NIDISI

What NIDISI does

NIDISI gGmbH is a German-Nepali non-profit operating as a Social Business (following the Muhammad Yunus non-loss, non-dividend model) with its headquarters in Berlin and operational base in Gaindakot, Nepal. It runs four core programmes: Happy Water, a community-led water filtration centre in Devgaun using Autarcon technology to sell 20-litre jars at less than half the local market price; Sparśa, a women-led social business manufacturing compostable menstrual pads from banana fibre at a Bharatpur factory (raw material processed in Tribeni); ReValue, a plastic-recycling initiative that converts low-value plastic into bitumen replacement for road construction (developed with the Fraunhofer Institute) and into Refuse-Derived Fuel, monetising recovery through Plastic Credits sold via partner WasteReduction; and a long-term Education scholarship programme that has supported 34 children with an average six-year commitment. Technology is co-developed with tier-1 research partners including LGP2 Lab at Grenoble INP-Pagora, Fraunhofer Institute, and Prakash Lab at Stanford University, and is documented on the Plant to Pad Hub, an open knowledge platform for nature-fibre-based menstrual products.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: Sparśa pad sales, Happy Water jar sales, Plastic Credit transactions routed through WasteReduction to corporate buyers in the Global North, and donations/grants from institutional funders (Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, LUMA, EXI of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment) and individual donors via PayPal and GLS Bank. Distribution is community-anchored in Nepal via centre pickup, truck delivery, schools, and the Bharatpur factory, while donations and exhibitions (Stories of Menstruation) operate in Germany. In 2025 NIDISI expanded to Kenya through Ziada Solutions under the Plant to Pad Hub, signalling a shift from single-country operations toward a blueprint-replication model for nature-fibre menstrual products and circular-economy solutions in the Global South.

Customers are split across three structurally distinct cohorts: marginalised rural Nepali consumers (water, pads, free school water), companies seeking plastic offsets (enterprise Plastic Credits), and institutional funders/donors; no single customer is identified as a revenue anchor, and pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Name

NIDISI

Legal name

NIDISI gGmbH

Website

https://nidisi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NIDISI gGmbH is a German-Nepali non-profit that develops Social Business solutions in Nepal — community water filtration (Happy Water), compostable banana-fibre menstrual pads (Sparśa), low-value plastic recycling with Plastic Credits (ReValue), and education scholarships — and is now replicating its nature-fibre menstrual model in Kenya via the Plant to Pad Hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Impact & Development Services

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC), Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF), Education Access & Quality (International Development) (BPAGABAE), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) Partnerships (HLAJAOAG)

Keywords

• Menstrual hygiene products
• Community water filtration
• Plastic recycling credits
• Education scholarships
• Social enterprise development

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Plastic Credits (ReValue): Plastic Credits generated by each ton of low-value plastic (LVP) recycled or appropriately disposed of are sold to companies in the Global North (via partner WasteReduction) that aim to reduce their plastic consumption and take responsibility for their remaining plastic footprint. Revenue subsidises the collection and recycling process in Nepal.
2. Water Sales (Happy Water NGO): Happy Water NGO, a community-led water filtration centre, sells 20-litre purified water jars at less than half the market price. Water is distributed at the centre or delivered by truck directly to families. The generated income covers salaries of 2 employees and the centre's maintenance expenses. Water is also supplied free of charge to school children.
3. Sparśa Menstrual Pad Sales: Sparśa, a women-led Social Business, produces and sells compostable menstrual pads made from banana fibres. Profits are reinvested into the business and used to finance the Sparśa Ambassador Program for menstrual awareness campaigns. The product aims for financial self-sustainability.
4. Donations and Grants: NIDISI accepts donations via PayPal and bank transfer (GLS Bank, Germany). They partner with funders including Deutsche Postcode Lotterie and LUMA. Donors can specify a preferred project. Donations over 300 EUR receive a formal donation receipt.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NIDISI develops and operates Social Business solutions in four areas: (1) Sparśa — compostable menstrual pads made from banana fibres, produced in a women-led social business in Nepal; (2) Happy Water — community-led water filtration centres providing affordable drinking water to rural Nepali villages; (3) ReValue — low-value plastic recycling into bitumen replacement for road construction plus Plastic Credits sold to corporate buyers; and (4) Education scholarships for underprivileged children in Nepal. All profits are reinvested into social impact per the Social Business model.

