UPAYA INVESTMENT

Upaya Social Ventures invests in early-stage businesses that create jobs in extremely poor communities in India. We believe in helping these companies grow and create more jobs for those who need them most in order to lift families out of extreme poverty. We provide seed funding and advisory support in critical areas to scale small and growing businesses and create meaningful impact.

We review applications for investment on a rolling basis. To introduce your company to Upaya and begin the investment application process, please submit the application form, and we will contact you shortly.

UPAYA INVESTMENTS

Upaya’s investments are usually around USD $50k, and we typically invest in capital rounds of up to USD $250k. We are often a company’s first institutional funder. Overall, Upaya’s investments have attracted 3x follow-on funding from other investors.

OUR PORTFOLIO

Each year, we review more than 200 companies for our portfolio and accelerator program, selecting those that have the drive and potential to create 1,000 or more jobs with a focus on people living in extreme poverty.

> View Our Portfolio

OUR FOCUS AREAS

We provide our partner entrepreneurs with hands-on support with business systems and impact assessment, along with connections to other resources for other kinds of support. Our team’s areas of expertise include impact management and measurement, finance and fundraising, and leadership development.

Investment Criteria

We look for companies that have the drive and potential to create 1,000+ jobs in seven years.

We seek companies that focus on employing or providing substantial income for people living in extreme poverty.

We look for companies that increase incomes for the extreme poor by 50%.

We usually invest in companies that are less than 5 years old but are generating revenue.

Enterprises must be legally incorporated as a for-profit business in India.

Investment Process

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Application

Fill up the application form to introduce your company to our portfolio management team and begin the application process.

Review

Our portfolio management team will review your application and may follow-up for additional details.

Due Diligence

During this stage, we will conduct a site visit and phone calls to dive deeper into your company's financials, impact, and legal and compliance status.

Investment Committee

We will present our findings and recommendation to our investment committee and board for a final decision.

Accelerator Program

Upaya’s annual Accelerator Program is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and connections to grow their businesses. Entrepreneurs attend hands-on workshops and receive one-on-one consulting support in the key areas of finance, impact, and leadership. Are you interested in participating in our next cohort?

> Learn About Our Accelerator Program

Apply for Investment

Begin the application process by filling up our pre-application form. A member of Upaya’s portfolio management team will contact you once we have had a chance to review your submission, typically 1-2 weeks.

Begin application process

Frequently Asked Questions

+ What is extreme poverty?

The World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on under USD $1.90 per day. We partner with companies creating jobs that are targeted at this extremely poor population. While extreme poverty looks different around the country and the world, what people living in these conditions have in common is their dire economic vulnerability.