What Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation does

The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation is a UK-registered charitable foundation, established in March 2021 by London philanthropist Tej Kohli and Kathmandu ophthalmologist Dr. Sanduk Ruit, with the mission of curing preventable cataract blindness in developing countries as a means of reducing extreme poverty. The foundation operates as a restricted fund under Prism The Gift Fund (UK charity 1099682) and is 100% funded by Tej Kohli and the Kohli family; all surgical treatments are provided free of charge to patients.

The foundation's core product is the microsurgical outreach camp: mobile surgical units that travel to remote villages, set up biometric rooms, operating theatres, and post-operative wards, and deliver Dr. Ruit's proprietary seven-minute stitch-free cataract surgery technique at a fully-loaded cost of approximately $50 per patient. A state-of-the-art intraocular lens manufacturing facility in Kathmandu produces roughly 500,000 lenses per year at $4 per lens (compared to a market price of ~$200), serving the foundation's own camps and distributing to around 70 countries. As of latest reporting, 48,532 people have been cured of cataract blindness and 320,000 screened across 108 outreach camps, supported by a network of 15 partner hospitals across Nepal and active country operations in Nepal, Bhutan, Ghana, and Ethiopia.

The foundation generates no revenue; its operations are funded entirely by the Kohli family. Customer segments are exclusively impoverished individuals in developing countries, with a program emphasis on women, marginalized indigenous communities (e.g., Chepang), and children. The stated 2030 strategic targets are 300,000-500,000 cumulative cures and 1,000,000 screenings, in alignment with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness' #2030InSight mission and UN Sustainable Development Goal #1.

Name

Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation

Legal name

Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation

Website

https://tejkohliruit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation is a UK-registered non-profit, founded in March 2021 by Tej Kohli and Dr. Sanduk Ruit, that provides free cataract surgery to impoverished individuals in developing countries through mobile microsurgical outreach camps in Nepal, Bhutan, Ghana, and Ethiopia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmic Healthcare Services

NAICS

Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Offices of Optometrists (62132)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Cataract surgery services
• Ophthalmic healthcare
• Intraocular lens manufacturing
• Charitable eye care
• Outreach surgical camps

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Healthcare Services: The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation is a charitable NGO that provides free cataract surgeries to impoverished communities. All treatments are provided completely free of charge. The foundation is 100% funded by Tej Kohli and the Kohli family.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation is a non-profit that provides free cataract surgery to impoverished communities in developing countries through mobile microsurgical outreach camps. It operates an in-house intraocular lens manufacturing facility in Kathmandu producing low-cost lenses, and runs screening, surgical, post-operative care, pediatric cataract, and ophthalmic training programs in Nepal, Bhutan, Ghana, and Ethiopia. All services are delivered at no cost to patients and 100% funded by Tej Kohli and the Kohli family.

