Udhyam Vyapaar initiatives empower over 600 nano-entrepreneurs in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Bengaluru-based Udhyam Learning Foundation has supported more than 600 nano-entrepreneurs through its Udhyam Vyapaar initiatives, helping small business owners improve incomes, expand customer reach and build sustainable livelihoods.

One such beneficiary is Jeeva, a street food vendor in Bengaluru who gradually grew her business by experimenting with products and responding to customer demand. Starting with a modest idli stall under a canopy, she used small-scale trials to identify profitable offerings and improve sales.

According to the organisation, Jeeva's daily earnings have increased significantly over time, demonstrating the impact of targeted support for nano-entrepreneurs.

Jeeva is part of Udhyam Vyapaar’s Food Project, which provides street food vendors with access to “idea trial funds” – small grants designed to help entrepreneurs test new business ideas without taking on substantial financial risk. The programme also offers mentoring on pricing strategies, customer retention and market demand.

Since its launch last year, the Food Project has worked with more than 500 street food vendors in Bengaluru and has reported a 27 per cent increase in customer footfall and a 23 per cent rise in revenues among participants.

Krishnan Ranganathan, Co-founder and Director of Udhyam Vyapaar, said the organisation focuses on understanding the specific challenges faced by each entrepreneur before designing support interventions.

Apart from the Food Project, Udhyam Vyapaar is also involved in the Saamuhika Shakti initiative, funded by the H&M Foundation, which supports women from waste-picker communities in Bengaluru through enterprise development programmes. The organisation reports that over 100 participants have transitioned to more stable income sources during the past 18 months.

Another flagship initiative, the Istri Project, promotes the adoption of LPG-powered irons among ironing vendors. An independent study by Azim Premji University found that vendors who switched from coal-based irons recorded a 28 per cent increase in monthly net returns while reducing fuel costs.

Founded in 2017, Udhyam Vyapaar operates across more than eight states and aims to support over 62,000 nano-entrepreneurs across India by 2029.