Every year, Acumen’s Fellowship in India brings together a diverse group of exceptional social innovators committed to building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable country.

From advancing women-led entrepreneurship and climate-smart agriculture to reimagining healthcare, education, and governance, our 2025 Spring Fellows embody moral imagination: the humility to see the world as it is, and the audacity to imagine it as it could be.

Over the course of the Fellowship, the cohort came together to learn with and from one another through a series of immersive seminars and workshops — reflecting on their values, deepening their systems thinking, and strengthening their leadership for long-term social change.

Join us in celebrating the Spring 2025 Acumen Fellows in India as they continue their lifelong journey as innovators driving change.

Aditya is the Co-founder and COO of Farmers for Forests, a hybrid social enterprise addressing climate change and rural poverty through large-scale agroforestry. A project management professional turned social innovator, he has supported more than 5,000 smallholder farmers in adopting climate-resilient practices and unlocking income through carbon financing. Aditya envisions transitioning 2.5 million farmers to agroforestry by 2030, advancing climate action from the ground up.

Amita is the Founder and Director of reCharkha – The EcoSocial Tribe and My EcoSocial Planet Foundation. Her ventures upcycle non-biodegradable plastic waste into handcrafted fabrics using traditional charkhas, handlooms, and origami basketry, creating sustainable livelihoods for rural women and artisans. Through reCharkha, Amita combines circular economy principles with craft-based innovation to build eco-conscious communities and promote mindful consumption.

Anant is the Founder of Vikalp, a mission-driven enterprise reimagining agriculture through climate-smart innovation. A graduate of Delhi College of Engineering, he designs frugal, zero-chemical farm tools (such as India’s first battery-operated weeder and solar thresher) used by more than 10,000 smallholder farmers. His innovations have doubled farmer incomes and reduced carbon emissions by over 500 metric tons. Guided by Gandhian ideals, Anant envisions a future where farmers are debt-free, food is poison-free, and the Earth is pollution-free.

Arup is the Co-founder of AVA Creations Social Impact Foundation, which empowers forest-dependent communities in Assam through handloom and sericulture. Previously with RGVN, he led projects to improve the livelihoods of forest households. Arup is deeply committed to promoting sustainable livelihoods and preserving traditional crafts to strengthen community well-being.

Ashok is the Co-founder of Samaaveshi Pathshaala, a nonprofit building inclusive classrooms in the tribal region of Karjat, Maharashtra. A journalist turned development practitioner, he has more than 15 years of experience in communication and social change. After the 2015 Nepal earthquake, Ashok and his wife, Nivedita, relocated to Karjat to create learning spaces where children with and without disabilities study together, guided by universal design principles. 

Biren is the Founder of Manikstu Agro, a social enterprise transforming goat farming into a women-led entrepreneurship movement across rural India. Rooted in Kalahandi, Odisha, he has developed innovative models such as the Goat Bank and Ayurvedic veterinary solutions that empower farmers and promote sustainable livelihoods. A writer and storyteller, Biren documents the resilience of rural India in his book Kalahandi Diary. He believes empathy, enterprise, and innovation are powerful tools to drive social change.

Kshitiz is the Founder of the Happy Horizons Group, a diversified group driving social impact and livelihood opportunities across Bihar through initiatives in education and healthcare. He founded the Happy Horizons Trust, which has reached more than 50,000 students and empowered adolescent girls to advance academically, personally, and professionally.He also established  The Happy Kids,  a high-quality early childhood learning center,  and Happy Horizons Healthcare, which provides better rural healthcare services.

Madhuri is an educator and policy practitioner passionate about system reform and equitable access. As Director (East Zone) at Indus Action, she leads efforts to implement research-driven policies that improve the quality of life for vulnerable citizens. A graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, she brings experience in teaching, consulting, and inclusion work, and believes in the power of art to spark dialogue and social change.

Namrata is theCo-founder and Director for Anahat for Change Foundation, a feminist organization working to advance menstrual health and hygiene rights for menstruators across India. Using storytelling as a medium, she created an innovative comic series that demystifies menstruation myths and raises awareness on sexual and reproductive health rights for all genders. A gender and sexuality trainer, Namrata also has deep knowledge and expertise in research methodologies and consults on projects for nonprofits.

Niraj is a social entrepreneur transforming textile waste into sustainable livelihoods for women through his ventures MotherQuilts and Ghongadi.com. MotherQuilts upcycles old textiles into hand-stitched quilts, while Ghongadi.com revives traditional Deccan wool blankets as therapeutic textiles —supporting artisan families and preserving indigenous craft. With sustainability at the core of his work, Niraj envisions social entrepreneurship as a path to systemic change:creating dignified livelihoods, fostering environmental responsibility, and strengthening communities.

Pooja is a computer science engineer turned social sector leader, passionate about advancing equity and opportunity for marginalized genders. Before joining Reap Benefit, she spent six years with Teach For India, strengthening alumni impact in Mumbai. At Reap Benefit, she leads operations and youth-led initiatives that foster agency and civic participation. Pooja’s journey is grounded in her belief that India’s youth can drive systemic social change.

Shivani is the Co-founder of Inochi Care, a health-tech enterprise improving healing outcomes and quality of life for people with chronic and non-healing wounds. Her work bridges technology and healthcare to make advanced wound care accessible and affordable across India.

Suhani is an applied microeconomist and entrepreneur focused on labor markets, health access, and AI adoption in emerging economies. A Hoover Fellow at Stanford University, she leads research on workforce participation and productivity-enhancing technologies. She is also the Founder of the Myna Mahila Foundation, which reaches 1.5 million women across India, and co-leads the Future of Work for Women Initiative. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Queen’s Young Leader, Suhani is committed to building an equitable digital economy for women.

Swapneel is an IAS officer currently serving as the District Magistrate of Tinsukia, Assam. A passionate public servant, he has led award-winning initiatives in digital governance, climate resilience, and community rehabilitation. His leadership has been recognized with the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2024) and the Indian Express Excellence in Governance Award (2025). Swapneel also played a key role in designing Assam’s Orunodoi scheme, the state’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer program benefitting more than three million households each month.

Tabish is the Co-founder of Project Second Chance, an initiative reimagining prison reform in India through education, legal aid, and rehabilitation. His work focuses on equipping incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals with the tools to rebuild their lives with dignity. Tabish has also worked with historically marginalized communities in Kashmir and Central India, fostering youth leadership and social inclusion.