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

 27 April 2026: 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.* 

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:*

• *Kolkata-headquartered - 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

• *Kolkata-headquartered - 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

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.”