Dainik Jagran Launches Grant Fund For Nation-Building Startups, Committing Up To Rs 70 Million Under ‘Janhit Jagran’ Initiative

In a defining moment for India’s purpose-led startup ecosystem, Dainik Jagran’s flagship initiative Janhit Jagran hosted its grand Pitch Day on June 8, 2025, empowering entrepreneurs whose ideas resonate with the newspaper’s unwavering commitment to national progress.

The initiative attracted over 500 startups from across the country. After a rigorous multi-stage screening, 20 transformative ideas made it to the finals — 11 in the ‘For-Profit’ category and 9 in the ‘Young Entrepreneurs/Students’ category.

More than just a funding platform, Janhit Jagran is a mission-led ecosystem that supports ventures aligned with Dainik Jagran’s 7 Commandments:

• A Well-Educated Society
• Water Conservation
• Population Planning
• Poverty Eradication
• Women Empowerment
• Environmental Protection
• A Healthy Society

Funding With Purpose: Up To Rs 70 Million Announced

7 startups from the ‘For-Profit’ category were selected for funding through GetVantage, a revenue-based financing platform that partnered with Janhit Jagran for this initiative. The judging panel comprised:

• Rohit Anand, Chief Revenue Officer, GetVantage
• Suddipto Chakravorty
• Ankur Lal, Director – Business

For-Profit Winners Who Won More than Just Funding

Hitesh Enviro Engineers Pvt. Ltd.

Cofounders: Hitesh Mittal, Nishita Mittal, Indrawati Mittal
Industrial water recovery systems addressing India's growing water crisis.
(Commandment: Water Conservation)

Xen Agritech Pvt. Ltd.

Cofounders: Diptesh Mukherjee, Prantik Sinha
AI-driven smart farming for higher yield and lower resource wastage.
(Commandment: Poverty Eradication, Environmental Protection)

VertoX Labs Pvt. Ltd

Cofounders: Sheetal Priya Darshani, Salomi Nautiyal, Mrutyunjaya Sahu
Affordable diagnostics for rural India’s underserved.
(Commandment: A Healthy Society)

SenseOriginal Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Cofounders: Mohammed Saalim, Dr. Ashkara Sami, Dr. Harshit Goel
Wearables for the differently-abled to help them navigate life independently. (Commandment: A Healthy Society, Women Empowerment)

Green Hermitage

Cofounders: Gyatri Varun, Anubhav Pratap Rai
Sustainable travel that preserves nature and benefits communities.
(Commandment: Environmental Protection)

Good to Grab

Cofounders: Sai Pittla, Chef Shanker Krishnamurthy
Nutritious Indian meal kits to solve urban dietary gaps.
(Commandment: A Healthy Society)

AAPKA – SP Rural India Services Pvt. Ltd.

Cofounders: Prabal Pratap Singh, Shruti Thakur Singh
Delivering banking and insurance solutions to India’s hinterlands.
(Commandment: Poverty Eradication, Women Empowerment)

Each of these startups presented models that balanced innovation, scalability, and deep alignment with India’s pressing socio-environmental challenges.

5 Young Minds Incubated Under PW SOS Aarambh

Out of 9 finalists in the student category, 5 were selected for full incubation under PW SOS Aarambh, a platform committed to nurturing young innovators. The jury included:

• Soumen Banerjee, General Manager, PW SOS
• Rounoq Mustafa, Programming Head, PW SOS
• Giriraj Kirado, Consultant – Janhit Jagran

Five ideas by college and school students — ideas with depth, simplicity, and social clarity — were incubated under PW SOS Aarambh:

Impech Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Cofounders: Harsh Chauhan
AI-powered iCard device that translates sign language into speech and text for individuals with speech and hearing impairments.
(Commandment: A Healthy Society)

Luvera

Cofounders: Harsh Jhankra, Punit Kumar, Samarth Trivedi
Transforms agricultural waste (rice stubble) into vegan leather using mycelium technology, reducing pollution and supporting farmers.
(Commandment: Environmental Protection)

Prithvi Ratna Eco Pvt. Ltd.

Cofounders: Neela Sidhartha, Sirivaram Gururaj Charan, Gudimela Shruthi Laya
Developed a portable, low-cost grain dryer to reduce post-harvest losses for small farmers. (Commandment: Poverty Eradication)

Chandigarh University – Student

Name: Sanchary Nandy
Created a multilingual, AI-powered healthcare chatbot for rural India accessible via SMS, voice, and low-data platforms.
(Commandment: A Healthy Society)

Renma Innovations Pvt. Ltd.

Cofounders: Shraddha Chugh, Vishwas Chugh
Introduced PUREPUFF – detoxifying and refreshing candies for smokers and pollution-exposed populations.
(Commandment: A Healthy Society)

These ventures addressed themes such as inclusive education, public safety, urban farming, and elder care — with a focus on grassroots transformation.

Dainik Jagran Grant: Rs 1 Lakh Each to Two Visionary Ideas

In a special recognition category, Dainik Jagran awarded a grant of Rs 1 lakh each to two exceptional ventures:

• Impech Solutions Pvt. Ltd., founded by Harsh Chauhan
• Luvera, founded by Harsh Jhankra

This tie symbolized Jagran’s encouragement for ideas that show deep purpose, ingenuity, and a will to serve.

“Janhit Jagran is not just about investing in startups — it’s about investing in the future of India. These entrepreneurs are creating change where it matters most.”
— Basant Rathore, Senior Vice President – Strategy & Brand Development, Jagran Prakashan Ltd.

“We were inspired not just by business models, but by their heart. Each pitch was a promise to society. That’s the kind of India we’re proud to fund.”
— Rohit Anand, CRO, GetVantage

The entire pitch day was professionally shot and will soon be made available to the public — offering viewers a glimpse into India’s most promising changemakers and their journey from idea to impact.

Disclaimer: This article is written by the Brand Desk and is intended solely for informational purposes.