Green Entrepreneurs: Start-ups Accelerating Sustainability
VIEW EVENT DETAILSAccording to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), about 40 per cent of India's workforce are employed by the country’s 42.5 million Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Together they contribute around 30 per cent of the country’s GDP. In recognition of this and the vast commercial potential for start-ups, India is often described as 'the poster child of emerging markets'. The innovation and entrepreneurial capabilities mushrooming from this ecosystem are driving impact and contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in India. ‘Startup India’ and several state government initiatives, also highlight the increased political will to support this culture of entrepreneurship. Importantly, non-complex policies and adequate funding are two crucial factors for start-ups to grow and sustain. Entrepreneurs seeking capital to grow initiatives in the field of sustainable development would endorse this wholeheartedly.
As a major boost to Sustainable Entrepreneurship (SE), globally the quantum of green, social and sustainability instruments in 2020 have steadily risen to US$ 700 billion, which is almost double the amount issued in 2019. In India too, SE investments are gaining steam across a variety of sectors ranging from mobility, renewable energy, waste recycling and others. As a case in point, the World Bank is introducing a $100-million credit guarantee scheme to boost India’s rooftop solar programme. This is expected to benefit micro, small, and medium enterprises significantly. Multiple reports have also shown SE gaining momentum in the Indian financial marketplace; the country secured first place in the Emerging Markets Clean Energy Investment index and is ranked as the second-largest emerging market for green bonds. ‘Green finance’ investments and start-ups have significant potential to contribute to India’s Mission 2070 net-zero aspirations.
However, the lack of benchmark financial rent returns, demand inhibitions and insufficient consumers towards green and sustainable products and services continue to create hesitancy amongst traditional investors. With ‘green’ start-ups gradually looking at IPOs and listings, the potential of entrepreneurial success in this space seems promising. Factors like access to high-quality talent, new models like circular entrepreneurship, innovative marketing strategies and creative approaches to funding will definitely augment investments in this sector. Join us for a conversation with Anita M George, Executive Vice-President and Deputy Head of CDPQ Global, Pratap Raju, Founding Partner of Climate Collective, Ajaita Shah, Founder and CEO of Frontier Markets, Ankit Singhvi, Lead, Cell Business at Ola Electric, Co-Founder and erstwhile CEO of Mozev, and Paula Mariwala, Founding Partner of Aureolis Venture on how start-ups are leading the way in creating innovative and sustainable business models and channelising funds into these sectors.
This will be the third session of our virtual series ‘Safeguarding the Present for a Sustainable Future’ supported by TCG Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd
Anita M. George is Executive Vice-President and Deputy Head of CDPQ Global. Also, she sits on CDPQ’s Investment-Risk Committee. Prior to her current role, she has held multiple positions; Executive Vice President and Head of Strategic Partnership at Growth Markets, Senior Director of the World Bank’s Energy and Extractive Industries Global Practice, Head of Siemens Financial Services in India and Director of Infrastructure and Natural Resources of the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group.
Pratap Raju is the Founding Partner of Climate Collective. He has been in the climate and cleantech space since 2009. From being one of the pioneers in solar since the early days of the National Solar Mission, he has pivoted to supporting climate and cleantech startups throughout South Asia, where the Climate Collective has accelerated over 600+ cleantech startups across the region. Pratap Raju has been an entrepreneur for the past 20 years in IT, media, renewable energy, and now climate.
Ajaita Shah is the Founder and CEO of Frontier Markets. She is an entrepreneur and mentor driving vision, strategy, investments, and partnerships. Ajaita has 15+ experience in social enterprises and in rural microfinance, distribution, marketing, and access. She is on the Board of Frontier Innovations Foundation and SHINE Invest. She is the recipient of prestigious awards including Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur of the Year. She has spoken in many forums including COP 23, UN SDG Summit and more.
Ankit Singhvi leads the cell business at Ola Electric. Ankit is a serial entrepreneur and thought leader in Cleantech. He was co-founder and CEO of Mozev. He sold his first venture NN4Energy to then AIM-listed Mytrah Energy. Ankit was part of the founding team of SunBorne Energy. Prior to that, he worked at Mckinsey & Company, North America where he advised clients on low carbon pathways. Ankit is a member of the Global Future Council on Mobility at the World Economic Forum and has co-authored publications on profit-led scale-up of electric vehicles and renewable energy
Paula Mariwala is the Founding Partner at Aureolis Ventures. She is Co-founder & President Emeritus of Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs India, the Managing Director of Seedfund Advisors and Promoter Director of Hinditron Group of Companies. Paula has 25+ years of entrepreneurial and operational experience and 15+ of investing experience in early-stage companies in the USA and India. She sits on multiple management and advisory Boards.