While business partnerships occur often, some of them occur to bring about good change in an industry along with profits.
Three Indian startups, iXRLabs, Boson Whitewater, and Glamyo Health, announced collaborations in March 2023 that are expected to transform their respective industries. These startups have tied up with established organizations and platforms to leverage technology, financing, and research, to create innovative products that will enhance user experiences, while promoting sustainability and accessibility.
VR as a pedagogical tool in higher-ed
The first collaboration, between iXRLabs and iVAR Lab at IIT Kharagpur, aims to explore the use of virtual reality (VR) as a pedagogical tool in higher education. Under this partnership, iVAR Lab will provide student experiences of VR modules across various branches of engineering, including civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical. The VR modules will cover a wide range of industrial settings, including machinery, plant tours, and experiments, to ensure the best use of the technology by students. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the advancement of VR technology in education and is expected to enhance students’ learning experience significantly.
The collaboration will facilitate and foster the research and innovation on the applications of virtual reality in education and training, which will pave the way for a new era of immersive learning experiences that can transform the way students acquire knowledge and skills
Dr. Kaushal Kumar Bhagat, iVAR Lab, IIT Kharagpur
Dr. Kaushal Kumar Bhagat, iVAR Lab, IIT Kharagpur, said, “The collaboration will facilitate and foster the research and innovation on the applications of virtual reality in education and training, which will pave the way for a new era of immersive learning experiences that can transform the way students acquire knowledge and skills.”
Inspiring investments in sustainable assets
The second collaboration, between Boson Whitewater and PYSE, a FinTech company that allows retail investors to invest in green and sustainable projects, aims to implement and scale sustainable water infrastructure projects.
This partnership will help us scale our projects and create truly sustainable water infrastructure on a large scale, while also making it a profitable investment for everyone
Vikas Brahmavar, CEO and Co-Founder, Boson Whitewater
Through this partnership, Boson Whitewater, which offers an 11-step filtering system and is equipped with IoT to allow real-time monitoring of water quality and quantity, will be able to support the environmental goals of Pyse’s investors. This collaboration is expected to inspire more corporations and individuals to invest in sustainable assets and help build better water management systems in Indian cities.
Vikas Brahmavar, CEO and Co-Founder, Boson Whitewater, said, “This partnership will help us scale our projects and create truly sustainable water infrastructure on a large scale, while also making it a profitable investment for everyone.”
Converting medical bills into EMIs at no interest & additional charge to patients
The third collaboration, between Glamyo Health and multiple healthcare financing partners, aims to convert medical bills into Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) at no interest and additional charge to the patient.
The financing options are available for patients and caregivers in the mid-income group, with amounts ranging from INR10,000 to 1,50,000, depending on the surgical case. The tie-ups with Fibe, Bajaj Finance, Mahila Money, GMoney, and Unofin are aimed at making healthcare accessible and affordable to all citizens.
Most of the population is just one bad healthcare outcome away from being pushed into poverty making healthcare financing the key parameter
Dr. Preet Pal Thakur, Co-Founder, Glamyo Health
Archit Garg, Co-Founder, Glamyo Health, said, “Healthcare in India faces great inequality. A privileged few have either medical insurance or enough money to access quality care via private hospitals. Most of the population have no option but to avail medical services from public systems, where quality can vary significantly. It is a multifaceted challenge to make healthcare available, accessible, and affordable to all citizens. Of all the patients that we are supporting, at least 20% are availing financing options.”
Dr. Preet Pal Thakur, Co-Founder, Glamyo Health, said, “Most of the population is just one bad healthcare outcome away from being pushed into poverty making healthcare financing the key parameter.”
Read more: Yulu & Zomato tie up to make last-mile deliveries green
These collaborations reflect a growing trend of startups partnering with established organizations and platforms to create innovative solutions that address social, economic, and environmental challenges. By leveraging technology, financing, and research, these collaborations have the potential to transform industries and improve the lives of millions of people.
