Built For Impact: Startup Stories of Social Impact

Step into the world of deep-tech entrepreneurs who turn big ideas into real-world solutions. Written by Antara Kulkarni, a second-year English and Creative Writing student at Ashoka University, this book brings together her conversations with startup founders at Venture Center, the award-winning incubator hosted by CSIR-NCL, Pune.

From healthcare to energy and beyond, these founders share what it really takes to build startups—navigating uncertainty, learning from failure and staying grounded in purpose. Supported by mentors, funding and a strong innovation ecosystem, their journeys reveal the human side of innovation.

Thoughtful, accessible and inspiring, this book is for anyone curious about entrepreneurship, impact and the people quietly shaping the future.