Frugal tech: The start ups working on cheap innovation

By Admin

27 May, 2025

In an age dominated by rapid technological advancement and hefty investments in innovation, a quiet revolution is brewing across India's grassroots      one that’s not driven by luxury or scale, but by necessity and resilience. These are the stories of frugal innovation      clever, affordable solutions that solve real world problems in resource constrained settings.

From Broken Pots to Revolutionary Clay Fridge

Mansukh Prajapati’s journey begins in the clay rich town of Morbi, Gujarat. Born into a potter’s family, Mansukh’s mornings started at 4 a.m., walking six miles with his mother to gather clay      the lifeblood of their family trade. While pots were a household essential in the 1970s, the earnings were minimal and the social stigma immense. “Nobody wanted their daughter to marry into a potter’s family,” he recalls.

But everything changed in 2001, when a massive earthquake destroyed his home and left behind shattered clay pots. A local reporter’s words      “the poor man’s fridge is broken”      inspired him to think beyond traditional pottery. What if he could create a clay fridge that didn’t require electricity?

Armed with determination but no formal training, Mr. Prajapati embarked on a challenging journey. He experimented endlessly, racking up $22,000 in loans and even selling his house. After four relentless years, he invented MittiCool, a clay fridge that keeps food fresh without power. Priced at $95, the eco friendly innovation is now sold across 300 Indian stores and even exported to the UK, UAE, and Kenya.

“Fridges are a dream for many poor families. And such dreams should be within reach,” says Prajapati, who now employs 150 people and has diversified into clay cookware and water filters.

Lotus Threads from the Lakes of Manipur

In Thanga village, nestled on the banks of the Loktak Lake in Manipur, Bijayshanti Tongbram saw potential in what others discarded. Lotus flowers were plentiful, but their stems were often thrown away. A botanist by profession, she devised a way to extract silk like fibres from these stems.

What began as a sustainable idea is now an empowering social enterprise. Today, Tongbram leads a group of 30 women who weave lotus fibres into elegant scarves and garments. It takes two months and 9,000 stems to make a single scarf, and the women earn about $80 per month.

“This isn't just about fashion,” she says. “It’s about giving women an opportunity beyond fishing      a way to earn, to grow, to be proud.”

Despite her success, Bijayshanti struggles with scaling the venture, citing funding as the biggest hurdle      a common problem for rural innovators.

Smart Farming for the Visually Impaired

In Karnataka’s Vijaynagar, Girish Badragond is working on a life changing tool for blind and partially sighted farmers      a smart farming stick. Combining soil sensors and weather data, the device provides real time guidance using vibrations and audio messages.

“There are so many blind people who want to farm but can’t rely on others,” he says. “This will give them independence.”

While still in prototype phase, Mr. Badragond is showcasing the device at government exhibitions and is hopeful for funding to bring it to the masses.

The Rise of Frugal Innovation

These are just a few examples of India’s growing wave of frugal start ups      enterprises that thrive not on luxury, but on local wisdom, grit, and a desire to uplift. According to Professor Anil Gupta of the Honeybee Network, these innovators often lack formal education, yet solve deeply rooted societal challenges. “Frugal innovation is about making solutions affordable, accessible, and available,” he says.

While these innovators transform lives, they remain underfunded and under recognized. Venture capital typically flows to high tech urban start ups, while rural entrepreneurs are left navigating a maze of government schemes without guidance.

Yet, the spirit of frugal tech continues to flourish. From clay fridges to lotus silk, and from farming sticks to clean cookware, these innovations are sowing seeds of economic and social change      one small idea at a time.