The Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society Ltd. (ULCCS), an ICA member from Kerala, India and one of the largest primary cooperatives in the world, is celebrating its 100th year anniversary this year. As part of its ongoing centenary celebrations, ULCCS collaborated with ICA Domus Trust to organise the Coop Pitch 2024 from 16 to 18 October at the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIMK). The event provided a unique platform for young minds to present their groundbreaking cooperative ideas, all focused on making a positive social impact.
This year’s Coop Pitch attracted nearly 50 applicants, with 28 exceptional teams making it to the final rounds. The journey to the competition had been intense, with teams eagerly participating in online training sessions, mentor guidance, and refining their pitches to perfection. Each presentation was a few minutes long but packed with creativity, feasibility, and a clear vision for community empowerment.
The event featured a memorable fire-side chat with Mr. Jaseel CK, Co-Founder of Ignite India and former Ambassador of the Global Cooperative Entrepreneurs (GCE) program, who shared his inspiring journey in social entrepreneurship. Additionally, a panel discussion on Cooperative Entrepreneurship provided thought-provoking insights into the relevance of cooperatives in today’s world.
The competition concluded with three winners:
- 1st Prize: Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS), a women-led auto drivers' cooperative from Chennai, empowering women through economic opportunities and ensuring safe travel options for women and children. The team's inspiring pitch highlighted their dedication to women’s empowerment and their success in managing a cooperative for 400 women drivers.
- 2nd Prize: Raftech Solutions won second prize with their cooperative for seaweed cultivators in Maharashtra, which supports local fisherfolk by creating sustainable livelihoods through seaweed cultivation and product development.
- 3rd Prize: Craftlink from the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) presented a cooperative model aimed at preserving traditional Etikoppaka wooden crafts and strengthening the bargaining power of artisans.
The presentations demonstrated the adaptability of cooperative models across diverse sectors, reinforcing the potential of cooperatives to address social and economic challenges. Participants also benefited from mentorship provided by 13 on-site mentors and four virtual mentors, who played a crucial role in shaping the ideas and strategies of the young entrepreneurs. The event concluded with a lively networking session, fostering connections and collaboration among participants, judges, and guests from various sectors.
Overall, the Coop Pitch competition demonstrated how youth-led cooperative ideas can spark real change. The energy, dedication, and creativity I witnessed, from the online sessions to the in-person mentoring sessions, were truly inspiring and underscored the importance of fostering these kinds of initiatives.
