#StartupsVsCovid19: The Startup-Led Funds Accepting Donations To Help India Fight The Second Wave

India is facing its worst humanitarian crisis, with approximately 240+ people testing positive of Covid-19 every minute. There is no vacancy in many private hospitals, limited supply of oxygen and medicines and, worst of all, no place in crematoriums and morgues. While the government of India has said it is doing everything to manage the situation, in one way, the onus has fallen on the common citizens to keep India standing in this time of need.

Over the last few weeks, several entrepreneurs, investors and venture funds have once again joined forces in order to help India survive the second wave of Covid-19. While many have launched funds to improve the oxygen supply, others have offered their office spaces to continue the country’s largest vaccination programme. Startups are also collecting funds to help distribute food to those most affected by the pandemic.

While we all are in this together, here are few funds you can contribute in, to do you bit:

• Give India Second Wave Covid Relief Fund
  

  Crowdfunding platform Give India has set up campaigns to seek donations for several initiatives that would help boost oxygen supply in the country, feed families struggling during the second wave and provide sanitary napkins to women during the pandemic. The platform has raised INR 224 Cr since April 2020 from 3.52 Lakh donors.

  You Can Donate Here
  
  

• Paytm Foundation: Oxygen For India
  

  Digital payments giant Paytm’s not-for-profit entity Paytm Foundation has launched a special oxygen for India fund in order to source and donate 30,000 oxygen concentrators across the country. The company is looking to raise INR 10 Cr for this initiative, and will match the contributions received.

  “India needs your help with oxygen shortage. We have sourced supplies of different sizes of oxygen concentrators. We want to double the count we order and bring here,” Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma said in a tweet.

  You Can Donate Here

• Zomato Feeding India: Help Save My India
  

  Zomato’s not-for-profit Zomato Feeding India has kickstarted the “Help Save My India” initiative in association with logistics startup Delhivery to source oxygen and related supplies for hospitals and families in need. The company has also invited other startups/companies to take part in this initiative, by writing to them at d@zomato.com or contact@feedingindia.org. The food aggregator business is looking to raise INR 50 Cr for this initiative.

  Domestic Users Can Donate Here

  Intl Users Can Donate Here

• Action Covid-19 Team
  

  Action Covid-19 Team, a grant launched by a group of prominent Indian startup founders and investors in early March 2020, is looking to raise another INR 75 Cr to provide home health management and oxygen solutions  as well as supplement the medical workforce. The grant has already raised INR 50 Cr through its network and continues to look for donations to raise INR 25 Cr. Those interested can donate up to INR 50 Lakh (domestic donation) or $70,000 (international donations) on ACT’s website. For donations larger than the above mentioned account, individuals or companies can email ACT at donations@actgrants.in.

  You Can Donate To ACT Fund Here

• CRED: Coins For Donation

  Kunal Shah-led credit card bill payment platform CRED is looking to source 1 Bn litre of oxygen for those in need. For this, the fintech company has allowed its users to donate CRED coins as a part of these efforts. Each of these coins represent every rupee in credit card bills that the customers pay using the app.

  The company, in partnership with crowdfunding platform Milaap, announced the initiative on (April 26, where every 10,000 CRED Coins will go towards sending 1,000 litre of oxygen to hospitals.
  
  You Can Donate To CRED Here

• Doctors For You
  

  International non-profit health organisation Doctors For You is seeking donations to provide an efficient, effective and equitable distribution of health care for everyone across six states in India. The first 10 donations will be matched up to 500% and the rest up to 200%.

  “As I said earlier, many of us can contribute individually and anonymously, but this is to join hands in giving. To encourage us to step forward with contributions that can have a multiplier effect. To remove “giving hesitancy” in this moment of crisis, we need everyone to help!” said Haresh Chawla, partner at True North and an active angel investor.

You can find out more verified organisations to donate to at the India Covid Relief website, which is started by The Product Folks.

More organisations and donations will be added to list…

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