What SumArth does

SumArth (legally registered as MicroX Foundation) is a not-for-profit social enterprise founded in 2015 and headquartered in Gaya, Bihar. It delivers integrated rural development programs — primarily agricultural extension, women's economic empowerment, and community health — to small and marginal farmers, rural women, and adolescents across 600+ villages in seven Bihar districts, with a secondary presence in Delhi NCR. Its core service offering is a portfolio of seven named initiatives: Sakhi Lakhpati (women-led mushroom farming with a bamboo-based waste-to-wealth circular model), Sabla (menstrual health awareness plus women-run sanitary pad production), Digital Saksham & Udyam Shakti (digital literacy and first-generation entrepreneurship), Kala se Kamaai (coconut handicraft training), From Fear to First Embrace (Kangaroo Mother Care for newborns), Value from Every Harvest (post-harvest processing and value chain support), and From Soil to Success (climate-resilient integrated farming). Supporting infrastructure includes the Sumarth Kendra one-stop solution centers, a Soil Health Card service analyzing 14 parameters per plot, drone-based crop monitoring, sanitized reaper-binder harvesting tools, and an operational mushroom processing and canning unit at Bargawn.

The operating model relies on deep community engagement through self-help groups, local agri-entrepreneurs, ASHA/ANM/Anganwadi frontline workers, and Farmer Producer Organizations, with go-to-market executed via community-led mobilization, event-driven training and street theatre (Nukkad Natak), and channel partnerships with NABARD, GIZ, Ministry of MSME, the state government, and foundations such as ATE Chandra Foundation, nasscom Foundation, and The Pad Project. The organization is funded entirely through grants and institutional support — there is no fee-for-service pricing — and reports programmatic outcomes of 40,000+ direct lives impacted, 30,000+ farmers supported, 50+ Crore INR in farmer revenue generated through market linkages, and majority women (60%) and marginalized (75%) beneficiary composition. GuideStar India Gold certification, NABARD national recognition for the mushroom intervention, and UN Women recognition provide governance and credibility anchors disproportionate to the 9-employee core team.

Name

SumArth

Legal name

MicroX Foundation

Website

https://sumarth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SumArth (MicroX Foundation) is a not-for-profit social enterprise founded in 2015 in Gaya, Bihar, delivering integrated agriculture, women's empowerment, and rural health programs to small and marginal farmers and women across 600+ villages in Bihar. It operates via grant-funded community-led models including mushroom cultivation, menstrual health, digital literacy, and value-chain development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Development and Agricultural Livelihood Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tillage & Field Preparation Services (Plowing, Cultivating, Bed Prep) (AFACAAAF)

Keywords

• Sustainable agriculture development
• Rural livelihood programs
• Menstrual health initiatives
• Women empowerment programs
• Climate-smart agriculture

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaya

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding & Institutional Support: SumArth operates as a not-for-profit social enterprise receiving grants and institutional funding from government bodies, NGOs, and development organizations to implement agricultural, health, and women empowerment programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SumArth is a not-for-profit social enterprise that delivers integrated programs for small and marginal farmers in rural Bihar, including soil health testing, climate-resilient farming models, input linkages, production optimization, and market linkage services. It also runs women empowerment and dignity-focused programs covering menstrual health, sanitary pad production, digital literacy, and handicraft-based livelihoods. Services are delivered through Sumarth Kendra hubs, field officers, and SHG networks across 600+ villages in seven Bihar districts.

