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’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.
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.
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
Investment Process
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?