–APS Noorpuri
On December 15, 2023, the Adani Group, renowned as India’s fastest-growing portfolio, hosted the third edition of ‘Green Talks’ in Chandigarh. This event served as a platform for the founders of five startups to showcase their innovative ideas, emphasizing the mission to empower social entrepreneurs in realizing and implementing their concepts.
‘Green Talks’ stands as a nonprofit, inclusive platform that connects a global network of social enterprises dedicated to driving substantial transformations, propelling progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2023 edition of the program aimed to provide a stage for entrepreneurs committed to making a profound impact on Bharat through inventive solutions geared towards enhancing humanity’s well-being.
Participating startups included Dveck Mobility Private Limited, introducing a device capable of transforming any bicycle into an electric vehicle within minutes. Haqdarshak, another participant, focuses on simplifying access to government welfare schemes through technology. Additional startups like Marut Drones, ONergy Solar, and PRESPL showcased their contributions to smart agriculture, affordable solar solutions, and sustainable biomass solutions, respectively. The entire event was broadcasted live on YouTube and internal channels for Adani employees.
Addressing the initiative, Mr. Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, emphasized the significance of organizational learning as a differentiator. He welcomed startups to leverage the Adani Group as a sandbox to implement and deploy their solutions. Highlighting courage as a core value, Mr. Adani applauded the entrepreneurial spirit driving young individuals to establish startups, emphasizing its crucial role in India’s growing unicorn ecosystem.
Previously, the Adani Group collaborated with startups such as iKure, a healthcare innovator in the Sundarbans, prosthetics technologist RoboBionics, and Megha Gupta, founder of dharavimarket.com, focusing on the holistic development of Dharavi’s craftsmen and residents.
The inaugural ‘Green Talks’ took place in 2021, followed by the announcement of the Adani Prize for Social Enterprise in 2022. This prize aimed to recognize and reward five outstanding social entrepreneurs contributing to India and other developing regions. The total funding for the chosen social enterprises amounted to Rs 5 crores.
‘Green Talks’ serves as a convergence point for social enterprises committed to transformative changes across various sectors. It is conceived as a space for open-source innovation, unrestricted discussion, and an incubator for concepts with the potential for lasting societal change. The initiative strongly believes in the entrepreneur’s capacity to utilize technology, design, and business innovation for the greater good.
