Anahad Foundation

What Anahad Foundation does

Anahad Foundation is an Indian non-governmental organization registered in 2013 as a Section 8 'Not for Profit' company under Indian law, focused on the Recognition, Preservation and Evolution of Indian folk music. Its core activity is the on-location documentation of traditional folk musicians using a portable, battery-operated audio-video recording setup that allows it to capture performances and create webpages and music videos at artists' doorsteps, giving musicians in remote areas a digital presence they would otherwise lack. The resulting content is organized into a public artist portal (anahad.ngo) featuring an interactive map of India with profiles and recordings of over 6,000 folk artists across all 36 states and union territories, supplemented by YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram channels.

The organization operates on a donation-based revenue model: it accepts one-time and recurring monthly contributions that are tax-exempted under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act, and it facilitates artist bookings for events and cultural programs through its website and a direct phone line. It also engages in royalty and copyright advocacy on behalf of artists and offers songwriting training. Its primary customer segments are the folk artists it serves (supply side), individual donors and supporters, and event organizers or cultural institutions booking artists for performances. A strategic partnership with Akashvani (All India Radio) extends its reach into formally registered folk artists, and additional programs such as an 'equals_sessions' collaborate page and a fellowship extend the platform's programmatic scope beyond pure documentation.

Name

Anahad Foundation

Legal name

Anahad Foundation

Website

https://anahad.ngo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Preservation Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Merchandising & D2C Management (Artists) (MPAIAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) & Reporting for Donor Programs (BPADAOAL)

Keywords

• Folk music preservation
• Cultural heritage documentation
• Artist portal platform
• Nonprofit music services
• Audio-video recording

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations (One-time and Monthly): Registered as a Section 8 Not for Profit organisation under Indian law. All donations are tax-exempted under 80G. Accepts one-time and recurring monthly donations from supporters. Does not offer refunds on one-time donations but allows cancellation of monthly donations.
2. Artist Booking Facilitation: Platform enables visitors to contact and book folk artists for performances. Revenue may be generated through facilitation of artist-booking transactions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Anahad Foundation is a Section 8 Not for Profit NGO that provides audio-video documentation, recording, and digital presence services to Indian folk artists using portable battery-operated equipment deployed at artists' doorsteps. It operates a web portal (anahad.ngo) featuring an interactive map of India that catalogues over 6,000 folk artists across all 36 states and union territories, while facilitating direct artist bookings for events and accepting tax-exempted donations to fund its preservation mission.

Product overview

Anahad Foundation operates as a folk music preservation NGO offering a portfolio of services centered on documenting, recording, and digitizing Indian folk music traditions. The core offerings include professional audio-video documentation of folk artists using portable recording equipment, an interactive artist portal with over 6,000 documented musicians mapped across all Indian states, and creation of digital web presence for artists. The organization connects traditional performers with modern audiences through technology, enabling folk musicians to reach wider platforms while preserving their cultural heritage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Folk Music Documentation and Recording Services Professional audio-video recording and documentation of Indian folk artists using portable battery-operated equipment to capture performances at various locations, including remote and underprivileged communities. The service is provided free of charge to folk musicians and produces music videos and digital content for preservation and online distribution.
• Artist Portal and Interactive Map Interactive digital platform featuring over 6,000 documented folk artists across all Indian states and union territories, with audio-video content and artist profiles accessible to the public for discovery and exploration of Indian folk music traditions.
• Artist Online Presence Creation Creation of music videos and dedicated webpages to provide online digital presence for folk artists who previously lacked web representation, enabling them to reach wider audiences and establish discoverable profiles on the Anahad platform.
• Artist Booking Facilitation Facilitation of direct bookings between folk artists and event organizers, cultural institutions, wedding planners, and program coordinators seeking authentic folk performances. Eliminates middlemen and connects artists with booking opportunities via the platform and phone contact (+91 9971444880).

Quantifiable outcome

• Increase in monthly income for folk artists
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Akashvani (All India Radio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkashvani (All India Radio) has been credited for providing visibility to local folk artists. Many talented folk artists are registered with Akashvani, and Anahad connects with artists through this platform to document and preserve traditional music.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Saregama India: India's oldest and largest music label with a deep heritage catalog including folk and devotional music. A commercial incumbent operating at much greater scale than Anahad, with overlap in folk content ownership and distribution.
• T-Series: India's largest music label, film production house, and YouTube operator with significant folk, devotional, and regional music content. A much larger commercial incumbent with overlapping catalog and distribution ambitions.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi: India's national academy for music, dance, and drama, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture. Operates as a state-backed institution supporting folk and classical music traditions, representing the public-sector counterpart to Anahad's preservation mission.
• Smithsonian Folkways Recordings: US-based nonprofit record label and archive under the Smithsonian Institution, focused on documenting and distributing folk and traditional music globally. Comparable archive and distribution model, though serving a different geography and operating at a much larger institutional scale.

Emerging players

• JioSaavn: Major Indian music streaming platform with growing regional and folk music catalogs. Overlaps with Anahad in artist discovery and folk audio content, but operates at vastly greater scale as a commercial streaming service.

Direct peers

• India Foundation for the Arts: Bangalore-based arts grantmaking and supporting NGO funding cultural projects across India. Operates in the same philanthropic arts space as Anahad and represents a potential peer funder and ecosystem counterpart.
• MeMeraki: Indian marketplace and storytelling platform for folk artists, musicians, and craftspeople. Directly comparable to Anahad in mission to digitize and commercialize Indian folk art traditions, though focused more on handicrafts and live experiences.
• Folk Alliance International: US-based nonprofit that serves, strengthens, and engages the folk music community globally through conferences, advocacy, and artist support. Mission-aligned peer organization with a comparable preservation and community-building focus.
• Aga Khan Music Initiative: Program of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture supporting music preservation, revitalization, and education across diverse cultural regions. Directly comparable to Anahad as a foundation-supported folk music documentation and empowerment program.
• National Folklore Support Centre (NFSC): Chennai-based Indian NGO dedicated to documentation, preservation, and dissemination of Indian folklore including folk music traditions. Closest mission-aligned peer to Anahad among registered cultural preservation organizations in India.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/anahad
• Facebookfacebook.com/anahad.ngo
• Instagraminstagram.com/anahadfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anahadngo

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Anahad Foundation