Five social innovators shortlisted for SEOY India Award 2026

MUMBAI: India’s next big changemaker could emerge from a clinic, a farm, a classroom or even a job portal. The Jubilant Bhartia Foundation and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship have unveiled the five finalists for the 17th Social Entrepreneur of the Year (SEOY) India Award 2026, recognising leaders tackling some of the country’s most pressing social challenges through innovation.

Chosen from 208 applications, nearly 70 per cent of which came from first-time applicants, the finalists were selected through a multi-stage evaluation that assessed social impact, innovation, scalability, sustainability and potential for systemic change.

This year’s shortlist reflects the growing breadth of India’s social innovation ecosystem, with finalists working across healthcare, climate technology, agriculture, livelihoods and disability inclusion. The cohort also represents a mix of for-profit and non-profit organisations from different parts of the country.

The five finalists are:

• Neha Verma of Intelehealth, recognised for using AI-enabled open-source telemedicine to improve access to healthcare in underserved communities.
• Nidhi Pant of Science For Society Techno Services Pvt. Ltd., whose solar-powered food processing solutions help women farmers increase incomes through rural entrepreneurship.
• Nuneseno Chase of YouthNet, recognised for promoting youth-led development through education, entrepreneurship and environmental initiatives in Nagaland.
• Vinay Kumar Reddy Vadde of Sickle Innovations Pvt. Ltd., who develops agricultural technologies aimed at improving productivity, reducing post-harvest losses and increasing farmers’ incomes.
• Vineet Saraiwala of Atypical Advantage, whose platform creates employment and skilling opportunities for people with disabilities.

The finalists will present their work before an independent jury, with the winner set to be announced at a ceremony in New Delhi on August 21. The winner will join the Schwab Foundation’s global network of social innovators, while all finalists will be eligible to apply for the Hindustan Times Fellowship for the Stanford Seed Transformation Program.

“Over the past 17 editions, the Social Entrepreneur of the Year India Award has evolved into a platform that not only recognises exceptional social entrepreneurs but also amplifies innovative solutions that create meaningful and lasting impact,” said Jubilant Bhartia Foundation head, Vivek Prakash. He said this year’s finalists demonstrate how purpose-driven leadership can build scalable solutions to complex social challenges.

Highlighting the broader significance of the award, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship director, Francois Bonnici, said social entrepreneurs are playing a vital role in India’s journey towards inclusive and sustainable growth by combining innovation with a deep understanding of local challenges.

Now in its 17th year, the SEOY India Award has become one of the country’s most prominent platforms for recognising social entrepreneurship, celebrating leaders whose work is creating lasting impact while shaping more inclusive and sustainable communities.