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Journalism of Courage
What many entrepreneurs seek after they have an idea is the space to execute it. Social entrepreneurs, in particular, have limited resources in the early stages and need a conducive environment to grow. The Social Innovation Co-working Space in Pune, launched in June, aims to address several of these problems for social innovation enterprises.
This dedicated facility is the brainchild of the Pune International Centre (PIC), under its Social Innovation Hub (SI Hub) segment that has been supporting social innovation since 2013. The Social Innovation Co-working Space serves as “a collaborative and nurturing ground for changemakers, offering an environment tailored to the unique needs of social enterprises”.
Located in PIC’s new campus in Pashan, the space features ergonomic workstations, high-speed internet, printing facilities, access to a conference room, networking opportunities, invitations to SI Hub events and masterclasses, and a range of professional services.
“India is one of the most dynamic environments for social entrepreneurship, with over two million social enterprises operating across the country. Maharashtra accounts for nearly 24 per cent of these ventures, making it a significant contributor to the nation’s social innovation landscape. In recent years, India has also emerged as a global hotspot for impact investments, attracting over $5 billion in funding. Supporting this thriving ecosystem are various enablers such as incubators, accelerators, co-working and maker spaces, and progressive policy frameworks that nurture enterprises from ideation to scale,” says Major General Nitin Gadkari (Retd.), Director, Pune International Centre.
He adds that the co-working space for social enterprises is designed to support early- and growth-stage social ventures.
As per PIC’s guidelines, eligible organisations can avail up to three seats per enterprise, with flexible rental plans ranging from three to 12 months. “The pricing is intentionally kept minimal, with rates starting at Rs 2,000, ensuring access to even the leanest of mission-driven teams. The space is open to nonprofits, Section 8 companies, and social startups working in domains such as health, education, climate action, livelihoods, and gender equality,” says Gadkari.
Among the first users of the space are Edignite Foundation, which is tackling social challenges, such as inadequate education, gender discrimination and poverty. “The space is helping them grow as an organisation-offering exposure, collaboration, and a platform to shape their ideas. In the coming months, PIC plans to onboard more social enterprises and host community engagement events to strengthen peer learning and cross-sector collaboration,” says Gadkari.
