholly) listen to that advice. We continue our focus on large scale impact, positive stories, AND being a viable company. Today, many years after those doubts, we daily get emails and social media queries readers asking how to turn a small idea with real-world impact into a large-scale business? Well, being the solution-oriented publication we are, we do have a recommendation for all of you - iPitch. It pays to be good! From 'smart apps' making farming more viable to low-cost medical supplies in dense forests - impact businesses are on the cusp of changing India forever. And critically, investments in this sector (which began as lone outposts) are now in the billions of rupees. In such an environment, endeavours like iPitch are the perfect platform to get that first leg up to go to the next level. And if you apply and are considered - you can begin your journey into a different league in just three months. 8 Crore reasons why iPitch is the brainchild of Villgro, India's oldest and foremost incubator focused on for-profit, innovation-based enterprises. For 19 years now, they have helped move people away from charity and make the marginalised 'stakeholders in growth'. As of 2018, they have supported over 275 enterprises and impacted over 19 million lives. To achieve this, Villgro has built an ecosystem from “inspiration to investment”. [Unconvention]( inspires, [iPitch]( [Villgro]( & [Menterra](. iPitch is the 'discovers' part of this equation - where a new startup can hope to be recognised, funded and mentored. If your enterprise is selected, here's what you get - Rs 8 Crore in total investment with a seed investment of at least Rs 25 Lakh, 'Pre Series A' investment of up to Rs 5 Crore from the Menterra Venture Advisors and investments and support through partners like [Beyond Capital Fund]( [Upaya Social Ventures]( [SINE (IIT Bombay)]( and [TIMed](. iPitch criteria, guided by their philosophies, are such - First and foremost, you need an affordable and accessible product/service creating a direct and tangible impact on the lives of the under-served. Your product can be in the process of being developed, can be at a pilot stage, can be ready to be launched in the market and can even have been already launched and showing early revenue traction. What is the key is that your enterprise must demonstrate 'positive unit economics' (i.e. your business can immediately be profitable) and you have a plan to scale across the country. [(Click here for an in-depth list of relevant sectors).]( India is full of good ideas that can energise the economy, generate jobs and uplift those on the lower end of the scale. You can, and should, use such opportunities to help your good idea get on the path to making India better. Applications open on 1 August and close on the 31 August. You can get all the details [here](. - Vinayak Hegde [Apply Now]( Pachisi Native Game Ancient Living game boards are handmade from eco-friendly materials to give you a much improved, fun experience with zero guilt. The contents are packed in an earth-friendly packaging for safekeeping and zero threat of damage. So, if you were wondering how to engage your kids in a mind game, or send your acquaintances a gift, this oldest and most played game in the country is your best choice and [a must-have in your living room.]( [Buy Here]( [Exclusive: Meet the Bengaluru Startup Making Edible Water Pods from Seaweed!]( [Functions, Events Generating Mountains of Trash? This Startup Will Help Stop That]( [Waste Online! New Hyderabad Startup Saves 45K Trees, Recycles 470 Tons in 8 Months]( Our Best Of The Day - [Engineering Dropout to Organic Farmer Growing 300+ Native Veggies: TN Man’s Inspiring Story!]( - [Crafting a Green World: Manipur Artist Uses Waste Husk to Make Gorgeous Dolls!]( - [Low-Cost & Portable, This Device Helps the Visually-Impaired Learn in 100+ Languages!]( Do share this newsletter with all your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter or WhatsApp via [this URL]( And if you like it, don't forget to forward this newsletter to one and all! Thanks for reading! [Follow Us On: Facebook]( [Follow Us On: Twitter]( [Follow Us On: Instagram]( [Latest Updates: The Better India]( Copyright © 2019 The Better India, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted for it at our website. Our mailing address is: The Better India The Better India Office 402, 4th Floor, Prestige Feroze 74, Cunningham RoadBangalore 560052 India [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. [Mailchimp Email Marketing](