Responsible Netism

What Responsible Netism does

Responsible Netism is a non-profit social purpose initiative of the Ahaan Foundation, a registered charitable trust established in 2012 and headquartered in Mumbai, India. The organization focuses on safeguarding women and children in cyberspace through free counselling, emotional support, legal and technical guidance, cyber safety education, and policy advocacy. Its core service portfolio includes a pan-India Cyber Wellness Helpline (7353107353) launched in November 2022, five physical Cyber Wellness/Support Centres located in Mumbai (Parel and BKC), Goa, Thane, and Jaipur, and a Pune regional office. Education and outreach are delivered through programs such as Being Responsible Netizens, Building Digital Guardians, Cyber Sakhi, Cyber Bro, Cyber Smart Schools, Building Digital Rakshaks, Digital Stree Shakti, and Building Cyber Caregivers, targeting children, women, parents, educators, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community members. The organization also convenes the annual National Cyber Psychology Conference (since 2017) and maintains partnerships with NCPCR, state police commissionerates, BMC, META, Snap Inc., StopNCII.org, Google Safety Engineering Centre, Vikram University, and corporate CSR partners including Kogta Financial, WNS Cares Foundation, HDFC Bank Parivartan, BOB Financials, and TJSB Bank.

The underlying technology stack is minimal and service-led rather than platform-led. The organization has no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capabilities described; its primary technology assets are a helpline, a donation portal powered by Ketto's FoundationEdge, and the MOBICID application developed internally by trustee Sumeet Rathod to monitor and improve online behaviour. Reach metrics cited include engagement with 2,000+ educational institutions, 800+ non-profit partners, 2,500+ principals trained across 5 states as NCPCR-appointed external resource people, 450+ state child protection mechanism members trained as Digital Rakshaks across 37 districts in Maharashtra, and 30,000+ conference attendees since 2017. All services are provided free of cost to beneficiaries.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded. Revenue is generated through charitable contributions collected via the Ketto-powered donation portal (with designated funds for awareness, cyber safety education, Cyber Wellness Centre operations, and corpus), corporate CSR partnerships underwriting specific centres and programs, and government co-funding or in-kind support (such as co-located premises in police stations and municipal buildings). The organization employs 14 people and is led by Founder & CEO Sonali Patankar and Co-Founder & COO Unmesh Joshi, with a Trustee board including Manjula Nair, Sumeet Rathod, and Sanjay Sabnis, and an advisory board that includes a Principal Secretary (CMO), a senior cyber lawyer, a senior psychiatrist, a former H.o.D of Psychology at SNDT Women's University, and a former Executive Editor of Maharashtra Times.

Name

Responsible Netism

Legal name

Ahaan Foundation

Website

https://responsiblenetism.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Responsible Netism is a Mumbai-based non-profit initiative of Ahaan Foundation that provides free cyber wellness services — including a pan-India helpline, physical Cyber Wellness Centres, school programs, and counselling — focused on protecting women and children from online harm across India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cyber Wellness and Online Safety Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Risk Intelligence, Threat Monitoring & Crisis Response (Harmful trends, coordinated abuse) (BPAAALAN), Safeguarding, Accountability & Compliance (ESG, Gender/GBV, Do No Harm) (BPADAEAM)

Keywords

• Cyber wellness programs
• Online safety education
• Cybercrime victim support
• Child online protection
• Cyber safety awareness

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations & Charitable Contributions: Responsible Netism operates as a non-profit and is primarily funded through donations. The website hosts a donation portal powered by Ketto (FoundationEdge), offering designated funds for awareness programs, cyber safety education, Cyber Wellness Centre operations, and corpus contributions. Services are provided free of cost to beneficiaries.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Responsible Netism is a non-profit social purpose initiative that operates a pan-India Cyber Wellness Helpline and physical Cyber Wellness Centres delivering free counselling, emotional support, legal guidance, and technical assistance to victims of cybercrime and online abuse. It runs customized cyber safety education and capacity-building programs in schools, colleges, and communities, and hosts the annual National Cyber Psychology Conference to drive multi-stakeholder policy and awareness action.

