Sahakar Bharati’s Gujarat chapter organised a special training and interaction programme at iHub, Ahmedabad, bringing representatives of cooperative credit societies together with professionals from the startup and technology ecosystem.
The programme explored opportunities for cooperative credit institutions to adopt technology, innovation and professional management practices, while also examining potential areas of collaboration with startups.
Representatives of credit societies from across Gujarat discussed how the extensive grassroots presence and community-based structure of cooperatives could complement the technology-driven and entrepreneurial capabilities of emerging startups. Discussions covered technology-enabled services, automation, fintech solutions and other digital tools that could support the modernisation of cooperative credit institutions.
The interaction also focused on practical opportunities for startups to develop solutions addressing the operational and service requirements of cooperative societies. At the same time, participants highlighted how the cooperative sector’s established member networks and local presence could provide a platform for testing and expanding technology solutions designed for community-level needs.
iHub CEO Hiren Mahanta and experts from various fields interacted with the participants. Sahakar Bharati Gujarat Pradesh Minister Jalpa Jain highlighted the complementary strengths of both sectors, referring to the trust and grassroots connectivity of cooperatives and the technology-driven innovation offered by startups.
Pradesh In-charge Jivanbhai Gole and National Executive Member Hareshbhai Borisagar also participated in the programme.
The concluding session was attended by NCUI Director Nakul Kandu and ICA Youth President Harsh Sanghani, bringing wider cooperative-sector perspectives to the discussions. The programme was centred around the theme “Sahakar Se Navachar”, emphasising innovation and stronger institutional connections between cooperatives and emerging entrepreneurs.
The Ahmedabad initiative comes amid increasing attention to digital transformation and professionalisation within the cooperative credit sector. By bringing cooperative representatives and technology innovators onto a common platform, the programme provided an opportunity to explore practical solutions for improving operational efficiency, modernising member services and responding to emerging needs.
The initiative also reflects the growing role of technology and innovation in strengthening cooperative institutions, particularly as credit societies look towards digital tools, automation and new forms of collaboration to expand and modernise their services.