Social Alpha

Around 75% of India's milk comes from smallholder farmers with a small herd size of only 2-5. While these farmers are solely dependent on dairy farming for their livelihood, many of them are unable to tap into their full potential because of limited awareness on best practices.     We’re looking for innovators that can:  • Help early detect cattle disease through new diagnostic practices • Improve animal nutrition with a high-productivity feed formulation • Address issues of repeat breeding through artificial reproduction techniques    Learn more and apply now – https://lnkd.in/gSFrEJVE Manoj Kumar | Onkar Pandey| Smita Rakesh | Prateek Jain | Rubby Pratap Singh | Mohitha Sree .V | Dr. Akriti Sharma | Shalini Singh | Prof. Hulas Pathak | Mani M, Ph.D. IIT Bhubaneswar Research and Entrepreneurship Park | IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) | Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship -SINE IIT Bombay | AgHub - Agri-Innovation Hub of PJTSAU | IGKV R-ABI    #SmallFarmsBigPotential #InvestedInImpact #Techtonic #Agritech #DairyFarming #AnimalHusbandry #InnovationForImpact #SocialAlpha  

Cervical cancer is a major public health challenge, being the second most common cancer in India. While early detection can save lives, only 2% of women in India undergo regular screening due to accessibility and accuracy limitations. bioLOCKEY Healthworks' selfCERVIX changes the game—an innovative, easy-to-use HPV test which detects multiple high-risk HPV strains in under 10 minutes. Designed for at-home use, it ensures early detection even in remote areas. Today’s piece by Pragyan Pani explores how selfCERVIX can improve cervical cancer screening, bridging healthcare gaps and supporting proactive treatment to create lasting impact.   Manoj Kumar | Mandar Dixit | Manaswini Pai | Arushi Manglunia Chirania | Dr Mrigank Warrier | Krishna Sree | Dr. Kshama Kothari | Anchal Chandra | Minhaj Sirajuddin #InvestedInImpact #Healthtech #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalDiagnosis #EarlyDetection #CervicalCancer #CancerScreening

While the WHO recommends regular HPV DNA testing as a primary screening method for cervical cancer, only 2 in 100 women in India have undergone preventive checks currently, owing to an array of challenges including inaccessibility, privacy concerns, and high costs of testing.     To address these challenges, bioLOCKEY Healthworks has designed selfCERVIX, an affordable, in-vitro test that scans for six major types of high-risk HPV strains. With selfCERVIX, women can get themselves regularly checked for HPV infection and reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer.     We’re delighted to welcome bioLOCKEY to the Social Alpha family and commit towards helping them take selfCERVIX from lab to market, thus decentralising screening and diagnostic processes for women in India.     Manoj Kumar | Pragyan Pani | Mandar Dixit | Manaswini Pai | Arushi Manglunia Chirania | Dr Mrigank Warrier | Krishna Sree | Dr. Kshama Kothari | Anchal Chandra | Minhaj Sirajuddin   #InvestedInImpact #Healthtech #HealthcareInnovation #PatientExperience #MedicalDiagnosis #Screening #EarlyDetection #Affordable #Accessible #CervicalCancer #CancerScreening

30% of India's soil is degraded, posing a serious threat to farm productivity and livelihoods. Overuse of chemical fertilizers and soil erosion are key factors behind this crisis, jeopardising the future of our farmlands.       We're looking for innovations that can:    • Restore soil quality with bio-inputs and advanced treatments    • Deliver real-time, on-field soil diagnostics    • Reduce reliance on chemical inputs and encourage sustainable farming practices       Learn more and apply now – https://lnkd.in/gSFrEJVE Manoj Kumar | Onkar Pandey | Smita Rakesh | Prateek Jain | Rubby Pratap Singh | Mohitha Sree .V | Dr. Akriti Sharma | Shalini Singh | Prof. Hulas Pathak | Mani M, Ph.D. IIT Bhubaneswar Research and Entrepreneurship Park | IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) | Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship -SINE IIT Bombay | AgHub - Agri-Innovation Hub of PJTSAU | IGKV R-ABI    #SmallFarmsBigPotential #InvestedInImpact #Techtonic #Agritech #SoilHealth #SustainableAgriculture #InnovationForImpact #SocialAlpha

Cervical cancer is both preventable and curable when detected early, yet far too many women are denied this possibility. For those in low-resource and underserved communities, barriers to early detection and care are daunting. Limited awareness, inaccessible screenings, and systemic hurdles leave countless women vulnerable. At Social Alpha, we are breaking these barriers, enabling start-ups to create innovative solutions that bring healthcare within every woman’s reach. #CervicalCancerEliminationDayofAction Manoj Kumar | Dr VIJAYALAKSHMI RAMSHANKAR #WHO #907090 #HPVScreening

While 89% of India's freshwater is used in agriculture, only 49% of farmland is actually irrigated. This over-dependence on rainfall and inefficient water management puts smallholder farmers at risk, making water scarcity one of the most pressing agricultural challenges today.       Techtonic: Innovations for Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods is seeking solutions to tackle this issue head-on. We need innovative approaches to:    • Improve water efficiency with smart irrigation systems    • Integrate data-driven water management tools    • Make micro-irrigation accessible and affordable for small farms       Learn more and apply now – https://lnkd.in/gSFrEJVE Manoj Kumar | Onkar Pandey | Smita Rakesh | Prateek Jain| Rubby Pratap Singh | Mohitha Sree .V | Dr. Akriti Sharma | Shalini Singh | Prof. Hulas Pathak | Mani M, Ph.D. IIT Bhubaneswar Research and Entrepreneurship Park | IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) | Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship -SINE IIT Bombay | AgHub - Agri-Innovation Hub of PJTSAU | IGKV R-ABI    #SmallFarmsBigPotential #InvestedInImpact #Techtonic #SmallFarmsBigPotential #Agritech #WaterManagement #SustainableAgriculture #InnovationForImpact #SocialAlpha   