Product overview

Responsible Netism operates as a nonprofit social purpose organization offering a comprehensive suite of cyber wellness services centered around women and child online protection. The core portfolio consists of: (1) A pan-India Cyber Wellness Helpline providing free counselling, emotional support, legal and technical guidance; (2) Physical Cyber Wellness Centres in Mumbai, BKC, Goa, and Thane, plus a Cyber Support Centre in Jaipur; (3) Educational programs including Being Responsible Netizens, Building Digital Guardians, Cyber Sakhi, Cyber Bro, Cyber Smart Schools, Building Digital Rakshaks, Digital Stree Shakti, Vittiya Saksharata, Building Cyber Caregivers, and Internet Ka Safar; (4) An annual National Cyber Psychology Conference since 2017; (5) A technology product (MOBICID) for monitoring online behavior. All programs focus on awareness, education, training, advocacy, and research to create safer digital environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cyber Wellness Helpline (7353107353) A pan-India, free-of-cost helpline providing counselling, emotional support, legal and technical guidance, and help navigating reporting mechanisms for victims of cybercrime and online abuse, available via phone and WhatsApp.
• Cyber Wellness Centre - Mumbai (Parel) Maharashtra's first Cyber Wellness Centre housed within BMC's Savitribai Phule Gender Resource Centre, providing free counselling, technical, and legal assistance to women and children facing cybercrimes.
• Cyber Wellness Centre - Goa (Panaji) India's first Cyber Wellness Centre located in Panaji, offering education, awareness, training, counselling, legal and technical support, and prevention strategies for victims of online distress across all age groups, promoting #CyberSafeGoa.
• Cyber Wellness Centre - Thane Thane's first Cyber Wellness Centre located at the Thane Cyber Police Station, providing free counselling, technical, and legal assistance to cybercrime victims.
• Cyber Support Centre - Jaipur Rajasthan's first dedicated on-ground cyber support centre offering immediate emotional counselling, legal and technical assistance, and support for citizens in reporting cybercrimes.
• Being Responsible Netizens A one-time education module delivered in educational institutions, focusing on the psychological impacts and legal implications of irresponsible online behaviour and providing technical tips to secure gadgets, for students, teachers, and parents.
• Cyber Smart Schools A one-year intensive research-based programme that converts entire school ecosystems to being cyber smart and cyber safe, conducted in collaboration with WNS Cares Foundation.
• Building Digital Rakshaks A customised programme that empowers child protection and community organisations as proactive responders against cyber violence on children, implemented in partnership with Department of Women & Child Development Maharashtra across six regions.
• National Cyber Psychology Conference Annual national-level conference held since 2017 across multiple Indian cities, bringing together experts from government, technology, education, mental health, and civil society to address online challenges and promote cyber wellness.
• MOBICID Application A software application developed to monitor and improve online behaviour of children and adults, created by Sumeet Rathod, a founding member and Cyber Security Expert.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached 1.8 million children and 1 million adults with cyber safety awareness since 2012
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ahaan FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Ahaan Foundation is the parent registered trust that founded and hosts Responsible Netism. It is the legal entity through which Responsible Netism operates as a social purpose initiative. The foundation provides organizational structure, governance, and administrative support.
• Google Safety Engineering CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoogle Safety Engineering Centre is a Cyber Guardian Partner supporting Responsible Netism's 10th National Cyber Psychology Conference 2026. The partnership contributes to digital safety initiatives and supports India's first-ever conference on Digital Safety – For Children, By Children.
• Snap Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSnap Inc. is a Cyber Guardian Partner for the 10th National Cyber Psychology Conference 2026. Snap Inc. also partners with Responsible Netism as the official India partner for removal of non-consensual intimate images (NCII) shared online, supporting victims through StopNCII.org.
• WeSchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeSchool served as Knowledge Partner for the 10th National Cyber Psychology Conference 2026, contributing academic and educational expertise to the conference agenda.
• META (Facebook, Instagram)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible Netism is the official India partner for META platforms to support the removal of non-consensual intimate images (NCII) shared online. They help victims report and take down harmful content and provide emotional support during the process.
• StopNCII.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible Netism is the official India partner for StopNCII.org — a free global tool that helps prevent the non-consensual sharing of intimate images online across participating platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bumble Inc, TikTok, Reddit, OnlyFans, and Pornhub.
• Department of Women & Child Development, MaharashtracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Department is a key government partner for the Building Digital Rakshak initiative, a state-wide cyber safety programme across 6 regions covering 37 districts in Maharashtra, transforming 450+ members of child protection mechanisms into first responders to cyber violence against children.
• Jaipur Police CommissioneratecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJaipur Police Commissionerate hosts Rajasthan's first Cyber Support Centre within its premises, providing dedicated response for cybercrime victims. The centre offers immediate on-ground assistance, free counselling, and legal and technical support for reporting cyber incidences.
• Kogta Financial (I) Pvt. Ltd. / Kogta FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKogta Financial (I) Ltd. and Kogta Foundation supported the establishment of the Cyber Support Centre in Jaipur and Cyber Wellness Centre in Thane. They provide funding and resources to strengthen cyber support infrastructure in these regions.
• Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBMC collaborated with Responsible Netism to launch Maharashtra's first Cyber Wellness Centre within the Savitribai Phule Gender Resource Centre in Parel, Mumbai, dedicated to empowering women and promoting safety through legal aid, counselling, and awareness initiatives.
• Maharashtra State Commission for WomancoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMaharashtra State Commission for Woman hosts the Cyber Wellness Centre at its Gruhnirman Bhavan premises in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, supporting women facing cyber harassment and online distress.
• Thane Police CommissioneratecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThane Police Commissionerate partnered with Responsible Netism to launch Thane's first Cyber Wellness Centre at the Thane Cyber Police Station, providing free counselling, technical, and legal assistance to cybercrime victims.
• Thane Janata Sahakari Bank (TJSB)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTJSB Bank provided support for the launch of the Cyber Wellness Centre in Thane, contributing to the financial and community backing of the initiative.
• WNS Cares FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWNS Cares Foundation donated laptops to the Cyber Wellness Centre in Thane to strengthen its operational capabilities. They previously partnered with Responsible Netism for the Cyber Smart Schools program.
• Vikram University, Ujjain (M.P.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVikram University signed an MOU with Responsible Netism to establish India's and Madhya Pradesh's first Cyber Wellness Cell within the educational campus, providing first response to online distress and harassment among students.
• Maharashtra PolicecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMaharashtra Police collaborated with Responsible Netism for Cyber Safe Thane workshop, responsible for NSS student training, and regular cyber safety awareness programs. Responsible Netism is closely associated with cyber cells across Maharashtra.
• BOB FinancialsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBOB Financials partnered with Responsible Netism for the Cyber Sakhi and Building Digital Guardians programs, highlighting types of cyber crimes against women, legal implications, and reporting mechanisms.
• Dosti HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDosti House partnered with Responsible Netism to run educational programs across Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh under the series 'Building Cyber Resilience through Digital Literacy'.
• HDFC Bank ParivartanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHDFC Bank Parivartan partnered with Responsible Netism for the Cyber Alert Schools program for students of grades VI to IX in H-ward State Board schools in Mumbai, supported by the Ministry of Education, Government of Maharashtra.
• SNDT Women's University (Post Graduate Department of Psychology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSNDT Women's University's Post Graduate Department of Psychology supported the Cyber Alert Schools program, contributing academic expertise to the initiative.
• NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible Netism has been appointed by NCPCR as external resource people to train Principals across 5 states (Tripura, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Assam, and Delhi), educating 2,500+ principals on child online protection.
• Cyber Peace FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCyber Peace Foundation, an award-winning cyber security think tank, co-hosted the 6th National Cyber Psychology Conference 2022 themed 'India Fights Cyber Violence Against Women and Children'.
• NASSCOM and DSCIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASSCOM and DSCI (Data Security Council of India) partnered with Responsible Netism and Thane Police for the official launch of the Cyber Safety Awareness campaign 'Cyberspace - Safe to Use, Unsafe to Misuse'.
• Directorate of Education, GoaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDirectorate of Education, Goa collaborated with the Cyber Wellness Centre for the 3rd consecutive State-Level Inter-School Drawing Competition on Cyber Safety 2025, with participation from 150+ schools and 10,000+ students.
• E-Gaming FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerE-Gaming Federation participated as a speaker and moderator at the 10th National Cyber Psychology Conference 2026, contributing expertise on gaming-related online risks and safe gaming practices.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Childnet International: UK-based charity working on children's internet safety through education, resources, and policy; comparable in mission and program design (school curricula, parent guides, helpline-style resources) but UK-focused.

