Listed among the fastest-growing startup hubs, India has unleashed itself to fly high! There are tens and thousands of startups sprouting from every corner of the country across diverse sectors, including media, healthcare, technology, business services, and financial technology.
It is also raining unicorns in the country, as 40+ startups have already made it to the unicorn club!
But all that glitters is not gold. The pandemic actually highlighted the enormous digital divide between rural and urban India. Fortunately, digitalization helped a lot in bridging this gap. Thanks to the startups and big tech companies that diligently worked hard and set foot in the neighbouring villages.
These businesses helped the dwellers understand why India is now the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. Alone in one year, these startups bagged a whopping $36 billion in funding.
As most people remained unemployed during the pandemic, it was Digital Bharat, a government-led initiative that enabled technology in the lives of rural people.
Mentioned below are four startups that supported individuals by providing jobs and a means of livelihood in rural India.
Meesho
Can you start a business with zero investment? Thanks to Meesho, a Bengaluru-based social trade forum that helps people manage their business from the comfort of their homes.
Meesho or ‘meri shop’ lets individuals merchandise from its medium and promote them on Instagram, Facebook, and Whatsapp. The startup is now home to more than 17 million entrepreneurs, the majority of whom are female.
Most individuals in the country have traveled from villages and towns to cities in search of a job or setting up a business. And in the year 2020, the employee migration landscape absolutely changed due to the pandemic. However, now with applications like Meesho, people who have access to the internet can easily initiate their work from anywhere.
Udaan
Udaan, a B2B e-commerce startup is now eyeing to tap an enormous $100 billion opportunity in the next few years!
The founders of Udaan hail from the small towns of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, growing up where they didn’t have the access to supermarkets. They had to travel to the nearby city to make large purchases.
The Bengaluru-based startup, Udaan, is particularly designed keeping in mind the small and mid-sized Indian organisations. It brings shops, wholesalers, investors, manufacturers onto one platform.
Udaan has enabled the traders to access the technology that will help them improve and enhance their business. The software allows the entrepreneurs to communicate with the manufacturers and discuss trade deals. When the firm partners with businesses they assist them with marketing, sales, and operations.
Thanks to Udaan, empowering the small organisations in the country by leveraging the strength and advantage of the internet.
GoCoop
GoCoop is a Bengaluru-based startup connecting artisans, weavers, and particular community-based businesses with buyers.
An online marketplace, GoCoop helps handicraft and handloom cooperatives market sustainable and handmade items online directly to the customers, which reduces the cost and boosts efficiency.
GoCoop’s mission is to support the livelihoods of the millions of artisans and weavers in the Indian community. The company won the first National Award for Handlooms Marketing.
Hesa
Bridging the rural-urban gap, Hesa connects Bharat with India both physically and digitally.
Hesa is a one-stop destination for every rural problem by leveraging the workforce with technology. It helps customers and businesses to buy, sell, deliver, promote, all in one forum. Right from education to employment and agriculture to healthcare, Hesa is a mixture of all.
Customers dwelling in rural areas can also access banks, pay utility bills, and use other financial services right from their homes.
In Conclusion
COVID-19 pandemic has made life extremely tough, especially the lives of the individuals in rural India, leaving a majority unemployed. Thanks to Digital Bharat, India has the third-largest startup ecosystem. And above-mentioned are a few top startups that are providing employment opportunities and supporting the people in rural India.
