The Ikshā Foundation

What The Ikshā Foundation does

The Ikshā Foundation is a youth-led, Bengaluru-based non-profit organization founded in 2021 by Nandika H, Kalvin Richard, and Jigisha Hota when the co-founders were fourteen or fifteen years old. It operates a circular green-economy model under its flagship Project CTRL + S, in which youth volunteers aged 13-21 collect scrap paper from schools, apartments, and communities, route it through recycling partners, and convert the output into notebooks and stationery distributed free to underprivileged students. The closed-loop design re-collects used notebooks for further recycling, and the foundation layers workshop-based climate-action education on top of material distribution to turn beneficiaries into grassroots climate actors. A second track, Project Dhanika, supplies eco-friendly reusable sanitary napkins and menstrual-hygiene education to underserved women, while a now-concluded Project Cov-Action delivered food kits to roughly 600 individuals across 80 families during COVID-19.

The foundation's offerings are completed by a calendar of charity events that double as fundraising and awareness vehicles: Shikshathon (a green marathon with 700+ participants backed by Decathlon India), IkshaMUN Model United Nations conferences (50+ schools at IISc Bangalore), and Miles for Minds (a paper-collection run with Kothanur Run Club yielding 450 kg of paper from 270+ runners). It does not sell products or services; revenue is generated through individual donations via State Bank of India transfers and QR codes, supplemented by event registration fees and a broad base of corporate partners including ITC Ltd, PVR Cinemas, RedFM, Motherhood Hospitals, Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru, Hydrovyn, and Actfit Arena.

Operationally, the foundation runs with 13 employees, a 400+ youth volunteer network built over five years, and 100+ partner schools including Vibgyor, Bangalore International, Delhi Public School, and Legacy School. Reported cumulative impact includes 35,000 kgs of scrap paper recycled, 3,405 cubic feet of landfill space avoided, 655 trees preserved, and 18,970 education kits delivered. The organization has been recognized as the youngest Audi Environmental Foundation Scholar at One Young World Munich 2025, the youngest finalist at the World Sustainability Awards Amsterdam 2023, and a Glocal Teen Hero finalist in both 2023 and 2024.

Name

The Ikshā Foundation

Legal name

The Iksha Foundation

Website

https://theikshafoundation.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ikshā Foundation is a Bengaluru-based youth-led non-profit that runs a circular paper-recycling program, converting scrap paper into notebooks distributed free to underprivileged students alongside climate-education workshops. Revenue comes from individual donations and charity events such as marathons and Model UN conferences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Social and Educational Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Study Habits & Homework Systems Workshops (EDAMAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK)

Keywords

• Non-profit social services
• Circular paper recycling
• Educational material distribution
• Climate action education
• Community volunteering programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bengaluru

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donors contribute to the foundation through bank transfers (State Bank of India) and QR code-based payments. The foundation operates as a registered non-profit organization accepting donations.
2. Event-based Fundraising: Revenue generated through charity events such as marathons (Shikshathon) and Model United Nations conferences (IkshaMUN). Participants pay registration fees which fund the organization's educational programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Ikshā Foundation is a youth-led non-profit that collects scrap paper from schools and residential communities across India, recycles it into notebooks and stationery, and distributes these educational materials free of cost to underprivileged students through Project CTRL + S. Complementing this circular economy program are climate change workshops for students, food and financial relief via Project Cov-Action, and eco-friendly reusable sanitary napkins via Project Dhanika, with fundraising and awareness generated through charity runs, marathons and Model United Nations conferences.

