Venugopal Naidu Puvvada, the social impact entrepreneur, tech enthusiast, and Managing Trustee of Hindrise, has brought to light a matter- Why Indian Needs Compassion Tech, Not Just Capital, urging India’s startup and policymaking community to rethink how technology is built and whom it truly serves.
Venugopal Naidu highlights a growing concern: while India continues to attract significant investment in tech and AI, a large portion of its rural population remains untouched by meaningful technological solutions.
“In 2024 alone, India received over Rs 88,000 crore in technology-focused foreign direct investment. Yet, in many parts of the country, people still struggle to get clean water, access to health services, or even basic alerts during natural disasters. This is not a capital problem. It’s a compassion problem.” Venugopal Naidu Puvvada said.
The Concept of Compassion Tech by Venugopal Naidu
Venugopal Naidu Puvvada defines Compassion Tech as technology that must be developed to solve real problems for underserved communities, including disaster-hit regions, rural families, and women in vulnerable situations. These are not just tools for convenience, he explains, but a platform built with purpose and empathy.
Shedding light on the Compassion Tech, Venugopal Naidu Puvvada, further added, “I have travelled to more than 70 districts last year, listening to stories from people living in drought-hit, flood-prone, and tribal regions. What I saw was not a lack of internet or mobile phones. It was a lack of relevant, trustworthy, and local solutions. I feel passionpreneurs must shift part of their focus from profit-led models to purpose-led models where there will be enough scope for business growth and community support.”
Venugopal Naidu Puvvada proposes setting up a Compassion Tech Innovation Fund and launching a Compassion Tech Fellowship by 2026 to support young innovators from rural and semi-urban areas.
Bringing into the spotlight the real impact made by the Hindrise Social Welfare Foundation on the Ground, Venugopal Naidu said, “We have trained over 6000 rural health workers through mobile modules. About 22,000 women’s self-help groups have been digitized for microloans and insurance. Technology should do more than scale, and it should serve. Capital can fund innovation, but compassion can guide it. That’s how we can build a better India.”
Venugopal Naidu Puvvada is currently spearheading the Gau Rashtra Yatra, an initiative of Rashtriya Gau Sevak Sangh, with Narendra Kumar, Bharat Singh Rajpurohit, and Rohit Bisht.
