RBI (Rural Business Incubator) Uttarakhand – Driving Digital Transformation for Rural Entrepreneurs in the Himalayas

• The Rural Business Incubator (RBI) initiative is spearheaded by the Department of Rural Development, Government of Uttarakhand, with program management support from PwC India.
• It nurtures grassroots entrepreneurs across 13 districts, supporting over 3,000 incubatees in sectors like food processing, agri-allied activities, herbs & aromatics, handicrafts, handlooms, and homestays.
• PwC India serves as the Program Management Consultant (PMC) for RBI, helping design and scale incubation programs across the state.

• Lack of online presence → Most businesses operated only in local markets.
• Manual processes → Billing, stock keeping, and customer records were maintained on paper.
• Limited sales channels → Exhibitions, fairs, and small local shops were the only avenues.
• No access to e-commerce or digital payments → Many businesses couldn’t accept digital payments or process online orders.
• Low digital literacy → Entrepreneurs, especially women and rural producers, were new to using technology for business.

The RBI entrepreneurs needed a simple, affordable, and scalable digital solution to empower thousands of rural entrepreneurs.

• Entrepreneurs received their own websites with custom domains — fully branded Custom Business Websites & Online Stores.
• Point of Sale (POS) System enabled both offline billing in shops/exhibitions and order management.
• Real-time stock updates across multiple stores — manage stock, orders, suppliers, and sales analytics with Inventory & ERP Dashboard.
• ONDC integration for future market expansion.
• Complete onboarding & system configuration, so entrepreneurs could directly use the system from day one.
• Thorough training, documentation, step-by-step guides along with a single point of contact for easy learning and fast adoption.
• Continuous operational support after going live, including an ongoing helpline for technical queries.

• Hymgrace – Herbal & natural wellness brand
  Entrepreneur: Mr. Mahendra Samant
  Website: www.hymgrace.com
• The Hill Herbs India – Herbs & aromatics
  Entrepreneur: Mr. Rawat
  Website: hillherbs.in
• Aipan Art Rakhi – Promoting Aipan art
  Entrepreneur: Mrs. Rakhi Gupta
  Website: aipanartrakhi.com
• O’IJA – Artisanal & lifestyle products
  Entrepreneur: Mr. Rahul Pandey
  Website: www.oija.in
• Nitya Spices – Traditional spice blends
  Entrepreneur: Mr. Kamal
  Website: nityaspices.com
• Ecobasket Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. – Eco-friendly products
  Entrepreneur: Mr. Yogesh Bhatt
  Website: ecobasketconsultancy.com
• Mind Club Foundation – Social wellness initiative
  Entrepreneur: Dr. Arun Bhatnagar
  Website: mindclubfoundation.in
• Bhooveda Herbals – Herbal & ayurvedic products
  Entrepreneur: Mr. Shikhar Agarwal
  Website: bhoovedaherbals.com
• The Pahadi Store
  Entrepreneur: Mr. Sandeep
  Website: the-pahari-store.apps.bharatrath.com
• Major Dryfruits
  Entrepreneur: Mr. Tarun
  Website: major.apps.bharatrath.com

• Digital Presence: 10+ entrepreneurs went live with branded websites.
• New Sales Channels: Ability to sell online & offline from the same platform.
• Efficiency: Automated billing, inventory, and reporting reduced manual effort.
• Customer Reach: Products from Uttarakhand are now visible across India.
• Digital Literacy: Entrepreneurs trained to manage websites and POS systems independently.

For the first time, rural entrepreneurs of Uttarakhand are running their businesses with the same tools as large-scale companies.

• Rollout the digital empowerment program to all the incubatees.
• Generate a thriving business out of the unique products of Uttarakhand and showcase them to the World.
• Generate additional income opportunities for the Uttarakhand microentrepreneurs.

The collaboration between RBI and Bharatrath is a pioneering initiative in Uttarakhand that demonstrates how technology can empower rural entrepreneurs & small businesses even in the remotest of areas. By providing digital tools, capacity building, and handholding support, Bharatrath is enabling sustainable, scalable growth for Bharat ke businesses.

• "With Bharatrath’s support, we moved from traditional selling to a digital-first model. Today, we feel confident reaching customers beyond our village and showcasing Uttarakhand’s products across India." — Team Leader, RBI Uttarakhand
• "Before joining RBI and Bharatrath, my business was completely offline. Now with my website and online store, I can take orders from across India. Customers trust us more because they see our brand online. This has given us a new identity." — Mrs Babita Singh, Hymgrace, Uttarakhand
• "We used to depend only on local sales. With Bharatrath, we got our own e-commerce platform and inventory system. I can now manage stock, track orders, and even send invoices on WhatsApp. It feels like we are running a modern business from our village." — Mr. Rawat, The Hill Herbs India (Herbs & Aromatics, Uttarakhand)
• "I wanted to preserve and promote Kumaoni art, but reaching customers was a big challenge. With RBI and Bharatrath, I built my online store where I sell Aipan paintings and handicrafts. Now I receive orders from cities like Delhi and Bangalore. It feels great that our art is reaching the world." — Rakhi Gupta, AipanArt Rakhi, Traditional Art Uttarakhand
• "Managing my fashion business was tough because everything was manual. The Bharatrath POS and website have made things easier. Now I can manage sales at exhibitions and also online at the same time. This digital shift has doubled my confidence as an entrepreneur." — Rahul Pandey, O’IJA (Sustainable Fashion Brand, Uttarakhand)

• The RBI Uttarakhand x Bharatrath partnership has shown what’s possible when grassroots entrepreneurship meets the right technology. Launching region-focused marketplaces (Herbs Hub, Uttarakhand Handicrafts, Himalayan Spices) in the next phase.
• The collaboration between RBI Uttarakhand, PwC India, and Bharatrath is a blueprint for digital rural transformation. By combining institutional support with cutting-edge yet simple technology, rural businesses are now ready to thrive in the digital economy.
• With each new entrepreneur onboarded, we are one step closer to building a Digitally Empowered Bharat.

• Interested in transforming your operations like RBI Uttarakhand? Request a Demo to see how Bharatrath can support your business.
• Explore more inspiring success stories on our Case Studies page.