The "Technology for Impact Accelerator" announces the first batch of 16 startups

“Technology for Impact Accelerator” program for business creating social impact is an initiative by CIIE- IIM Ahmedabad and Village Capital. As a part of the first batch, 16 startups have been selected.

The accelerator focuses on for-profit, commercially scalable Indian startups that display a high level of social value in their tech-driven or tech-enabled offerings. The accelerator focuses on technology ventures operating in the mobile/ICT, health, agribusiness, education, sustainability and livelihood solutions verticals.

The first of three 4-day sessions at the IIM-A campus begin on April 11^th . Here are the 16 selected startups:

Kriyate Design Solutions is utilizing elevation technology to create a smart phone for the visually impaired at an accessible price point, liberating and creating livelihood-enhancing opportunities for potentially millions around the globe.

Edsix Brain Lab is poised to disrupt the booming educational gaming sector by becoming the world’s largest developer and publisher of interactive brain skill & curriculum based products.

MediAngels is creating the world’s first online hospital, providing medical services for people around the globe utilizing internet and mobile technology.

Aakar Innovations is producing a biodegradable sanitary napkin product for the BoP woman consumer sold by women in a hub & spoke model across India.

Advance DIA-BESE Care is helping patients and care providers manage diabetes and its associated complications through a novel algorithm driven program

Green Agrevolution maximizes the take home profit of farmers by improving efficiencies in the agricultural supply chain, from crop selection to marketing, utilizing a microentrepreneurial franchise model.

UTOPIA is developing a number of innovative and unique livelihood enhancing products and solutions for the differently-abled.

SuryOn has developed the Apollo Mobile Phone Charger, capable of charging mobile phones directly from sunlight, without the intermediacy of batteries.

GreenNerds Solutions provides innovative technology solutions to address the needs of current environmental challenges around the solid waste management sector.

HelloMyDoctor is a pre-paid telephonic health consultation platform that utilizes a location algorithm to ensure that patients are connected with participating doctors nearby.

Pappilon Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd. has developed HealthBooth, a five-minute check-in booth, which is capable of performing health checks for Rs 50 (less than US$1).

Kaambol.com is an online job portal with supplemental training and placement services for brown-collar workers. Clients placed through Kaambol regularly see salary hikes between 40 and 80%.

Experifun has developed a suite of innovative, patent-ready, interactive scientific product solutions to dramatically improve in-classroom learning at the K-12 level.

Sanchayan delivers comprehensive financial planning, literacy & financial services like savings, banking, etc to low-income BOP populations.

nanoPix is an image and video processing product company focusing on socially impacting products bringing value, quality and safety to people. They are working on products in both the agricultural and medical device fields.

What do the startups get?

• $100,000 USD in pre-committed capital, with two $50,000 equity investments for the two peer-selected ventures
• Office space and other infrastructure support during their sessions at IIM-A
• Mentoring from the team and industry experts and a chance to present on the Demo Day
• Common ground to interact with like-minded social entrepreneurs focused on technology enabled solutions
• An opportunity to showcase the company and meet investors at Sankalp Unconvention Summit 2013, a summit on social entrepreneurship, in Mumbai on April 17-18, through a full scholarship provided by VillGro

Read our interview with Village Capital here and more about the accelerator here.