Product overview

The Ikshā Foundation is a single unified non-profit offering centered around its flagship Project CTRL + S, a circular green economic model that collects scrap paper, recycles it into notebooks, and distributes these educational materials to underprivileged students. The organization complements this core initiative with Project Cov-Action (COVID-19 food and financial support) and Project Dhanika (eco-friendly sanitary products for women). Additional offerings include Climate Action Workshops that educate students on environmental issues, and fundraising events such as IkshaMUN Model United Nations conferences, Miles for Minds runs, and Shikshathon marathons. All programs work together toward the dual mission of environmental sustainability and quality education access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project CTRL + S A circular green economy initiative that collects scrap paper from schools, apartments and communities across India, recycles it into notebooks and stationery, and distributes these educational materials free of cost to underprivileged students; used notebooks are re-collected to continue the loop.
• Project Cov-Action A COVID-19 humanitarian relief program that distributed essential food kits to underprivileged households and provided financial assistance to families who lost breadwinners during the pandemic, reaching approximately 600 individuals across 80 families.
• Project Dhanika A women's health initiative that distributes eco-friendly, reusable, recyclable and biodegradable sanitary napkins (designed by one of the foundation's co-founders) to underprivileged women alongside menstrual hygiene awareness sessions.
• Miles for Minds Run A paper collection charity run held with Kothanur Run Club where participants donate scrap paper as entry passes, combining paper collection with fundraising and community awareness.
• Shikshathon A green marathon fundraiser organized with Decathlon India to raise funds for the education of underserved communities, attracting 700+ participants.
• Iksha Model United Nations (IkshaMUN) A Model United Nations charity fundraiser conference that brings together schools and colleges to discuss global issues while promoting sustainable practices, partnering with Pravega at IISC Bangalore for the second edition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,000 kgs of scrap paper recycled from across India
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Decathlon IndiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Shikshathon green marathon fundraiser. Decathlon India provided support for the 700+ participant charity run event aimed at raising funds for education of underserved communities.
• Kothanur Run ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration for Miles for Minds paper collection run event. Over 270 runners participated, bringing scrap paper as entry passes, collecting 450 kilograms of paper.
• RedFMsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for Shikshathon charity marathon event supporting the education cause.
• PVR CinemassecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Shikshathon charity marathon supporting education fundraising efforts.
• Pravega (IISC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for IkshaMUN 2.0 Model United Nations as part of the Pravega fest. The second edition had 40+ schools and colleges participating at IISC campus.
• Bhartiya Mall of BengalurusecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPrevious corporate partner supporting The Ikshā Foundation's initiatives.
• HydrovynsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for Shikshathon and other foundation initiatives supporting environmental and educational causes.
• Motherhood HospitalssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner supporting the foundation's community health initiatives.
• Actfit ArenaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFitness partner collaborating with the foundation for health and wellness community events.
• ITC LtdsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting the foundation's sustainability and education initiatives.
• Vibgyor Groups of SchoolscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of 100+ schools actively contributing scrap paper to the CTRL+S project. These schools rally students and staff to participate in the circular economy initiative.
• Delhi Public SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner school actively contributing scrap paper and participating in climate action drives through the CTRL+S initiative.
• Legacy SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner school collaborating with the foundation for paper collection drives and student engagement in climate action.
• Bangalore International SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner school contributing scrap paper to the CTRL+S circular economy project.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Barefoot College: India-rooted non-profit combining sustainability (solar, water, education) with grassroots community empowerment. Directly comparable in pairing environmental action with education access for underprivileged communities, and in leveraging a community-trained workforce model.
• Make A Difference (MAD): Indian non-profit mobilizing young volunteers to deliver education and life-skill support to underprivileged children in shelters. Comparable youth-driven volunteer model and similar focus on educational outcomes for disadvantaged youth.
• Waste Warriors Society: Indian non-profit focused on sustainable waste management and environmental education. Comparable in combining waste reduction outcomes with educational programming for communities, particularly in school contexts.
• Bhumi: India's largest youth volunteer non-profit, channeling young volunteers into education and community programs. Highly comparable in mobilizing a youth-led volunteer base (similar demographic) toward supplementary education for underprivileged children.
• Goonj: India-based non-profit that runs a large-scale circular giving model — collecting discarded materials from urban households and channeling them as livelihood and education resources for underprivileged rural communities. Closest analogue to Ikshā's paper-to-education circular flow.
• Door Step School: Mumbai/Pune-based non-profit delivering education and learning materials directly to underprivileged children, including those out of school. Comparable in providing both educational content and physical learning materials (kits) to the same target population.
• Hasiru Dala: Bengaluru-based non-profit working at the intersection of waste management and livelihoods for informal waste pickers. Comparable geographic base, similar circular-economy orientation around waste, and parallel focus on environmental and social outcomes.
• Saahas Zero Waste: Bengaluru-based social enterprise working on waste management, segregation, and circular resource flows. Comparable geographic base and similar emphasis on transforming waste streams into productive reuse, with environmental education as a complementary pillar.

Broad incumbents

• Teach For India: Major Indian education equity non-profit placing Fellows in low-income schools. Comparable in its mission to expand educational opportunity for underprivileged children, though operating through classroom placement rather than material distribution.
• Pratham: One of India's largest education NGOs focused on quality learning for underprivileged children. Comparable mission of providing educational resources and supplementary learning support to underserved student populations, though at vastly greater scale and with broader program scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheIkshaFoundation?si=-5D9KG9WTMM_1Mct
• Facebookfacebook.com/theikshafoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-iksh%C4%81-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/theikshafoundation?igsh=NmYxOG14ZjFmaTZi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Ikshā Foundation