DBS Foundation commits SGD 4.9 million to 22 impact entrepreneurs; Kolkata’s Ikure Techsoft, Kadam Haat Basketry among winners

DBS Foundation has announced INR 34.40 crore (SGD 4.9 million) in grant funding for its 2025 cohort of 22 businesses for impact across Asia, including two Kolkata-headquartered enterprises – Ikure Techsoft and Kadam Haat Basketry . Along with Lernern from Gurugram, these Indian grantees reflect the growing role of purpose-driven innovation from cities like Kolkata in addressing critical societal challenges. This marks the 11th edition of DBS Foundation’s grant programme, which was launched in 2015 to support entrepreneurs tackling pressing societal challenges through innovative and scalable solutions. Beyond funding of up to INR 1.75 CR (SGD 250,000) each, grantees will also gain access to holistic support from DBS Foundation’s and DBS’ ecosystem, including mentorship, capacity building, preferential banking solutions and collaboration opportunities with other like-minded players, to accelerate their growth and impact.

In line with DBS Foundation’s mission to strengthen the social and financial resilience of vulnerable communities, the 2025 cohort addresses critical needs such as access to healthcare and income opportunities. Many are leveraging innovative approaches, including AI and digital tools, gamification, circular economy solutions and community-driven models , to scale their impact and reach underserved populations more effectively. The grantees were selected from nearly 2,200 applications following a rigorous evaluation process, which involved 415 DBS employee volunteers , including senior management, who contributed their skills and expertise as grant evaluators. The 2025 cohort reflects how businesses for impact are responding to emerging themes in their communities through innovative and scalable approaches.

The three grant awardees from India are: • Ikure Techsoft , which provides affordable primary healthcare to rural communities through a network of digital health centres supported by trained community health workers, helping to improve access to essential medical services in underserved regions • Kadam Haat Basketry , which supports rural artisans by enabling responsible market access for handcrafted products, helping create sustainable livelihoods while preserving traditional skills and crafts • Lernern, an enterprise that aims to strengthen youth employability through work-integrated learning, skills training and apprenticeship programmes that connect young people to job opportunities and industry networks

Karen Ngui, Head of DBS Foundation, said “In an increasingly uncertain world, helping vulnerable communities to build resilience is more important than ever. This calls for a whole-of-society effort, with businesses playing an important role alongside community and public sector partners. At DBS Foundation, we support purpose-driven businesses tackling real challenges on the ground, providing holistic support including capital and capacity building to scale their impact, while also working across the ecosystem to co-create interventions. Together, we seek to uplift the lives and livelihoods of those with less and help them face the future with confidence.”

Gaurav Rajput, Managing Director and Head, Group Marketing and Communications, DBS Bank India, said “The impact enterprises selected from India this year demonstrate the power of purpose-driven innovation in addressing some of our country’s most urgent developmental needs. Whether it is expanding access to primary healthcare, strengthening youth employability or creating sustainable livelihoods for rural artisans, these organisations are building solutions that uplift underserved communities in meaningful and lasting ways. We are proud to champion their work and to play a part in helping more individuals across India build a stronger, more resilient future.”

To date, DBS Foundation has catalysed the growth of more than 180 businesses for impact through its grant programme and the Impact Beyond Award. The Impact Beyond Award supercharges businesses with transformative solutions that address urgent needs in ageing societies, with winners receiving up to SGD 1 million each to scale their impact. In 2024, marking the start of DBS Foundation’s second decade, DBS strengthened its support for the Foundation’s work by pledging up to SGD 1 billion and 1.5 million employee volunteering hours over the next ten years. Of this, DBS Foundation has committed over SGD 160 million as at end-2025 to support 48 businesses for impact through grants and awards, and to launch 29 new impact programmes in partnership with community and public sector partners. These initiatives are projected to collectively impact over 8 million lives by 2029. By galvanising an ecosystem-wide approach, DBS Foundation aims to drive meaningful, sustainable and scalable change, empowering those with less to build forward and progress towards better circumstances in the long term.