Ashoka Fellowship: Championing the INREM Foundation

Upasana found Dr. Sundararajan Krishnan, founder of the INREM Foundation, through LinkedIn. INREM conducts scientific research on water quality, tests groundwater across India for heavy metal toxicity, and develops low-cost purification solutions deployable at scale in rural and urban communities.

She spent four to five conversations and meetings with him before deciding to champion his application. What moved her was the convergence of three signals: a scientifically rigorous founder with a Stanford PhD who had chosen public health impact over more lucrative paths; a body of work backed by trials and fully transparent research; and strong execution evidence, including field programs designed to reach tribal and rural communities and a demonstrated willingness to partner with governments.

She pitched the case to her internal India team, who agreed. She then conducted a field visit with Dr. Krishnan to his scientific labs, his office, and several implementation sites where the purification technology was in use.

Building the Docket and Presenting to the Board

Upasana combined her field observations with independent research on the economics of water purification and the government's clean water infrastructure priorities. She assessed the timing: INREM was positioned to become an official government partner, and the funding would help them build the team and infrastructure to capture that opportunity.

She assembled all of this into a formal docket and presented it in a three-hour session to the International Ashoka Investment Committee. The committee approved funding for the INREM Foundation.