At Margshala, we enable young people in Uttarakhand to build sustainable livelihoods and transform their communities through entrepreneurship.

Mountain life is demanding—rugged, unpredictable, and relentless. Yet, we see these challenges as opportunities waiting to be utilised.

In 2020, a small group of five aspiring entrepreneurs from Pithoragarh dared to dream big. Fast forward to 2024, and we’ve grown into a community of 175 fellows across 13 districts of Uttarakhand. These changemakers have launched 87 businesses, and we have engaged 700 + youth, which demonstrates that entrepreneurship can flourish even in the most remote regions.

Our Key Programs

• Swarozgar Fellowship

Supports young entrepreneurs in developing their early-stage businesses through hands-on training, mentorship, and seed funding. Operating in sectors like agriculture, tourism, eco-products, and digital services, our fellows show that livelihoods can thrive in mountain communities beyond traditional government jobs.

• Khojshala

Bridges the information gap for youth in the Himalayas, combining knowledge and self-discovery to help young participants explore local livelihood opportunities and make informed career choices

Why Our Programs Matter

In the mountains, aspirations often remain unformed. Many young people grow up without access to local role models who demonstrate that dreams can be built in their hometowns. Government jobs are often seen as the only path to a stable life. In these situations, migration isn’t always about ambition, it’s frequently a response to scarcity: of resources, opportunities, and hope.

With our key programs, we reimage mountain life as a place of possibilities.

Hence Entrepreneurship creates a Ripple Effect

Our fellows become catalysts of change, establishing businesses that are uplifting the communities. They serve as role models, redefining success and showing their peers that thriving livelihoods can be built locally. 

Together, these young changemakers spark a ripple effect of opportunity, inspiring others to pursue possibilities within the mountains, fostering resilience, pride, and self-reliance

To expand our impact, we wish to build digital platforms that connect youth with mentors, markets, and resources, equipping them to grow their ventures and contribute meaningfully to their communities at their own pace. 

Impact so far

• 92% of fellows now have greater clarity about their business models, up from 42% at baseline.
• 100% feel confident in product prototyping, and 66% are proficient in improving their offerings.
• 92% of fellows have built a social media presence, and 67% can independently create marketing content.
• 100% have gained clarity on financial planning, with 50% integrating budgeting into their business models.
• 11 fellows received seed grants ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹25,000, providing crucial support.
• 28% of participants are women, with 50% women in the latest cohort, echoing that entrepreneurship is not gendered. 

We believe that meaningful change requires a collective effort.

After five years of working closely with the youth of Uttarakhand, we are more convinced than ever that entrepreneurship is crucial for unlocking the region's potential. 

With your support, we aim to - 

• Expand digital platforms and mentorship networks to reach more youth.
• Evolve our programs through exposure visits and access to technology.
• Extend opportunities to untapped regions and foster thriving communities.

Together, we can uplift communities, one peak at a time by equipping the next generation of innovators to build sustainable businesses where they are.

Support youth-led entrepreneurship right in the heart of the mountains.