Key Highlights
- Joint accelerator pipeline for Indian social enterprises
- Cross-referral network to unlock impact investment
- Co-created programs for investment readiness & storytelling
- Focused support for climate resilience and women-led ventures
- Ecosystem-building across underserved and high-potential regions
- Aligned with 15 UN Sustainable Development Goals
Santa Clara and Mumbai, Aug 28, 2025 – Aavishkaar Foundation, a part of the Aavishkaar Group, with its vision around building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, announced a strategic partnership for developing deeper connections across the social entrepreneurship ecosystem with Miller Center for Global Impact at Santa Clara University, a pioneering hub that accelerates social entrepreneurship to end global poverty and protect the planet, blending Silicon Valley innovation with the University’s commitment to social justice.
Comprehensive Partnership Framework
The collaboration between Miller Center and Aavishkaar Foundation is rooted in a shared commitment to strengthen the social enterprise ecosystem through joint initiatives and referrals, combining Aavishkaar’s on-ground expertise in building entrepreneurial ecosystems with Miller Center’s world-renowned accelerator and capacity-building programs for social enterprises.
Under this strategic partnership, the organizations will pursue multiple collaborative avenues:
Pipeline Development & Accelerator Integration: Aavishkaar will create a robust pipeline of promising Indian social enterprises for Miller Center’s acclaimed accelerator program, which has supported over 1,500 social entrepreneurs across 100+ countries. This will provide Indian startups access to Silicon Valley expertise while ensuring Miller Center’s programs benefit from local market insights.
Joint Ecosystem Building: The partnership will explore co-created ecosystem-building activities, including the potential development of India-specific accelerators, joint fundraising initiatives, cross-promotional events, and value-added programs focused on investment readiness, impact measurement, and impact storytelling.
Cross-Referral Network: Both organizations will enable cross-referrals of accelerator alumni for investment consideration by Aavishkaar, leveraging the Group’s $1.45+ billion in managed assets and extensive network across Asia and Africa.
Capacity Building & Mentorship: Joint efforts will focus on identifying, mentoring, and supporting startups and impact entrepreneurs, particularly in underserved and high-potential regions, with emphasis on climate resilience and women’s economic empowerment—key focus areas for Miller Center.
Strategic Impact and Scale
The partnership aims to catalyze scalable, investment-ready, and mission-driven ventures while promoting global knowledge exchange. This collaboration leverages complementary strengths in capital, networks, mentorship, and SDG-driven innovation to strengthen the social entrepreneurship landscape in India and beyond.
All joint activities will be designed with ecosystem-building at their core, addressing critical development challenges while creating sustainable business models. The initiative aligns with both organizations’ commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with Aavishkaar Group actively contributing to 15 out of 17 SDGs.
Speaking about the partnership, Vineet Rai, Founder, Aavishkaar Group said, “At Aavishkaar, we believe in building bridges between bold ideas and deep impact. Our collaboration with Miller Center reflects a shared commitment to nurturing social enterprises that can transform underserved communities. By combining global expertise with local insight, we aim to catalyze scalable solutions that are both investment-ready and mission-driven.”
Jeff Pilisuk, Director of Partnerships at Miller Center for Global Impact, said, “When catalytic capital meets deep capacity-building, social entrepreneurs gain the power to transform entire communities. This partnership between Aavishkaar and Miller Center will spark the growth of bold ideas and sustainable ventures that can redefine impact across India and beyond.”
Long-term Vision and Global Impact
Through the cross-pollination of startups from the impact community and innovation programs, Aavishkaar Group through the Aavishkaar Foundation and Miller Center for Global Impact will aim to strengthen, scale and support startups through innovation, insights and impact.
The partnership represents a significant boost for India’s and the global impact entrepreneurship ecosystem, promising deeper collaboration, larger networks, and stronger support for startups tackling critical social challenges. With Aavishkaar’s track record of supporting 144 million underserved customers and facilitating $5.1+ billion in disbursements, combined with Miller Center’s nearly 30-year legacy of accelerating social enterprises impacting hundreds of millions of lives, this alliance is positioned to create transformative change at scale.
The collaboration will further explore opportunities to build long-term strategic relationships to activate the overall impact entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem across emerging markets, setting new standards for partnership-driven development in the social enterprise sector.
About Aavishkaar Group:
Aavishkaar Group is a global pioneer in taking an entrepreneurship-based approach towards development. The Group’s platforms are focused on developing the impact ecosystem in the continents of Asia and Africa and manages assets in excess of USD 1.45 Billion across Equity and Credit. With 9,800+ employees present across India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Kenya, the Group has so far disbursed capital in excess of USD 5.1 Billion and supported 144 Million underserved customers.
The Group’s ecosystems include Aavishkaar Capital – Impact fund manager focused on Global South, Arohan – One of India’s largest & most digitally advanced microfinance institution (MFI) targeting low income households, Ashv Finance – Phygital NBFC, offering unique cash flow based business loans to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Aavishkaar Foundation – A Section 8 Company, to solve the ‘Need for ‘Grant-based intervention’ to a level where ‘risk capital’ can play a meaningful role to create impact, Aavishkaar Carbon – A Carbon asset development, management, trading and technology platform and Intellecap – Global Impact advisory firm providing Consulting, Investment banking and Inclusive networking platform.
Over the last two decades, the Group has taken an entrepreneurship approach towards development. By leveraging capital, knowledge and networks, the Group provides a strong differentiated capability as an Impact platform, with each business rooted in strong fundamental and common principles of access, inclusion and sustainability. The Group actively contributes to 15 out of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For more go to www.aavishkaargroup.com
About Miller Center for Global Impact:
For nearly 30 years, Miller Center for Global Impact has been a leader in the global social enterprise movement. With an emphasis on climate resilience and women’s economic power, we accelerate social entrepreneurship to end poverty and protect the planet, guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Located at Santa Clara University, we fuse the entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley with the university’s heritage of social justice, community engagement, and global impact. Miller Center has served 1,500 social entrepreneurs based in over 100 countries that are impacting hundreds of millions of lives through our acclaimed accelerator programs and capacity-building initiatives. For more, go to www.millercenterglobal.org