The four recipients — Terra Ecopreneurs (Karnataka), Royal Bengal Greentech (West Bengal), Green Worms (Kerala) and AniMeta (Tamil Nadu) — were selected from over 150 applicants through a multi-stage evaluation under the TRANSFORM India Challenge.
Terra Ecopreneurs works with over 3,000 tribal and marginal farmers on climate-smart coffee and pepper cultivation, with women comprising 25 per cent of its farmer base. Royal Bengal Greentech has developed BhavisyaPlast, a patented bioplastic made from agricultural waste, positioning it as an alternative to conventional packaging materials. Green Worms operates a recycled LDPE film supply chain that has formalised 4,800 waste collectors — 70 per cent women — into formal employment. AniMeta deploys an AI-driven platform to deliver veterinary care and antibiotic-free products to smallholder dairy farmers.
Beyond grant funding, TRANSFORM is providing the startups with strategic consulting from EY and access to HUL’s commercial and value chain networks.
BP Biddappa, Executive Director at HUL, said the programme targets solutions that are “deeply relevant to the communities” rather than generic innovations.
HUL shares were trading at ₹2,185 on the NSE on Tuesday, down 0.44 per cent from the previous close of ₹2,194.60.
TRANSFORM has previously supported 23 SMEs in India, reaching over seven million people. Globally, the accelerator has backed more than 140 enterprise projects across 19 countries, claiming a reach of over 18 million people since its founding in 2015.
Published on March 10, 2026