Direct peers

• Internet Watch Foundation: UK-based nonprofit that combats child sexual abuse imagery online, including operating reporting and takedown infrastructure; directly comparable to RN's role as StopNCII.org's official India partner for NCII removal.
• Arpan: India-based nonprofit working on child safety including personal safety education and prevention of child sexual abuse; overlaps with Responsible Netism on child online protection and prevention education for schools and communities.
• Cyber Peace Foundation: Indian cyber-security think tank and NGO focused on cyber safety awareness, training, and policy advocacy; co-hosted the 6th National Cyber Psychology Conference with Responsible Netism, making it a directly comparable peer in mission and constituency.

Broad incumbents

• Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI): International nonprofit convening industry, government, and academia on online safety for families; comparable as a multi-stakeholder platform and policy voice, though with a global rather than India-only focus.
• National Cyber Security Alliance (StaySafeOnline): US-based nonprofit coordinating National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and broad public-private cyber safety campaigns; comparable as a multi-stakeholder convener and awareness organization, but at significantly greater scale.
• Childline India Foundation: Large-scale Indian child-protection helpline (1098) operated under Ministry of Women & Child Development; comparable national helpline + intervention model for at-risk children, including online abuse victims.
• ConnectSafely: US-based nonprofit focused on digital safety, privacy, and security education for kids, parents, and educators; comparable mission around online safety education and policy engagement.

Others

• StopNCII.org: Global tool (operated by SWGfL) for preventing non-consensual intimate image sharing; Responsible Netism is its official India partner, making StopNCII a direct ecosystem counterpart rather than a competitor.

Emerging players

• Cyberbullying Research Center: US-based research organization producing data and resources on cyberbullying; comparable on the research, awareness, and school-based program side of Responsible Netism's mission, but narrower in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/hashtag/responsiblenetism
• Facebookfacebook.com/responsiblenetism
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/responsible-netism
• Instagraminstagram.com/responsiblenetism/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Responsible Netism