Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business?
The idea for The Arogí Foundation was something that came to me when I saw a deep gap in the lives of children in orphanages—particularly around their birthdays. These kids didn’t have many opportunities to celebrate or feel special, so I thought, “Why not make their birthdays something memorable?” What started as a simple birthday celebration idea soon expanded. As I spent more time with these children, I realized that the support they needed wasn’t just emotional—it was practical too. So, I combined the two: celebrating their birthdays while also giving them the skills and support to thrive in the future. The Foundation quickly grew into a platform that offers not only celebrations but also career counseling, skill development, and life skills training. The recognition we’ve received, including an award from the President of India, has made me even more determined to scale up and do more for these children.
Great Companies: What are the various services provided by The Arogí Foundation?
When I founded The Arogí Foundation, my goal was to create a lasting impact on the lives of orphaned children, and today, our services reflect that. We began by organizing birthday celebrations, and we’ve celebrated over 250 birthdays, spreading 1,000+ smiles across orphanages. But as the Foundation evolved, I realized we could do much more. We introduced career counseling through our AI-powered GuideBot, providing personalized career advice to the children. I also developed skill-building workshops focused on digital literacy, coding, and life skills, all aimed at preparing the children for a future they can build on. We’ve collaborated with 6+ organizations to expand our reach, and our network of 60+ volunteers has been essential in delivering these services across 4+ locations. Each year, we’re growing, both in the number of children we serve and in the depth of services we provide.
Great Companies: What makes The Arogí Foundation different from hundreds of other similar service providers?
I believe what sets The Arogí Foundation apart is our focus on making each child feel truly seen, celebrated, and empowered. It’s not just about providing material support—it’s about understanding the emotional needs of these children and making them feel important. Our birthday celebrations are a way to give them joy and show them they matter. What also differentiates us is our integration of technology through the GuideBot, which offers AI-driven career counseling tailored specifically to each child’s dreams and needs. The foundation of our work is collaboration. We’ve built strong partnerships with schools, NGOs, and volunteers, ensuring that we provide not only emotional care but also practical support to these kids. It’s the combination of empathy, technology, and collaboration that truly makes us stand out.
Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?
The journey hasn’t been without its challenges. One of the biggest hurdles I faced was convincing orphanages and schools to invest in celebrating birthdays, as many didn’t see the immediate value. But once they saw the joy it brought to the children, things started to change. Securing funding early on was another challenge. We didn’t have much financial support in the beginning, so I relied on partnerships, donations, and in-kind contributions. There were times when it felt like progress was slow, but I’ve always believed that persistence pays off. Building the GuideBot also presented a technical challenge. It was a learning curve, but with the help of mentors, I was able to make it a reality. Over time, these struggles taught me resilience and creativity, and they’ve made the foundation stronger and more innovative.
Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for The Arogí Foundation?
Looking five years ahead, I see The Arogí Foundation growing significantly. We’ve already made great strides, but my vision is to scale our impact exponentially. We want to expand our GuideBot to support even more children, and I’m working on making it available in multiple languages to reach kids from diverse backgrounds. We’ll continue to build on our digital literacy programs and expand into coding, entrepreneurship, and AI education. I also see The Arogí Foundation becoming a trusted p
artner for even more schools and NGOs, allowing us to reach even more children. My goal is for the Foundation to empower 10,000+ kids by 2030, equipping them with the skills and opportunities to shape their own futures. With the support of our volunteers and partners, I’m confident we’ll get there.
Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
If I could offer one piece of advice to someone starting out, it would be to lead with empathy and understand the real needs of the people you’re trying to serve. It’s easy to assume what people need, but taking the time to listen and learn from them is what makes your efforts truly impactful. Also, don’t be afraid of failure. Failure is inevitable in any journey, but each setback brings valuable lessons. Stay focused, stay resilient, and keep moving forward. And most importantly, build a community around you—a team that shares your vision and passion. It’s the people who support you that will help you turn your ideas into a reality.