Award · Climate, Energy & Sustainability

Varaha wins the 2026 ET Startup Social Enterprise award

By Startup Enthusiast · 27 August 2026

What they do

Varaha helps smallholder farmers earn extra income through carbon markets while promoting climate-resilient and regenerative farming practices

The company won the Social Enterprise category at the 2026 ET Startup Awards following significant growth in revenue and impact

It uses proprietary AI and satellite technology to verify carbon sequestration across millions of acres for global corporate clients

Varaha was named the winner of the Social Enterprise category at the 2026 ET Startup Awards.
The company enables small farmers to earn additional income by participating in global carbon markets.
It utilizes AI and satellite technology to measure and verify environmental outcomes across millions of fragmented farms.
The firm has successfully sequestered over 2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent since its inception.
Varaha partners with major corporations like Google, Microsoft, and Nestlé for carbon-insetting and sustainable sourcing initiatives.
The company reported a FY26 revenue of Rs 105.2 crore, nearly doubling its previous year's performance.

Climate change creates severe challenges for small farmers, including erratic weather patterns and declining soil health.
Varaha aims to bridge the gap by making climate finance accessible to smallholders who were previously excluded from global markets.
The company was selected from a competitive list of finalists including Padcare Labs, Cornext, Karo Sambhav, and CureBay.

Varaha promotes regenerative farming techniques such as biochar and enhanced rock weathering.
These methods improve soil organic carbon, moisture retention, and biodiversity while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs.
The company operates across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Côte d'Ivoire.
It has onboarded over 200,000 farmers managing more than 2 million acres of land.
The business model includes selling verified carbon credits to international firms like Lufthansa and Swiss Re.
Artisanal biochar projects have distributed over $4 million directly to participating farmers.
The company has generated over 2,600 ancillary jobs through its various environmental interventions.

The company plans to drive growth through long-term offtake agreements and new project launches.
Varaha intends to continue its geographic expansion into additional developing economies.

Product: Carbon dioxide removal projects using biochar, afforestation, regenerative agriculture, and enhanced rock weathering.
Customers: Corporates seeking carbon offsets and carbon removal credits.
How it makes money: Sells carbon removal credits generated from its projects to businesses.
What sets it apart: Focus on high-integrity carbon removal with community co-benefits in the Global South.