Akshya Shree

Akshya Shree is a Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 (2021) awardee, changemaker, and social entrepreneur committed to unlocking the potential of rural India through sustainable innovation. She is the Founder and Director of TAD Udyog Pvt. Ltd., a pioneering bamboo-based social enterprise working at the intersection of design, deep-tech, and grassroots livelihoods.

Raised in New Delhi, Akshya grew up with a deep curiosity about India’s diversity. Her parents ensured that travel across the country was a central part of her upbringing, exposing her to the rich traditions, crafts, and stories of various regions. This early connection with India’s cultural fabric later became the foundation for her work with rural communities and indigenous materials—especially bamboo, a fast-growing, regenerative resource.

In 2019, Akshya founded TAD Udyog Pvt. Ltd. with the mission to transform India’s bamboo ecosystem through end-to-end, inclusive value chains. The company works across three verticals:

Silpakarman – a bamboo craft brand co-created with over 350 artisans (80% women) from Tripura and Northeast India. Silpakarman blends tribal craftsmanship with modern design, offering ethical and eco-friendly home décor and lifestyle products.
BeYouTea – The Bamboo Leaves Tea – a patented nutraceutical innovation made from bamboo leaves, promoting gut and skin health. BeYouTea reimagines bamboo as a superleaf for wellness while offering market access to small bamboo growers.
Bamboo Cellulose R&D – a deep-tech initiative focused on extracting high-quality cellulose from bamboo as a sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based fibers and plastics. This project showcases India’s potential in circular biomaterials.
TAD Udyog’s model is grounded in community empowerment. It enables women and specially-abled artisans to work from home, offers raw materials at their doorstep, and supports childcare through tuition centers in rural Tripura. This ecosystem is designed for dignity, flexibility, and generational care.

Akshya has mentored numerous student founders, rural startups, and creative professionals through workshops and incubators across India. Her sessions focus on building sustainable business models, value chain development, and storytelling for mission-driven brands.

Her work has been supported by:
GIZ
Facebook
NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore
HDFC Parivartan Grant
GHRTBI under the NIDHI-EIR scheme
NDBI Ahmedabad

TAD Udyog has also received national awards for textile innovation and circular design, reinforcing its unique position as a convergence point of craft, technology, and sustainability.

Akshya’s vision extends beyond business. She champions the preservation of indigenous knowledge and promotes bamboo as a medium of expression, sustainability, and self-reliance. Whether developing pet-friendly bamboo products, working on rare-earth-free biomaterials, or mentoring future entrepreneurs, her work is rooted in the belief that India’s natural resources and traditional wisdom can lead global innovation.