is delta

small shifts, big change

Change doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.
Small, well supported shifts create a delta - nudging system forward, unlocking transformative potential.

India is at a critical juncture. While the economy grows, vast sections of the population are still locked out of meaningful work and income security. We need innovative, grassroots solutions that are both scalable and sustainable to solve deep-rooted social and economic inequalities.

Social entrepreneurs, who blend purpose with enterprise, are uniquely positioned to build these impact-driven models. 

At the^delta, we aim to equip social entrepreneurs with the tools, resources and momentum they need to enable resilient livelihoods and inclusive growth through:

Incubating bold social impact ideas

Accelerating what works and can scale

Incentivising breakthrough solutions

different barriers. one powerful solution:
sustainable livelihoods.

Inclusive livelihood resilience requires enhancing employability, entrepreneurship, skills, and access to capital.

They feed a billion. Yet they can't feed their future.
46% of India’s workforce is in agriculture. Yet, Most earn <40% of a basic sustainable income. Climate shocks, market gaps, and poor returns plague the sector
Geography and identity still shape opportunity
Entire communities - PVTGs, transgender persons, persons with disabilities, informal migrants - remain disconnected from the formal economy and support systems.
She works. Just not where it counts or pays
Less than one-fourth of Indian women participate in the workforce, with over 90% in informal, unpaid, or vulnerable roles.
Young. Skilled? Stuck.
India adds 1 million youth to the workforce every month. But without the right pathways to skills and opportunity, the demographic dividend is quietly slipping away.

Incentive competitions for breakthrough solutions

Innovation can come from anywhere and the^delta prize is where it takes flight. We run open prize challenges to attract creative, market-driven solutions to India’s toughest livelihood challenges. By inviting entrepreneurs, technologists, and problem-solvers, particularly from the for-profit sector, we spark fresh thinking and diverse approaches.

At the heart of each challenge are deep research-backed problem statements and thriving ecosystems designed to drive adoption and scale. With results-based financing and a sharp focus on measurable impact, the^delta prize steers markets to innovate where it’s needed the most, unlocking breakthrough solutions for a better tomorrow.

reports

everests of waste

India’s waste mountains are rising faster than we can respond. This report uncovers the hidden economy, urgent risks, and breakthrough innovations that could rewrite our circular future.

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one crisis away

300 million Indians remain a single climate shock from slipping into poverty. This study exposes the system-wide fragilities and the market solutions that could redefine India’s food security.
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Early-stage support for game-changing ideas

Innovation needs nurturing, and the^delta incubator is where bold ideas find the momentum to grow. We partner with early-stage non-profits and social enterprises, bringing creative, mission-driven ideas to India’s most urgent livelihood challenges. By supporting founders with seed grants, hands-on mentoring, and market-linked guidance, we fuel early innovation and fresh approaches.

At the core of the incubator is deep research on problem statements and a strong ecosystem designed to strengthen and validate early-stage models. With structured cohort learning, expert support, and a clear focus on viability and proof of concept, the^delta incubator helps founders build the foundation needed to scale, turning promising ideas into high-impact solutions for a stronger tomorrow.

the delta accelerator

Growth pathways for scaling models

Proven models need a catalytic push to reach their full potential, and the^delta accelerator is where that leap happens. We work with high-potential non-profits and social enterprises that have demonstrated early traction and are ready to expand their impact across India’s complex livelihood landscape. By offering growth capital, strategic mentorship, and access to powerful market and funding networks, we unlock new pathways for scale. Every accelerator journey is anchored in rigorous problem insights, organisational strengthening, and ecosystems designed for rapid adoption. With a sharp focus on capacity building, capital mobilisation, and measurable impact, the^delta accelerator propels validated models into market-ready, scalable solutions — enabling transformative impact at speed and scale.

reports

Mission Meets Market Report

mission meets market

Mission Meets Market maps India’s social enterprise landscape, analysing for-profit livelihood models, their scale, profitability, and impact, and how aligned governments, funders, incubators, and investors are in enabling inclusive growth.

Pragati-AI for Impact

Supporting nonprofits to harness AI for impactful change

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Technology Collaborator

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the^delta is an initiative of AIC NCore Developmental Impact Foundation