Six out of twelve startups from North East India incubated under Prakriti Incubation Launchpad have been selected for reward grants under the programme by Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF), in collaboration with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP).
The selected ventures address challenges ranging from food waste and deforestation to disability inclusion and unorganised waste management. All six have demonstrated both commercial viability and measurable social impact, criteria central to the programme’s selection process.
The Prakriti Incubation Launchpad has played a significant role in supporting these startups to scale while staying true to their sustainability missions. Here’s a walk-through of the Top 6 startups and some high points of their journey since receiving support under the programme.
1. From Food Waste to Animal Feed
In Assam, AlteRe Innovations has built a system that processes nearly 30,000 kilograms of pre-consumer food waste each month, converting it into livestock feed ingredients. The company’s proprietary segregation and blending technology ensures that waste is safely processed and meets quality standards for animal nutrition.
Founder Sreyance Modi’s venture has partnered with another IIMCIP-supported feed manufacturing startup from PRIME Meghalaya, Kyrsiew Pynroi Agrofarming Development Organisation (KPADO), creating a circular economy model that addresses two challenges simultaneously: food wastage and feed shortages for livestock.
2. Paper without Trees
An Assam-based venture, Kumbhi Kagaz, is reimagining traditional industries. Founded by Rupankar Bhattacharjee and Aniket Dhar, the startup produces chemical-free paper from water hyacinth, an invasive plant growth that clogs water bodies across the region.
The company recently opened a new production facility in the Goalpara district of Assam and is one of the pioneering commercial operations in India, producing paper from this plant.
3. Quality Lifestyle with Sustainability and Inclusion
Meanwhile, in Meghalaya, Ekanbha is proving that social enterprises can compete on quality. Founder Ferdinand Lyngdoh Marshillong trains and employs persons with disabilities to create handcrafted bags, apparel, home accessories and office supplies.
Recently, Marshillong won a National Award for his work championing inclusion, a recognition that is expected to open doors to public and corporate clients seeking ethically made products.
4. Plastic Alternatives Make a Strong Case
Two Manipur-based startups are finding commercial success with biodegradable alternatives to plastic and tree-based products. Ahenba Products, founded by Arambam Tilotama Devi, is revitalising traditional kouna grass (a locally found sedge) craftsmanship while securing sustainable livelihoods for rural artisans. Blending traditional techniques with contemporary design, the company has achieved remarkable success with 89% month-on-month profit growth over the last eight months.
Another venture from the state, Bam Fiber, founded by Konthoujam Johnson Singh, manufactures tissue paper and packaging material from banana fibres and bamboo leaves. Since joining the Prakriti Incubation Launchpad, the venture has moved beyond pilots, securing bulk orders that signal commercial readiness.
5. Technology Meets Waste Management
Recycle Bazzar is taking on one of India’s most fragmented sectors, i.e., waste management. Founder Rony Saha’s Meghalaya-based startup is building an app that connects households and businesses with trained waste collectors and scrap centres. Users can schedule pickups, evaluate their waste and track transactions, bringing transparency to a sector that has historically operated informally. Beyond environmental concerns, the startup also aims to create livelihood opportunities at the grassroots, with 11 waste collectors (known as Titans) recently brought on board.
The reward grants will allow the six startups to expand operations, strengthen marketing, hire talent or invest in fixed assets needed for ventures that’ve already proven their concepts and are raring for growth. As the six startups enter the next phase, they’ll be closely monitored and rigorously guided under the Prakriti Incubation Launchpad to help them achieve their next set of milestones.