Action For India or ‘AFI’ is a start-up social enterprise inspired by and formed with the support of Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Prime Minister of India and Chairman of India’s National Innovation Council. Their mission is to help social organizations scale their impact by leveraging Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
Action For India recruits AFI Fellows, young social entrepreneurs who lead organizations that are able and willing to scale by leveraging ICT. They will provide:
Skills/Knowledge: Training and exposure to technology experts and social entrepreneurs
Networks: AFI Mentors providing advice on selecting and implementing technology solutions, and an enabling ecosystem of youth networks, universities and volunteers available to help implement scale up strategy
Partnerships: AFI Partners consisting of technology companies and networks that can offer free and/or subsidized technology products and services
What They Do
Social Innovation Hubs
AFI is committed to building a strong, robust ecosystem that helps social entrepreneurs across India address their challenges. Their flagship program, the Vision 2020 Hub project aims to establish a nation-wide network of 20 hubs of social innovation, by the year 2020. Inspired by the Deshpande Foundation’s Sandbox Initiative, the Hubs offer mentorship, technical assistance, investment advisory and partnership support to the promising, ready-to-scale social businesses.
Each Hub is anchored by a Hub Champion, who are well-established individuals, foundations, corporate entities, with a passion to create an enabling environment for enterprise growth in their region. The Network caters to both for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations working on a wide range of social challenges including water and sanitation, health care, access to clean energy, livelihood security and job creation.
Annual Forum
Held every year since 2012, the Annual Action For India Forum brings together leaders in ICT, banking, donors, government, and business to connect with leading social innovators. At the Annual Forum, social innovators have the opportunity to build on their knowledge and skills as well as gain from conversations, discussions and networking opportunities with industry leaders.
The by-invitation event provides social enterprises with exposure to:
ideas and information shared by panelists cutting across various sectors and expertise.
financial, government, human and intellectual resources.
mentors to help provide long-term support to help them achieve scale.
partners such as technology product and services companies that can offer operational support.
Silicon Valley Challenge
Held for the first time in 2014, the Silicon Valley Challenge is a nationwide competition that selects top social entrepreneurs across India for an all-expense paid 10 day trip to Silicon Valley, California.
In Silicon Valley, Action For India provides participants with an immersive, experiential learning experience, by providing them with the opportunity to meet with leaders in technology companies, interact with business incubators, get face time with investors, and share their experiences with other like-minded start up businesses.
