Top 10 Arunachal Pradesh Startups

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In this episode of Startup Subcontinent by Backstage with Millionaires, host Caleb Friesen explores ten of the most impressive Arunachal Pradesh startups.

00:00 Intro
00:30 Wakro Organic Green Tea
1:42 Naara-Aaba
2:48 Arunachal Ivory and Ornaments
4:00 House of Macnok
4:46 Gepo Aali
5:57 APeats
6:29 NOSAAP
7:28 ItaMoto
8:06 Alien Versions
9:05 Norphel Winery

Wakro Organic Green Tea began in 2009 when Basamlu Krisikro started growing green tea after her grandmother needed it for health reasons but had to travel 100 km to get it. Despite locals encouraging her to grow opium, her efforts paid off. Now, Wakro Organic Green Tea sells internationally, and Basamlu Krisikro, known as the “Tea Lady,” has inspired others to grow tea instead of opium.

Naara Aaba, founded by Tage Rita and Takhe Tamo in 2017, produces India’s first organic kiwi wine. Originally aiming to help farmers struggling to sell their kiwi harvest, Tage Rita and Takhe Tamo have sold over 300,000 bottles and gained funding from Shark Tank India investors.

Arunachal Ivory and Ornaments, started by Likha Nana and Nabam Bapu in 2023, uses 3D-printed animal parts to replace traditional materials from endangered species. Likha Nana and Nabam Bapu's innovation preserves cultural heritage while protecting wildlife and was recognized on Prime Minister Modi's Mann Ki Baat.

House of Macnok, co-founded by Ninna Lego and Rakesh Engti in 2017, blends traditional craftsmanship with modern design in jewelry. Despite logistical challenges, they’ve sold 10,000 pieces and are set to reach 75 lakh rupees in revenue for FY25.

Gepo Aali, founded by Dimum Pertin in 2022, revives indigenous crops, starting with adlai millet. Partnering with the Arunachal Pradesh Rural Livelihood Mission, Dimum Pertin has raised awareness, sold out the first millet batch of Gepo Aali, and won a UNDP award for biodiversity preservation.

APeats, launched by Longku Tangam in 2019, is a food delivery platform serving six cities in Arunachal Pradesh. Despite being bootstrapped, APeats handles thousands of orders monthly and Longku Tangam plans to expand it across the Northeast.

NOSAAP, founded in 2018 by Chau Athina Chauhai and team, empowers farmers by setting up processing units for turmeric, ginger, rice, and mustard, involving 575 farmers. Supported by the SFURTI Scheme, NOSAAP expects to exceed 2 crore rupees in revenue for FY25.

ItaMoto, Arunachal’s first online travel platform, was founded in 2020 by Linkam Markia and Omang Badhi. With 350 driver partners and 100+ homestays, ItaMoto has served 15,000 customers and Linkam Markia and Omang Badhi expect 50 lakh rupees in revenue by FY25.

Alien Versions, founded by Ha Tade and Siddharth Madhav in 2023, created FuelV, a smart fuel cap addressing fuel scams. Although Ha Tade and Siddharth Madhav didn’t secure funding on Shark Tank India, FuelV is taking pre-orders to improve fuel transparency for Indian drivers.

Norphel Winery, started by Phurpa Tsering in 2021, produces kiwi wine from family-farmed kiwis. Initially local, Norphel Winery now sells across Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Assam, and Phurpa Tsering relies on government support for growth.