Deadline Date: January 12, 2026
The Upaya Social Ventures is now seeking applications for its ClimaFii Alliance Program to address critical challenges faced by micro-entrepreneurs in accessing affordable and appropriate clean energy solutions in India.
The focus areas of the programme are Food, Agriculture & Allied, Waste Management & Circularity, Mobility & Logistics, Bioenergy, and Textiles & Handicrafts. India’s rural economy, driven largely by MSMEs, continues to face constraints due to limited access to scalable renewable energy solutions, resulting in dependence on inefficient and high-cost energy sources that restrict productivity and income growth. With the Distributed Renewable Energy sector positioned for expansion, the programme presents an opportunity to transform rural enterprise operations while supporting climate adaptation and livelihood protection. The ClimaFii Alliance is designed to catalyze this shift by selecting a cohort of SMEs and startups developing or deploying clean energy, productive-use DRE technologies, and emission-reducing innovations. The programme supports businesses operating across manufacturing, distribution, aggregation, importing, wholesale, and retail models to drive sustainable growth and resilience.
In the Food, Agriculture, and Allied sector, the programme supports solutions that use solar or DRE-powered equipment across the agricultural value chain, including irrigation, farm mechanisation, food processing, aquaculture, cooling units, and cold storage, enabling increased productivity and reduced post-harvest losses. In Waste Management and Circularity, the focus is on circular economy models involving collection, recycling, and DRE-powered waste-to-value applications such as composting, biogas, biochar, and upcycling. In Bioenergy, the programme supports solutions that convert agricultural and organic waste into clean energy sources that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and strengthen rural participation in clean energy value chains.
All participating businesses receive USD 70,000 in funding through an innovative, business-friendly, no-interest loan. Selected businesses receive technical support, expert advisory, and impact measurement guidance to strengthen operations and amplify outcomes. The programme also provides investment readiness support, access to expert networks, and tailored assistance to refine go-to-market strategies and unlock new market opportunities through partnerships and linkages.
Market expansion is supported through on-ground partnerships that help businesses reach a broader network of micro-entrepreneurs, while financing support addresses critical funding gaps during the scaling phase. The programme seeks businesses innovating across Food, Agriculture & Allied, Waste Management & Circularity, or Textiles sectors, with preference given to enterprises with women founders, women jobholders, or solutions that positively impact women micro-entrepreneurs.
For more information, visit Upaya Social Ventures.