Product overview

NIDISI is a Nepali-European NGO that develops innovative and scalable Social Business solutions focused on four core areas: menstruation (Sparśa menstrual pads from banana fibers), water (Happy Water filtration centers), plastic recycling (ReValue), and education. Their approach is based on the Social Business model coined by Muhammad Yunus—non-loss, non-dividend companies where profits are reinvested to maximize social impact. Projects are designed as modular blueprints for replication in the Global South. Key offerings include Sparśa (compostable menstrual pads), ReValue (plastic recycling and plastic credits), Happy Water (community water filtration), and the Plant to Pad Hub (global knowledge platform).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sparśa: Women-led Social Business producing and selling innovative, compostable menstrual pads made from banana fibres. The name means 'Touch/Sensation' in Sanskrit.
• ReValue
• Happy Water
• Plant to Pad Hub
• In der Regel läuft's
• Stories of Menstruation
• Sparśa Ambassador Program

Products and services

• Sparśa Compostable Menstrual Pads Compostable menstrual pads manufactured from banana fibres (a natural waste product from banana farming), produced by a women-led Social Business in Nepal that employs disadvantaged women. Pads are sold at affordable prices to Nepali women and schoolgirls, with profits funding the Sparśa Ambassador Program for menstrual awareness.
• Happy Water Community Water Filtration Community-led water filtration service that purifies groundwater using Autarcon technology and sells 20-litre purified water jars at less than half the market price. Serves 7,500+ people across 3 villages in Devgaun, Nepal, with free water supplied to 1,000+ school children. Has delivered 2.7+ million litres since opening.
• ReValue Plastic Recycling and Plastic Credits Social Business that collects and recycles low-value plastic (LVP) waste in Nepal, processing it into bitumen replacement for road construction or Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF). Issues Nepal's first Plastic Credits sold to corporate clients in the Global North through partner WasteReduction. Initial proof of concept processed 9 tonnes of LVP waste.
• Education Scholarship Program Long-term scholarship program for underprivileged children in Nepal covering school fees, educational resources, and mentorship. 34 children supported with an average of 6 years of support; 71% of program participants entered college.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of Nepali women report menstrual discrimination and restrictions; up to 22% miss school due to menstruation; 90% of pads used in Nepal end up in the environment.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ziada Solutions (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Since 2025, NIDISI has partnered with Ziada Solutions in Kenya under the Plant to Pad Hub initiative. The partnership focuses on knowledge exchange, joint research, and developing local manufacturing approaches for nature-fibre menstrual products. NIDISI plans to expand activities in Kenya, build new partnerships, and strengthen international cooperation between actors from research, social enterprise, and development cooperation.
• Fraunhofer Institute (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute and other academic partners, NIDISI developed an innovative process for utilizing low-value plastic as a bitumen replacement in road construction. The Fraunhofer partnership was instrumental in validating the ReValue Method and its potential to repurpose plastic waste into a vital component for building more durable and sustainable roads in Nepal.
• WasteReductioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNIDISI partnered with WasteReduction to present Plastic Credits to clients in the Global North. WasteReduction acts as a channel partner, facilitating the sale of Nepal's first Plastic Credits to companies seeking to offset their plastic footprint.
• AutarconcoreTechnology or IntegrationAutarcon developed the innovative water filtration technology used by Happy Water NGO in Devgaun, Nepal. NIDISI and the local community use this technology to purify groundwater and sell affordable clean water to local residents.
• LGP2 Lab, Grenoble INP-Pagora InstitutecoreTechnology or IntegrationNIDISI collaborated with the LGP2 Lab of Grenoble INP-Pagora Institute to refine the procedure for banana fibre menstrual pads, validating the absorbent power of banana fibres in Sparśa menstrual products. The lab continues to be a research partner for adapting processes to various fibre plants.
• Prakash Lab, Stanford UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIDISI partners with the Prakash Lab at Stanford University as part of the Sparśa Blueprint initiative to adapt nature-fibre menstrual pad processes for various fibre plants across different climates, potentially benefiting millions of women in low- and middle-income countries.
• NIDISI NepalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIDISI Nepal is the Nepali entity of the organization, ensuring legal execution of projects in Nepal and strengthening local presence. While operating as distinct entities, NIDISI Germany and NIDISI Nepal work as a unified team, collaborating closely on project ideation and implementation.
• SparśacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSparśa (Sanskrit: Touch/Sensation) is the women-led Social Business producing and selling compostable menstrual pads from banana fibres. Established by NIDISI, Sparśa is designed as a replicable pilot model with profits financing the Sparśa Ambassador Program for menstrual awareness campaigns.
• GLS BankminorOthersNIDISI gGmbH maintains its primary banking relationship with GLS Bank (Germany), a ethical/green bank. Donations can be made via bank transfer to the GLS Bank account (IBAN DE79 4306 0967 1261 8270 00, BIC GENODEM1GLS).
• NePals e.V. (Predecessor Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNePals e.V. was the student association predecessor to NIDISI, formed in Europe in 2016. It was subsequently transformed into NIDISI gGmbH in 2021.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• charity: water: Major non-profit funding clean water projects in developing countries. Comparable in rural WASH delivery and donor-funded model to Happy Water, but at much greater scale and scope.
• BRAC: One of the world's largest development NGOs operating social enterprises across health, education, and livelihoods in multiple countries. Comparable in operating social businesses at scale to address poverty, but with vastly greater geographic and programmatic reach than NIDISI.
• WaterAid: Large international NGO focused on water, sanitation and hygiene in low-income countries. Comparable to NIDISI's Happy Water initiative in WASH mission and community-based delivery model, but operates at global scale across many countries.
• Grameen (Family of Companies): Founders of the social-business model that NIDISI explicitly cites (Muhammad Yunus). Comparable philosophical foundation and mission-lock structure; Grameen operates health, energy, and education social businesses at vastly larger scale.

