Money alone might improve extreme poverty; economic justice requires more. When Upaya looks for companies that create dignified jobs for the poor, we evaluate questions of reliability, safety, and fundamental respect in addition to the economic benefits.
AB Chakravarthy, India Country Director
Bangalore, India - 6 May, 2021 — Upaya Social Ventures is pleased to announce that AB Chakravarthy has joined the team as Upaya’s new India Country Director. “Chakra” brings over a decade of experience working with early-stage businesses in emerging markets, with particularly deep expertise in ag-tech and agribusiness.
“The Upaya team is thrilled to welcome AB Chakravarthy to lead our India team and investment efforts,” said Kate Cochran, CEO of Upaya. “Chakra has been a longtime friend, co-investor, and speaker at our accelerators. We know having him join us on staff will accelerate our own work and impact.”
Chakravathary will oversee Upaya’s India team, headquartered in Bangalore. He will lead Upaya’s portfolio of 19 active investments into a post-Covid recovery, helping them grow to create more jobs for people who lost their livelihoods during the pandemic. Upaya aims to add at least five new companies into the active portfolio in 2021.
“Upaya has been at the forefront of creating dignified jobs through early-stage investing,” Chakravarthy said. “It is a pleasure to join a wonderful team who are mission aligned. Look forward to contributing to growing investment and impact.”
Chakravarthy is a seasoned impact investment professional with a history of investing in AgriTech, CleanTech, EdTech, and HealthTech, among others industries. He brings experience from previous roles at Agri Newgen Ventures, Menterra and Villgro. He was part of the team that conceptualized and launched Menterra Fund, an early-stage impact investment fund. As a Principal at Menterra, he led the agriculture investments and managed Menterra’s investment partnership with Artha Initiatives Inc., Zurich. Prior to Menterra, he was a Senior Investment Manager at Villgro, India’s oldest and foremost social enterprise incubator.
Upaya Social Ventures is fighting extreme poverty through dignified jobs. Founded in 2011, Upaya provides investment and consulting support to early-stage businesses aimed at creating jobs for the poorest of the poor. Upaya’s continually growing portfolio of impact investments has created over 17,000 lasting, dignified jobs. Endorsed by ImpactMatters as a high-impact, cost-effective nonprofit, Upaya’s teams in Seattle and Bangalore are working toward a goal of helping entrepreneurs create jobs for 50,000 people in India. Please visit www.upayasv.org for more information.
Upaya Social Ventures is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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