Founded in 2008, Dvara Holdings has been a pioneer in advancing financial inclusion in India, impacting millions of low-income households. The company operates through its not-for-profit arm, Dvara Research, which undertakes rigorous policy research, and Dvara Venture Studio, focused on building strategic commercial institutions that address systemic gaps in financial access. Its mission is to ensure that every individual and enterprise has complete access to financial services through sustainable, long-term solutions.
23rd October 2025; Chennai, India: Samir Shah, Executive Vice-Chair and Co-Founder of Dvara Holdings, has been recognised as one of the Meaningful Business 100 (MB100) — a global award programme celebrating leaders who combine profit and purpose to tackle pressing social and environmental challenges.
Chosen from over 900 nominations across 86 countries, Shah joins a cohort of social entrepreneurs, sustainability advocates, corporate executives, and impact investors evaluated by a distinguished panel representing Google, Mastercard, Unilever, SAP, Temasek, and the World Economic Forum. Honourees were assessed on equity, impact, innovation, leadership, and scalability.
The MB100 programme, now in its 7th year, provides winners access to investment opportunities, capacity-building resources, and pro-bono support from organisations including EY, Hogan Lovells, Forster Communications, Green Frontier Capital, Kenya Climate Ventures, and The Portman Estate. Winners also join a global network of social entrepreneurs, impact investors, and corporate sustainability leaders.
Tom Lytton-Dickie, Founder & CEO of Meaningful Business, said, “Samir’s work at Dvara Holdings exemplifies how aligning profit with purpose can tackle complex societal and environmental issues. The calibre of this year’s cohort is outstanding, and we’re honoured to welcome him to our global community.”
On the recognition, Samir Shah said, “This award is deeply meaningful—not just for me, but for the entire Dvara ecosystem. Our journey has been about building institutions that take the long view, solve entrenched problems, and prioritise customer-centricity, trust, and resilience. I hope this inspires more mission-driven founders to persevere even when the path is challenging.”
Stasia Mitchell, EY Global Entrepreneurship Leader and MB100 judge, added, “The MB100 Class of 2025 showcases how entrepreneurial thinking can transform industries and societies. These leaders deliver scalable solutions to global challenges by aligning purpose with profit.”
More details about the MB100 2025 winners can be found at meaningful.business/mb100-2025
