At the state level, West Bengal, even though improving in terms of new startups emerging out of the state, lacks green businesses compared to other progressive states and hence, needs to take up the challenge of going green to achieve a sustainable economy. The state government is facilitating the customers with a financial subsidy of 30% on the cost of installation of the solar panels. Simultaneously, India’s energy demand is projected to increase by 50% between 2019 and 2030. Simultaneously the Govt of WB EV Policy 2021 has targeted 10 lakh EVs and 1 lakh public and semi-public charging stations in five years. Avendus Capital reported that the circular economy of recycling waste is a 20 billion dollar economy in India. The sustainable fashion market will increase in India by 9.81 billion dollars by 2025. Energy, mobility, recycling, foods and fashion are some of the areas where green entrepreneurs can actively participate with their assets. These sustainable models will make a positive impact on society and the environment by reducing carbon emissions, promoting circular economy and creating better sustainable livelihoods.

To address this, SwitchON Foundation came up with a first-of-its-kind forum to collectivize, understand challenges, and provide solutions mapped with identified challenges of the different value chain entrepreneurs. This forum is called ‘The West Bengal Green Entrepreneurs Forum.’ The forum will create a space for showcasing best practices and facilitating discussions and actions wherever needed.

Mr. Vinay Jaju, Managing Director of SwitchON Foundation explains, “The challenges of climate change, air pollution, waste and electric mobility also have solutions and technologies in businesses that can be created. There is a need to scale up the current green enterprise in the state for the state to grow.”

The initiative is aligned with the government’s mission of net-zero emissions by 2070 and the state’s vision of supporting startups based on innovation, technology and design. The programme aims to bring together entrepreneurs from some of the key value chains of renewable energy (special focus on solar energy), electric mobility, circular economy and recycling, sustainable foods and sustainable fashion of West Bengal working as manufacturers, service providers, recyclers, etc. The launch was attended by nearly 40 existing startups of the state, working on an array of initiatives, starting from solar panel manufacturing and installation, to manufacturing of electric boats, from making upcycled clothes from old fabric to production of millet based food items, to name a few.

The West Bengal Green Entrepreneurs Forum aims to identify the early stage, mid-level and seasoned green entrepreneurs and startups of West Bengal to create an enabling ecosystem. The forum would focus on bringing in relevant ecosystem partners to provide specified services and support to the participating enterprises and startups. The entrepreneurs would be engaged through various ways like taking up activities to enhance the visibility of the participating entrepreneurs such as awards and recognitions, and case studies. Platforms like symposiums and expos will be created to provide opportunities to showcase business models and share best practices. Apart from this, based on the needs, a list of training will be developed to build the capacity of the entrepreneurs. Platforms will be created to provide elevator pitch and get access to funds, market linkages, incubation, expert knowledge, etc. The forum will bring in a few key significant players in each of the value chains and encourage best practices sharing sessions with them for enhanced learning experience for the participating entrepreneurs.

Green Bengal Innovation Network (GBIN) is an initiative of SwitchON Foundation and Network for Global Innovation, California to promote, support and scale green entrepreneurs, startups and businesses of West Bengal. Supported by the Department of Power, Government of West Bengal, GBIN aims to inculcate an entrepreneurial culture in the state, with special emphasis on sustainability and green space. The West Bengal Green Entrepreneurs Forum is one of the projects under GBIN to increase the entrepreneurial culture towards a green economy in the state.