Bamboo First was launched in 2023 and is run by Maharashtra's tribal women who sell bamboo products to reduce plastic use and empower tribal women.

The story of Bamboo First began in 2019 when Gaurav Shrivastav noticed the potential of bamboo in Maharashtra's Tetwali village.

MBA grad Gaurav, passionate about giving back to society, realised that Bamboo, readily available and culturally familiar to the Tetwali tribals, could be the key to unlocking local economic opportunities.

Gaurav explained Tetwali's social setting to Startup Pedia, "Families were forced to leave their homes for distant labour jobs, leaving children unattended and communities fractured to earn a meagre living,"

So, he Started Project Green Gold with Keshav Srushti which evolved into India's first bambo0 enterprise fully owned by tribal artisans, with 253 shareholders, predominantly women.

This initiative has expanded to 23 villages, creating opportunities for 700 artisans to date.

Bamboo First's products include bamboo trays, bowls, and coasters as sustainable alternatives to plastic. They also create personalised awards and decorative pieces.

Initially, villagers were sceptical and hesitant to join due to their daily wage loss and a man approaching village women to work on bamboo products, which would take time to yield profit.

However, Gaurav's persistence convinced 25 women to undergo a 30-day training program.

Their first earnings of Rs. 5,000 ignited their entrepreneurial spirit and led to an international order for 500 miniature bamboo auto-rickshaws.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the tribal women to adapt by creating 51,000 bamboo Rakhis, leading to product expansion.

In December 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the initiative in Palghar. In March 2023, Vikramgad Bamboo Udyog Producer Company Limited was founded, and the women celebrated Raksha Bandhan with ministers in Delhi, transforming their lives.

The eco-friendly brand has a well-defined structure designed to empower women. Each village has a central group of 30 artisans led by a head secretary, who manages the group and its bank account.
Gaurav explained to Startup media, "Bamboo First is the company for the tribal and is run by the tribals,"

"In the first year of operation, the company achieved a turnover of Rs. 27 lakh (FY 23-24). In the last 5 years, the women together earned Rs. 80 lakh so far. Our ultimate goal is to reach a cumulative turnover of Rs. 1 crore in FY 24-25," said Gaurav in an interview with media.

Bamboo First empowers marginalised women to gain self-dependence by providing flexibility, allowing women to work around their household responsibilities while earning Rs. 15,000-30,000 during peak seasons.