Our Story

Our Story

Y-East, initiative of Techno India Group, is a platform that connects all the individual and organisational actors of the sustainability and social sectors from and for East and North East India. In other words: all citizens, NGOs, corporations, investors, start-ups, public entities, educational institutions… which truly care about social and environmental impact and want to do something about it in these regions, in their own desired and possible capacity. Y-East really embodies the belief that cooperation and partnership are the key to greater positive impact, by gathering all these actors through one unique online platform, mechanically generating more offline opportunities to collaborate.

  • Pauline Laravoire

    1. Y-East, Co-Founder
    2. Techno India Group, Sustainability Director
    3. Offbeat CCU, Curator
    4. Technopreneurs Surrogate Ventures, Head of Social Innovations

    I am lucky enough to be an alumna of HEC Paris' Masters Degree in Sustainability and Social Innovation, and have always wanted to dedicate my professional career to something meaningful and impactful. Actually, one of the key messages that I would like to spread across through Y-East is that there are so many financially viable, highly fulfilling career opportunities lying in the social and environmental impact sectors. Y-East dedicated team as well as most of Y-East network members are living proofs!

    When I permanently moved to Kolkata, I therefore started thinking of ways to multiply opportunities for citizens and organisations to work together on social and environmental issues. This mission call increased when I realised that most professionals working in these fields here were overall poorly connected, with the inability to exchange ideas, share their experience, collaborate efficiently and speak with a common voice. I also really wanted to contribute to the rise and echo of East / North East India's voice, and magnify its potential on the national and international stage.

  • Meghdut RoyChowdhury

    1. Y-East, Co-founder and Chief Evangelist
    2. Techno India Group, Director of Global Operations
    3. Offbeat CCU, Founder & Chief Curator
    4. Technopreneurs Surrogate Ventures, Director

    I initially wasn't so much into sustainability and social impact. I have always been fascinated by new technologies, innovations, and entrepreneurship. After a bachelor's degree in computer science at Techno India, Kolkata, I went through HEC Paris' Masters in Management, and semester programmes at Stanford University (US) and Tel Aviv University (Israel). Through these experiences and encounters, I progressively realised that innovation could be oriented towards creating greater impact for society and environment. I started to perceive technology as an enabler and solution-provider for bigger causes, which got me interested into social innovation and social entrepreneurship.

    I also decided to come back to Kolkata despite all these opportunities I had abroad, for the love I feel for my city, and for the numerous opportunities India has to offer to generate positive impact at a large scale and make this country more inclusive, equal, and responsible. Y-East bears and brings these personal missions of greater good in my home region, through partnership and collaboration. People from all walks of life, from all professions, with all kinds of personalities and competences, we all need to re-orientate some of our skills and some of our time to solve issues of this world together!