ABOUT US
Empowering Sustainable Change through Innovation and Action
For the past 40 years, Development Alternatives has been working towards making the world thrive through sustainability. They believe in empowering communities, fostering innovation, and advocating for positive changes, ensuring a secure and sustainable livelihood for us and future generations. Established in 1982, The Development Alternatives Group pioneered the concept of business-like approaches for eradicating poverty and conserving the natural resource base. Their green technology innovations for habitat, water, energy, and waste management systems deliver the basic needs and generate scalable development solutions that fuel livelihood opportunities, even in the most backward regions of India
Development Alternatives
Empowering Sustainable Change through Innovation and Action
For the past 40 years, Development Alternatives has been working towards making the world thrive through sustainability. They believe in empowering communities, fostering innovation, and advocating for positive changes, ensuring a secure and sustainable livelihood for us and future generations. Established in 1982, The Development Alternatives Group pioneered the concept of business-like approaches for eradicating poverty and conserving the natural resource base. Their green technology innovations for habitat, water, energy, and waste management systems deliver the basic needs and generate scalable development solutions that fuel livelihood opportunities, even in the most backward regions of India
IMEDF
Change through cooperation and collective actions Or Innovate, Collaborate, Influence
An extended arm of the DA group, IMEDF (Indian Micro Enterprise Development Foundation) functions as a social enterprise thriving towards attaining an ecosystem for green and inclusive entrepreneurship. With about 16000+ artisans and farmers within its family, IMEDF works towards cluster development, micro-enterprise development, and capacity building, in over 15 states. With a mission of Providing a range of high-quality assistance and services essential for building successful micro-enterprises in India, IMED has consistently surpassed its own initiatives over the years
Our Philosophy
Developed by Development Alternatives (DA) and managed by the Indian Micro Enterprise Development Foundation (IMEDF), UdyaME is a platform designed to help micro-entrepreneurs succeed in their businesses. It connects entrepreneurs, from beginners to experienced ones, with financial institutions, technology providers, training centres, NGOs, government agencies, CSR programs, and educational institutions. UdyaME also spreads important information through easy-to-access kiosks, reaching even remote areas to empower more people with knowledge and opportunities
Our Vision
UdyaME aims to promote, empower, and develop entrepreneurial micro-movement across diverse aspects. It bridges the information gaps, builds capacities, creates a network among entrepreneurs and service providers, and helps them connect with potential customers. udyaME, as a single window digital platform, is driven by the vision of empowering entrepreneurs and facilitating their journey toward entrepreneurial success.
Meet The Team
The Faces Behind the Support
Shrashtant Patara
Chief Executive Officer, Development Alternatives & IMEDF
Executive Vice President, Development Alternatives Group
Kanika Verma
Lead – Green and Inclusive Entrepreneurship
Associate Vice President, Development Alternatives Group
Sunny Kumar
Manager – Enterprise Support Services, IMEDF
Jyoti Tiwari
Manager Finance – Appraisals & Repayment Collection, IMEDF
Sameer Kapoor
Senior Advisor, Development Alternatives & IMEDF
Our Partners and Supporters