Product overview

SumArth is a not-for-profit social enterprise operating as a platform of integrated service programs rather than a single unified product. The core portfolio comprises seven named initiatives: Sakhi Lakhpati (women-led mushroom farming with circular economy model), Sabla (menstrual health and dignity with women-run pad production units), Digital Saksham & Udyam Shakti (digital literacy and entrepreneurship development), Kala se Kamaai (coconut handicrafts training), From Fear to First Embrace (Kangaroo Mother Care for newborn safety), Value from Every Harvest (processing and value chain development), and From Soil to Success (sustainable agriculture with climate-resilient farming models). These are supported by the Sumarth Kendra Model (one-stop agricultural services hub) and Soil Health Card Service. All programs are designed to work synergistically—agriculture programs feed into value addition, women empowerment spans across multiple initiatives from MHM to digital literacy to handicrafts, and enterprise support connects producers to markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sakhi Lakhpati Women-led livelihood initiative that transforms rural women into agri-entrepreneurs through eco-friendly mushroom cultivation with a waste-to-wealth circular economy model; targets women in marginalized rural communities in Bihar seeking income and self-reliance.
• Sabla – Periods with Pride Menstrual health and dignity initiative combining awareness sessions, community dialogues, and women-run sanitary pad production units; targets women and adolescent girls in marginalized rural communities of Bihar.
• Digital Saksham & Udyam Shakti Digital literacy and entrepreneurship development program equipping rural women, youth, and farmers with smartphone skills, online banking safety, cyber fraud awareness, business planning, branding, and market linkages; targets first-generation rural entrepreneurs and digital novices.
• Kala se Kamaai Skill training program that transforms coconut shells and natural materials into market-ready eco-products including home decor, utility items, and handcrafted jewelry, with training in design, finishing, quality control, pricing, branding, and packaging; targets rural women seeking handicraft-based livelihoods.
• From Fear to First Embrace Newborn safety initiative implementing Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) to protect newborns from hypothermia in Gaya district through skin-to-skin contact, family counseling, and frontline worker training; targets new mothers, families, and ASHA/ANM workers.
• Value from Every Harvest: Processing & Value Addition Value chain strengthening initiative enabling farmers and rural enterprises to move beyond raw produce sales toward processing, packaging, branding, storage, and better market access to reduce post-harvest losses and increase income; targets farmer producer organizations and rural SHGs.
• From Soil to Success: Sustainable Agriculture & Farmer Livelihoods Integrated farming initiative promoting climate-resilient models combining mushroom cultivation, high-value crops (baby corn, sweet corn, dragon fruit), vermicomposting, beekeeping, and organic input production with end-to-end handholding from soil health to market linkage; targets small and marginal farmers in Bihar.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ Crores INR revenue generated for farmers
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Ministry of MSMEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry partnership for livelihood and enterprise development programs in rural Bihar
• NABARDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor development partner supporting mushroom intervention recognized as one of the most impactful projects across India; FPO support and agricultural programs
• GIZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency partnership for sustainable rural development and climate-resilient agriculture initiatives
• nasscom FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIT industry foundation partnership for digital literacy and technology skill development programs
• National Research Development CorporationsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology and research partnership for agricultural innovation and development
• National Informatics Centre Services Inc.supportingTechnology or IntegrationGovernment IT partnership for digital infrastructure and technology solutions
• International Rice Research InstitutesupportingTechnology or IntegrationAgricultural research partnership for rice value chain and farming practices improvement
• IFFCO Kisan Sanchar LimitedsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural services partnership for farmer communication and advisory services
• The Pad ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for menstrual health management with awareness programs, pad distribution, and women-run production units
• MicroX FoundationcoreOthersSumArth is registered as MicroX Foundation - the parent not-for-profit organization implementing all programs and initiatives

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Digital Green: Digital Green uses video-based agricultural extension to smallholder farmers in India and abroad, comparable to SumArth's low-cost tech-enabled farmer training and knowledge decentralisation approach.
• PRADAN: Professional Assistance for Development Action operates an integrated rural livelihoods model working with marginal farmers and women's SHGs across multiple Indian states, closely comparable to SumArth's 360-degree farmer support and SHG-led delivery approach.
• SELCO Foundation: SELCO Foundation tackles rural poverty through sustainable livelihood solutions including agriculture and energy access, comparable to SumArth's rural livelihood and low-cost technology deployment model.
• SRIJAN: Self-Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action builds livelihoods and producer collectives in rural India, with comparable focus on FPO support, value-chain development, and marginalised-community empowerment.
• Access Development Services: Access Development Services supports livelihoods and FPOs for marginalised producers in India, with comparable focus on producer collectives, market linkages, and rural enterprise development.
• Transform Rural India Foundation: TRIF works on rural development across multiple Indian states focusing on health, livelihoods, and education convergence, comparable in mission scope to SumArth's integrated rural-development stack.
• Samaj Pragati Sahayog: Samaj Pragati Sahayog works with tribal and marginal farmer communities on watershed development and sustainable agriculture in central India, with comparable emphasis on community-led natural resource management.
• WOTR (Watershed Organisation Trust): WOTR implements climate-resilient agriculture, watershed management, and rural livelihood programmes across India, comparable to SumArth's climate-resilient integrated farming and soil health focus.
• BAIF Development Research Foundation: BAIF delivers livestock-centred and sustainable agriculture programmes to small and marginal farmers across India, with a comparable focus on input linkages, technology adoption, and market access for rural producers.

Broad incumbents

• Reliance Foundation: Reliance Foundation runs large-scale rural development, agriculture, and women's empowerment programmes across India as part of a broader CSR portfolio, comparable to SumArth's integrated rural stack but at substantially greater scale and capital depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sumarth

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 SumArth