Emerging players

• BURN Manufacturing: East Africa-based social enterprise producing clean cookstoves and recycling aluminum into cooking products. Comparable circular-economy / social-business model in East Africa, overlapping with NIDISI's Kenya expansion via Ziada Solutions.

Direct peers

• Ruby Cup: Social enterprise selling reusable menstrual cups to girls and women in low-income countries with a 'buy one, give one' model. Comparable mission and beneficiary segment (underserved women/girls in Africa/Asia) to Sparśa, but operates via a different product format.
• Saathi Pads: India-based eco-friendly menstrual pad social enterprise using banana and other natural fibres. Closely mirrors Sparśa's nature-fibre pad approach and women-empowerment mission in the Global South.
• Plastic Bank: Social enterprise that collects ocean-bound plastic and issues plastic credits to corporate buyers. Directly comparable to NIDISI's ReValue Plastic Credit mechanism, though Plastic Bank operates at much larger scale and focuses on coastal communities.
• Myna Mahila Foundation: India-based social enterprise manufacturing low-cost sanitary pads and running menstrual health awareness. Comparable in manufacturing-of-affordable-pads-plus-awareness-campaigns model to Sparśa.
• Aakar Innovations: Indian social enterprise producing low-cost compostable biodegradable sanitary pads using agricultural waste. Directly comparable to NIDISI's Sparśa banana-fibre pads in product, mission (menstrual health access for underserved women), and social-business model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NIDISI.gGmbH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nidisi
• Instagraminstagram.com/_nidisi_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 NIDISI