Transforming Sustainability through Innovative Software Solutions
In February 2025, at India Energy Week in New Delhi, that brought investors, manufacturers, consumers and other stakeholders in the energy sector from worldwide also saw a startup competition.
The Energy Startup Challenge awards, Avinya’25, an initiative that recognized startups addressing key energy challenges.
In the competition, the first runner-up title went to a Bengaluru-based startup that automates ESG reporting, decarbonization strategies, and compliance.
Sustainability considerations are increasingly becoming vital for businesses.
Investors, consumers, finance partners, shareholders, and regulators demand transparency and accountability regarding companies’ environmental impact, sustainability initiatives, and decarbonization strategies.
Therefore, apart from financial management requirements, companies nowadays also need to do carbon accounting, make ESG (environment, social, and governance) reports, and track greenhouse emissions like Scope 1, 2, and 3.
This demand has spurred growth in sustainability solutions, and India is rapidly becoming a centre for innovative Software as a Service (SaaS) companies helping businesses navigate this complex landscape.
From Voluntary to Vital
Sustainability reporting has evolved from voluntary practice to a near-mandatory requirement. Its benefits include enhanced reputation, increased investor interest, improved stakeholder relations, and operational efficiencies.
However, sustainability measurement and reporting pose significant challenges.
Companies have to manage and analyze vast amounts of diverse data, ensuring accuracy and presenting it to meet varied stakeholder needs. This can be particularly difficult for small companies and resource-constrained businesses.
Sustainability software solutions offer a valuable answer, streamlining data collection, analytics and reporting through cloud-based platforms. These tools automate manual tasks, reduce errors, and provide crucial insights into environment and sustainability performance.
Leading the Transformation
India’s burgeoning technology sector is spurring the development of many ESG solutions, sustainability management solutions, carbon management and accounting software, etc.
Leveraging the country’s tech prowess and expertise in local and global sustainability-related regulations, these companies are creating tailored, innovative solutions for businesses of all sizes.
Treeni
Pune-based Treeni is a cloud-based SaaS platform company that enables businesses in their sustainability efforts and adopt responsible business practices.
Founded in 2014 by Ankush Patel, Treeni’s sustainability management solution offers modular, pay-as-you-go deployment, ESG risk and performance management, analytics, and reporting.
The company’s tech-enabled platforms resustain™ Enterprise and resustain™ SMB are deployed with clients like Quest Global, TATA Motors, and Manipal Foundation, helping them in their sustainability journey.
Breathe ESG
The Bengaluru-based Breathe ESG develops cutting-edge software solutions that empower organizations to achieve sustainability goals by simplifying the complex processes of carbon accounting and ESG reporting.
Founded in July 2022 by Karantaj Singh and Shaayak Chatterjee, the company analyses the data into actionable insights, providing tailored solutions for seamless reporting across key standards.
Breathe ESG enables organisations to measure and reduce their carbon footprints through informed decision-making and making sustainability practical and accessible.
The Bengaluru startup has two software solutions, Breathe ESG for reporting and management and Breathe Zero for emissions management and is working with clients like WeWork, DLF, Embassy Group, Prestige Group, and Ethos.
Breathe ESG was recognized with the first runner-up title at Avinya’25 — Energy Startup Challenge awards.
Updapt
Bengaluru-based Updapt is a SaaS company specializing in sustainability reporting in areas like energy consumption, water consumption, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Updapt’s tech-enabled solution lets companies track, monitor, and report their ESG performance data and clients using its products, including Apollo Hospitals, Cipla, CEAT, HCL, Zomato, and Sun Pharma, among others.
The company was founded in 2019 by Supreeth Rao, Satish Ramchandani, Mithun Suvarna, and, Sangat Babu.
Updapt was Change Started 11 Green Startups of the Year 2023.
Fitsol
Gurgaon-based Fitsol’s solution supports decarbonization initiatives, leveraging global standards and emission factor databases to measure carbon footprint and drive operational efficiency.
Founded in 2022 by Anand Pathak, Akshay Tandon, Sunil Bansal, and Vikas Kalra, Fitsol’s solution aligns with the business’s decarbonization strategies and operational goals.
Fitsol leverages technology to deliver real-time insights for clients like Hero, Hindware, JK Tyre, Suzuki, JBM Group, Royal Enfield, etc. The Gurgaon startup offers solutions for sustainable logistics, waste management, and carbon credits.
Beyond Sustainability
Coimbatore-based Beyond Sustainability enables manufacturing companies and large corporations in ESG and carbon management solutions.
Started in 2021 by Hari Prasad, the startup helps clients evaluate their environmental impact, create carbon and ESG management plans, and implement them through a tech-enabled platform, called BeyOS.
Specializing in GHG emission reduction, Beyond Sustainability uses science-based strategies and technology-driven solutions to minimize environmental impact and enables companies to transition to net zero.
Beyond Sustainability offers services like carbon management, ESG management, sustainability research, etc.
The Future of Sustainability Solutions
Several SaaS companies are poised to play a pivotal role in environmental and sustainability management.
India with its thriving tech sector, growing ESG regulatory expertise, and increasing focus on sustainability, is particularly well-positioned to lead the world in developing software solutions.
The companies highlighted above exemplify the expertise of several innovators empowering businesses to achieve both ESG transparency and a sustainable future.
As awareness of the importance of responsible business practices grows, we anticipate even greater adoption of transparent sustainable management software across industries.
Originally published at https://changestarted.com on February 24, 2025.
