The Northeast of India, with its rich cultural diversity, abundant natural resources, and vibrant communities, has long remained on the periphery of mainstream economic development. While the region holds tremendous potential, it often lacks the necessary infrastructure, exposure, and institutional support to convert local talent and ideas into thriving enterprises. At Unnati Foundation, we see this not as a limitation, but as an opportunity to build a new model of inclusive, grassroots-driven development.
As a social impact organization, our goal is to bridge the gap between potential and progress. We work with individuals, groups, and communities across Sikkim and the Northeast states to empower them in building sustainable, locally-rooted ventures. Our unique approach combines the flexibility of a sector-agnostic model with deep regional understanding, enabling us to provide practical, tailored solutions in some of the most underserved but promising parts of the country.
Sikkim, India’s first fully organic state, stands as a beacon of ecological consciousness and grassroots innovation. Nestled in the eastern Himalayas, this small yet progressive state is uniquely positioned to lead a new kind of development—one that values sustainability, community, and self-reliance.
At Unnati Foundation, we believe Sikkim represents a living lab for inclusive entrepreneurship. The people of Sikkim are deeply rooted in their culture, environmentally aware, and open to innovation. The state’s governance model is known for its emphasis on health, education, and environmental balance—but what remains under-leveraged is its entrepreneurial potential.
With high literacy, better-than-average infrastructure in many rural areas, and a rich variety of agri-based and tourism-linked opportunities, Sikkim has all the right ingredients for grassroots enterprise development. Yet, due to limited access to business mentorship, capital, and growth strategy support, many micro and small ventures here, plateau before they can scale.
This is where Unnati Foundation steps in. We are helping Sikkimese entrepreneurs—be it a young mushroom grower in Namchi, a dairy farmer in Pakyong, or a homestay owner in Taaza—transform their ideas into structured, resilient businesses that are locally rooted but market-oriented.
Sikkim is more than a focus area for us—it is a model of what’s possible when tradition meets innovation with the right support.
The Northeastern states, including Sikkim, are home to dynamic ecosystems of artisans, farmers, educators, healers, and innovators. The region offers:
Yet these strengths are often overshadowed by logistical isolation, poor access to markets, financial exclusion, and limited mentorship or planning support. Unnati Foundation was founded to address precisely these gaps.
We help aspiring entrepreneurs across the region build clear, practical, and locally-appropriate business plans—demystifying everything from budgeting to pricing to market targeting.
We provide sector-specific, need-based implementation support with an emphasis on sustainability and scalability.
From financial literacy and cooperative management to digital marketing and supply chain know-how, we help individuals conduct workshops and training sessions that help bridge knowledge gaps and build confidence.
We foster partnerships, connect entrepreneurs to mentors and funders, and advocate for enabling environments that support long-term growth and visibility.
Our Learnings
We’ve learned that in both Sikkim and the wider Northeast:
People here want to succeed on their own terms—they just need a reliable ally.
Unnati Foundation remains committed to unlocking the entrepreneurial power of Sikkim and the Northeast. With more customized programs, deeper on-ground presence, and collaborative efforts, we aim to support 100+ new ventures in the next three years.
We invite changemakers, donors, ecosystem enablers, and partners to join us. Together, we can redefine what rural and regional entrepreneurship looks like—starting from the hills of Sikkim to the heart of the Northeast.
At Unnati, we don’t just help start businesses—we help build resilient futures, deeply rooted in local soil and spirit.
© 2024 Unnati Foundation
