OYO’s Ritesh Agarwal commits personal grants to four startups
Summary
Whereas, Ladakh Beer has identified the market potential of Chaang (Ladakhi local beer) and decided to produce and promote it as the only commercial local beverage available in the region.Further, Nima Goos Goos retails products made of herbs and crops found in abundance in the Himalayan region. On the other hand, The Forest Collective aims to stop pine-fueled forest fires by promoting pine-based biomaterials which are alternatives to plastic and timber for varied industries.These startups were selected based on the parameters such as the importance of the gap in market they are trying to fulfil, clarity of purpose, conviction of the founding team, strength of business model. Agarwal will continue to support these ventures through regular interactions and sustained guidance.Naropa Fellowship, co-founded by His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche and Pramath Raj Sinha is a Ladakh-based fellowship programme aimed at creating environmentally and socially conscious entrepreneurs of tomorrow from the Himalayan region. The fellowship provides a platform for budding entrepreneurs to create businesses that add value to the local community and bring economic sustainability to the region.Agarwal has worked closely in collaboration with the Naropa Fellowship to shortlist these startups that will bring value to and boost the local economies of the region. This latest initiative falls in line with Agarwals personal aspirations to support and grow Indias dynamic startup ecosystem at the grassroots and in small towns.