Kanpur startup HelpUsGreen wins Tata Social Enterprise Challenge 2015-16

By Prachi Verma Dadhwal

NEW DELHI: Tata Social Enterprise Challenge 2015-16, a joint initiative of the Tata group and the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C), received 210 impact proposals from aspiring early-stage social entrepreneurs.

This was the grand finale of the fourth edition of the programme was held on January 16 at IIM-C, where the proposals were judged on business model, social impact and sustainability.

The winners were HelpUsGreen from Kanpur, Jeevtronics from Pune, HarisuDala Innovations from Bengaluru, and Disease Diagnose Group from Boston, USA, who received prize money of Rs 2.5 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh, respectively.

According to a press release, HelpUsGreen preserves the rivers by cycling waste from places of worship into bio-fertilisers and lifestyle products like incense and?bathing soaps, among others, and in doing so also empowers women self-help groups (the venture is managing five women self-help groups with sixteen members each).