Social Alpha

Through structured support across R&D, Pilot, and Scale-Up tracks, it nurtures entrepreneurs building breakthrough solutions across the sustainability value chain, turning climate ambition into deployable, scalable action.

In honour of the legacy of Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, Social Alpha and the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) present this programme.

It fosters collaboration amongst some of the top educational institutes, research labs, technical and philanthropic institutions in the world. The program completes the lab-to-market journey by enabling innovators and entrepreneurs to commercialise existing deep science-based innovations in labs. Social Alpha looks for passionate, empathetic and motivated individuals who are dedicated to make an impact. An Entrepreneur-in-Residence can be from any background and walk of life, including corporate or government experience, scientists, serial entrepreneurs or experienced professionals.

The program itself is structured to include experiential, immersive and instructional components that mimic the lifecycle of an enterprise. From observing the problems on-ground, validating and refining their theory of change, converting prototypes into viable solutions, to developing preliminary business plans, E4is undergo a practical and hands-on learning experience encompassing all the strategic ins-and-outs of running an enterprise. E4i aims create an avenue for passionate, empathetic and mission-driven changemakers to scout for potential technologies, create co-founding teams, build and test their solutions, and convert them into impactful ventures.

The Fund will finance up to 50% of selling price for the initial users, improving the access, and reducing the out-of-pocket expenditure for procuring new technologies. This will lead to improved affordability and access of assistive technologies to the unserved and the underserved population. The startup will be provided support for next 12 months under Social Alpha standard incubation support at no cost or equity. They will receive the following services: Access to Swavalamban Divyangjan Assistive Technology Market Access (ATMA) Fund of upto INR 20 Lakhs as a grant. The startups will also have access to Social Alpha Team to provide in-depth hands-on support to establish product-market fit, and go-to-market planning. Access to Social Alpha Sector Specific Key Opinion Leaders, Experts, Users, and Problems statements. Support in developing preliminary business plan and Financial models including cashflow statements, investment template and a strategy building workshop. Knowledge Services: Access to KS Sessions Workshop, Bootcamp, Accelerator Programs, Access to Social Alpha’s Assistive Technologies Open Innovation Platform. The Fund can be accessed only by Startups that are incubated by Social Alpha. Follow-on Funding Opportunity of up to INR 1 CR from Social Alpha, subject to further due diligence, available to startups availing advance incubation services.