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗵𝘆𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀   India’s buildings are energy-intensive, consuming around 30% of the nation’s total energy.   As climate change amplifies temperatures, and contributes to urban heat island (UHI) effect, demand for cooling solutions only escalates. Our investment in Samakhya Sustainable Alternatives aims to address these challenges.    Samakhya’s solution? Insulation panels crafted from MAGRA wool, a natural fibre that provides up to 90% reduction in embodied carbon compared to traditional insulation options. This breakthrough not only improves energy efficiency but also supports India’s pastoral communities by creating value for underutilised wool.   In today’s article, Shruti and Poorna delve into why Samakhya’s insulation technology holds promise for reducing energy demands and fostering sustainable practices in construction. It’s a solution that prioritises both planet and people, making buildings more resilient, efficient, and sustainable. Manoj Kumar | Smita Rakesh | prerna agarwal | Mohd Danish Choudhary | Shwetambara Ujjain   #InvestedInImpact #ClimateChange #ImpactInnovation #SocialInnovation #SustainableBuildings #ClimateAction #SustainableLiving #EnergyEfficiency

HVAC systems alone account for a hefty 40% of building energy consumption! In a world where energy costs are spiralling and climate extremes are intensifying, we need top-notch thermal insulation to keep our buildings energy efficient! However, traditional insulation materials are carcinogenic in nature and hard to dispose safely. Enter Samakhya Sustainable Alternatives with Magra, its innovative sustainable building insulation sheets! Made from sheep wool and sourced indigenously, these sheets offer better thermal and acoustic insulation with a 90% lower carbon footprint compared to conventional alternatives. We welcome Samakhya to the Social Alpha family and commit to helping their innovative solution scale and become more mainstream. Manoj Kumar | Smita Rakesh | prerna agarwal | Mohd Danish Choudhary | Shwetambara Ujjain | Shruti Parija | Poorna R #InvestedInImpact

From dairy farms in Tamil Nadu to vineyards in Maharashtra, agritech innovations are transforming the lives of smallholder farmers across the country. Meet Maharaja, Vishal, and Chetan—farmers who’ve benefited from groundbreaking solutions provided by our program winners. These innovations helped them overcome challenges, boost productivity, and reshape their farming experiences.   Their stories show that small farms hold BIG potential when equipped with the right technology.         Are you ready to make a difference? Join Techtonic: Innovations for Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods and bring your agritech solution to the fields, empowering smallholder farmers to thrive.        What Techtonic Offers:     - Pilot opportunities with Social Alpha    - Access to grants and scale-up support    - Connections across the agritech ecosystem    - Mentorship and pathways to investment       Learn more and apply now – https://lnkd.in/gSFrEJVE Manoj Kumar | Onkar Pandey | Smita Rakesh | Prateek Jain | Rubby Pratap Singh | Mohitha Sree .V | Dr. Akriti Sharma | Shalini Singh | Prof. Hulas Pathak | Mani M, Ph.D. IIT Bhubaneswar Research and Entrepreneurship Park | IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) | Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship -SINE IIT Bombay | AgHub - Agri-Innovation Hub of PJTSAU | IGKV R-ABI    #SmallFarmsBigPotential #InvestedInImpact #SustainableAgriculture #ClimateResilience #FarmersFirst #Techtonic #InnovationsForImpact #SocialAlpha

At the Pfizer INDovation NIPER-A Edition winner ceremony, Shri Arunish Chawla, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, recognised their outstanding work and announced additional support for our six winning start-ups under the PRIP scheme and approved them all for pre-clinical and clinical studies under the Meditech initiative! This powerful commitment from the Department of Pharmaceuticals to enable innovators is a demonstration of how impactful innovations can be developed, de-risked, and deployed in the social sector by aligning the incentives of communities, markets, and the state - a classic example of the Social Alpha theory of change. Together with the Department Of Pharmaceuticals, NITI Aayog, NIPER Ahmedabad, Atal Innovation Mission Official , the Pfizer INDovation - NIPER A Edition aims to accelerate the lab-to-market journey for these six trailblazing start-ups —offering grants, product development support, incubation, and support to navigate clinical validation and regulatory pathways.   As Shri Chawla said, “We all want to see successful entrepreneurs for profit and for a social cause—and these do not have to be mutually exclusive.” Congratulations to our winning start-ups: • Aarca Research • bioLOCKEY Healthworks • Utopic Tech Private Limited • Babycue Pvt Ltd • Brela Innovations Private Limited • RNT Health Insights Manoj Kumar | Meenakshi Nevatia | Dr. Kshama Kothari | Krishna Sree | Sharad Goswami | Sneha Senapati | Roma Nair | Vincent Lamoureux | Pfizer #DiagnosticsDecentralised #InvestedInImpact #Healthtech #HealthcareInnovation