WEALTH & WISDOM

London-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Darshita Gillies is using technology to connect impact investors with those doing good in the world

- Aekta Kapoor

Founder and CEO of Maanch, a multiple award-winning global impact platform for investors, corporates and the philanthropy ecosystem, Darshita Gillies’ journey goes “from the bottom 1 percent to the top 1 percent for the whole 100 percent”. Born in Mumbai into a “scheduled-class” non-Englishspeaking conservative family, her determination to create a better future for herself and her family led her not only to the “conventional” kind of success and joy, but also provoked her to ask a bigger question: “What if the whole world is my family? What would I do for a collectively successful future? And my answer to this is Maanch,” says the London-based entrepreneur, impact investor and philanthropist.

Launched in 2018, Maanch is a technology platform that connects impact investors, companies and philanthropists with those who need it the most. Having earned a client base of over 700 organisations in 30 countries in less than three years, Maanch helps companies and asset managers in re-allocating capital and resources towards achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals, while also enabling to them evaluate the impact of their investment and report it to their stakeholders in an efficient way.

On the other side, Maanch serves nonprofits and foundations by enabling operational efficiencies, cutting down the cost of fundraising and impact measurement activities.