Product overview

The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that operates as a single unified humanitarian program focused on eliminating cataract blindness in developing countries. The core offering consists of microsurgical outreach camps that deliver affordable cataract surgery (approximately $50 per procedure, taking seven minutes) directly to underserved communities. The organization operates in coordination with 15 partner hospitals across Nepal and has established an intraocular lens manufacturing facility in Kathmandu. Additional programs include ophthalmic student training and a childhood cataract blindness reversal initiative. The foundation does not offer technology products, APIs, or software platforms—its services are entirely medical intervention and education programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Microsurgical Outreach Camps Mobile surgical camps that travel to remote villages and underserved areas in developing countries to provide free cataract surgery using Dr. Sanduk Ruit's low-cost, seven-minute stitch-free technique. Camps include biometric rooms, operating theatres, and post-op wards set up in schools or community buildings.
• Cataract Screening Services Eye screening camps that identify individuals suffering from cataract blindness in remote communities and refer them for surgical intervention. Teams travel to remote villages to assess patients and invite those in need to outreach camps.
• Affordable Intraocular Lens Manufacturing A state-of-the-art intraocular lens manufacturing facility in Kathmandu producing approximately 500,000 lenses per year, sold at around $4 per lens versus a market price of roughly $200, serving around 70 countries worldwide.
• Childhood Cataract Program Initiative committed to reversing at least 1,000 children of cataract blindness by 2026 in Nepal, with plans to expand to other developing countries. Addresses pediatric cataract blindness through specialized treatment and family awareness counseling.
• Ophthalmic Training Program Training programs for ophthalmic students and assistants at partner hospitals, providing field experience during screening camps. Partner institutions such as Fatehbal Eye Hospital train 40 Ophthalmic Assistants annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• 48,532 people cured of cataract blindness
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Tilganga Institute of OphthalmologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2021Located in Kathmandu, Nepal. Dr. Ruit was instrumental in establishing this center in 1994 as part of the Nepal Eye Program Australia. It serves as the primary base for surgical teams and lens manufacturing.
• Ramlal Golchha Eye HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Biratnagar, Nepal. One of the 15 partner hospitals providing ophthalmologists and facilities for outreach camps.
• Fatehbal Eye HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Nepalgunj. Has screened 35,475 people across Banke and Bardiya Districts and cured 4,299 people of cataract blindness. Also trains 40 Ophthalmic Assistants annually.
• Geta Eye HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Dhangadhi. Collaborated with the foundation on Bajhang camps and the 30,000th patient milestone camp.
• Surkhet Eye HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Surkhet, Nepal. Provides human resources and facilities for outreach camps in the region.
• Shree Janaki Eye HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Janakpur, Nepal. Partner hospital in the network providing eye care services.
• Lumbini Eye InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Lumbini, Nepal. Part of the partner hospital network.
• Chhanda (Kalebabu) Narayani Eye HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Bahadurgunj, Nepal. Partner hospital in the network.
• Bhutanese Ministry of HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2022, partnered to cure a combined total of 10,000 cases of cataract blindness by 2026. Pledged to complete 1,000 surgeries per year for five years.
• Fred Hollows FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal partner supporting the reversal of untreated blindness in Nepal. Dr. Ruit co-founded the Nepal Eye Program Australia which joined the Fred Hollows Foundation in 1992.
• Himalayan Cataract ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Dr. Sanduk Ruit. Works to cure preventable blindness through high-quality ophthalmic care in underserved regions.
• Birgunj Community Eye CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with foundation for screening camps in Parsa District on August 7-8, 2023.
• Hetauda Community Eye HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation where Sun Maya Praja received surgery. Part of the partner hospital network for microsurgical camps.
• Sahana BajracharyaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFormer Miss Nepal Earth 2010 and media personality. Documented visits and amplified awareness about foundation's work.
• Sir Ranulph FiennesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld's greatest explorer serves as Patron of the foundation. Brings expertise in reaching inaccessible communities and supporting the foundation's mission.
• International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation aligns with IAPB's #2030InSight mission. Participates in World Sight Day campaigns and pledges screenings towards IAPB's goal of 5 million pledged eye tests.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Seva Foundation: US-based non-profit that supports eye care programs in low- and middle-income countries, including Nepal, with a focus on building sustainable local capacity. Directly comparable in mission, geographic focus, and partner-hospital model.
• SEE International: US-based non-profit providing free cataract and other eye surgeries in developing countries through volunteer medical teams and outreach programs. Directly comparable surgical-camp model and patient population.
• ORBIS International: Global non-profit focused on preventing and treating blindness through training, technology, and direct surgical services in developing countries. Closely comparable scope, model, and target populations, including pediatric cataract work.
• Christian Blind Mission (CBM): International development non-profit focused on disability inclusion and avoidable blindness, including cataract surgery in low-income countries. Comparable in mission, target populations, and developing-country outreach approach.
• Fred Hollows Foundation: Australia-based non-profit focused on ending avoidable blindness in developing countries through cataract surgery and eye health programs. Direct peer with overlapping mission, target geographies (Nepal), and surgical outreach approach; the TKRF directly references partnership with this organization.
• Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology: Kathmandu-based eye hospital founded by Dr. Ruit in 1994 that serves as the primary operational base and lens manufacturing site for TKRF. Direct operational and clinical peer with deep institutional overlap.
• Himalayan Cataract Project: Co-founded by Dr. Sanduk Ruit himself, focused on curing preventable blindness in underserved regions through high-quality ophthalmic care. Highly overlapping mission and clinical leadership, making it the most direct comparable organization.

Others

• International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB): Global alliance coordinating blindness prevention efforts and the #2030InSight strategy with which TKRF is formally aligned. Ecosystem coordinator rather than direct service competitor; TKRF participates in its World Sight Day campaigns and pledges.

Broad incumbents

• Aravind Eye Care System: India-based, large-scale eye care provider operating hospitals, training, and outreach programs with a self-sustaining subsidised model. Comparable mission and surgical-volume approach but operates at much larger scale and broader scope including non-cataract services.
• Lions Clubs International Foundation (SightFirst): Global foundation funding large-scale avoidable blindness programs including cataract surgery in developing countries. Much larger funder with broader portfolio, but directly comparable on cataract-surgery mission and developing-country focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TKRFoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/TejKohliRuitFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/TejKohliRuit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tej-kohli-ruit-foundation
• TikToktiktok.com/tkrfoundation#

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation