Upaya Social Ventures

08/14/2026

What if changing a life was as easy as a monthly contribution?

Monthly giving is one of the most powerful ways to support Upaya. It is simple to set up, and your recurring gift provides steady support that helps families access stable work, reliable incomes, and the opportunity to build a better future.

Join our community of monthly givers and be part of something bigger than a single donation. Together, we're building an economy where everyone has access to dignified work.

💛 Ready to make every month matter?
👉 Set up your monthly gift today: upayasv.org/monthly-giving

08/12/2026

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When Jyoti joined Bastar Se Bazaar Tak as a supplier in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh, she had no steady income and no roadmap for what came next. Today, she's rewriting that story, one skill and one saved rupee at a time.

She's grown more confident, more capable, and more hopeful. Beyond the income, she's gained real skills and a quiet sense of pride, along with the kind of respect from her community that no paycheck alone could buy. For Jyoti, this work isn't just about getting by. It's about building toward something bigger: a home, a car, and a future for her family that once felt out of reach. ✨

Bastar Se Bazaar Tak works directly with tribal farmers in Bastar to sustainably harvest and process non-timber forest produce like custard apple, tamarind, and jamun into high-quality goods under their Forest Naturals brand. In doing so, they're reducing post-harvest losses and connecting rural, tribal communities to urban markets. 🌿

💝 Donate today and help create more dignified jobs: https://www.upayasv.org/give-to-upaya

07/29/2026

This past weekend, we gathered with our community to celebrate 15 years of building a more inclusive future through dignified jobs. 💙

We loved reconnecting with our supporters and welcoming new faces as we reflected on the milestones we’ve reached and the work still ahead to create more opportunities for entrepreneurs and jobholders across India.

All those present also took part in a special mosaic workshop, creating pieces from rice and lentils, inspired by the pillars of dignified work: safe, stable, inclusive, and rewarding. A beautiful reminder that lasting change is built grain by grain. ✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to be part of Upaya’s journey. And a special shoutout to Yashodhra Painumkal for supporting us always 🤍

07/18/2026

For 15 years, Upaya has believed that one of the most effective ways to fight poverty is by creating dignified jobs. 🌱

That belief has guided every entrepreneur we've backed, every investment we've made, and every partnership we've built.

To mark this milestone, we asked Upaya's leaders to reflect on what they've learned along the way.

Over the years, one truth has remained constant:
Poverty isn't about a lack of effort, it's about a lack of access.

And that dignity isn’t simply about having a job;
It’s about agency, stability, and the ability to imagine a different future. 💛

As Upaya celebrates 15 years this weekend, we're proud to share this film; a reflection on our journey, the work that has shaped our legacy, and the many people who have made it all possible. ✨

Watch the film here: https://youtu.be/6WOP-kbX3qI?si=d3LLLt-v9LdzIY4N

Featuring:
🎙️ Sachi Shenoy, Co-founder
🎙️ Kate Cochran, Former CEO
🎙️ Shruti Goel, CoCEO
🎙️ AB Chakravarthy, CoCEO

🎥 Video Courtesy: LastBench Studios

In a country where inequality is impossible to ignore, we chose not...

07/16/2026

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When Vinay and Raksha Kothari founded GO DESi the goal was bigger than a snack brand. They wanted to celebrate India's food traditions while creating real opportunity for the communities behind them. 🥭🌾

By sourcing directly from farmers and building rural production units, Go Desi keeps more value local — and creates stable, dignified jobs, especially for women, close to home. 💼

Since Upaya invested in 2019, Go Desi has grown its rural network across Karnataka, proving purpose-driven business can power local economies and lasting pathways out of poverty. 🚀

✨ Donate today and help us back more changemakers like Go Desi: https://www.upayasv.org/give-to-upaya

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07/10/2026

☀️ Summer Social with Upaya ☀️

Join us as we mark 15 years of dignified job creation! Celebrate the community that’s made this milestone possible—all while enjoying good food and great company on a summer afternoon.

We’re also excited to welcome local artist Yaminee Patel, who’ll lead a workshop exploring the theme of dignity. We’ll each create a meaningful piece to take home.

And yes, there’s a prize drawing! Every attendee gets an entry, plus one more for each guest you bring. We can’t wait to see you!

📅 July 26 | 11 am–1 pm PDT
📍 Newport Hills Swim & Tennis Club, Bellevue

RSVP by July 22: https://form.jotform.com/261596892734170

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07/02/2026

🎙️ What does it really take to create pathways out of extreme poverty?

In the latest episode of the podcast with Akhtar Badshah, our CoCEOs Chakravarthy AB (Chakra) and Shruti Goel explore why dignified jobs are one of the most powerful ways to build economic mobility—and how patient capital, evidence, and entrepreneurship can work together to create lasting change.

The conversation explores:
✨ Why dignity should be at the heart of poverty alleviation
💼 How impact investing can unlock opportunities for underserved communities
🌱 The connection between livelihoods, climate resilience, and inclusive growth
📊 Why measuring impact matters just as much as creating it
🤝 What it takes to build businesses that improve lives while strengthening communities

If you're interested in impact investing, entrepreneurship, livelihoods, or building solutions that put people first, this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6aoxa2Wo4sPQti6eINFoYV?si=-XNTBntpQwqvEmdgdjQDLQ

Living with Purpose · Episode

06/30/2026

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What starts with one electric bicycle can change everything.

🚲 Before Suraj got his eBik from Accelero, every workday left him exhausted but now, loading up and getting to work is easier. He covers more ground and earns nearly double of what he used to, with energy left to spare.

🌟 His dream? To send his kids to school and build a future they can be proud of. And for the first time, that future feels within reach. Along the way, he says he has gained something else too: confidence and self-respect.

🌍 Founded in New Delhi, Accelero creates affordable electric mobility solutions for daily wage workers and small vendors across India. When work is dignified, everything else follows: stability, confidence, and a future for your family.

✨ Visit the link to donate today and help create more dignified jobs: https://www.upayasv.org/give-to-upaya

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06/26/2026

Have a DAF? Your generosity can go to work now.

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) grants fuel early-stage enterprises creating dignified jobs—helping families build stability, resilience, and opportunity over time. Planned giving can make a real, lasting difference.

👉 See how your DAF can create opportunity now.

06/20/2026

Fifteen years ago, Upaya Social Ventures began with a simple belief: the most effective way to fight extreme poverty is through dignified jobs.

Today, that belief has grown into 113,000+ dignified jobs across India. 🌍 Work that is safe, stable, inclusive, and rewarding 🌱

We're celebrating 15 years in action this summer ☀️ and thinking about how much more is possible when you invest in opportunity, not just relief.

🧡 We're deeply grateful to be on this journey with you.

If you're inspired by what we've built together, your gift today helps create the next 150 dignified jobs for people living in extreme poverty: https://upaya2026.funraise.org/