Usha Venkatachallam

CEO & CTO at Krishi Janani

My experience and deep interests:

• Climate Change & Environment

• Community & Ecosystem Building

• Food

• Technology

I am based in: Tiruppur Area

I was referred to THNK by Katherine Maher.

I am the CEO & CTO of Krishi Janani, a members-only subscription service that enables farm households in India reduce expenses and increase income by aggregating their purchasing power. Krishi Janani is a for-profit social enterprise incorporated as a public benefit corporation.

I have implemented information and communication technology (ICT) solutions and conducted capacity building training in over 20 countries. My expertise is in finding sustainable, culture-specific, and locally-appropriate solutions for resource constrained environments.

I have 15+ years of experience with helping nonprofit organizations creatively apply internet technologies to advance their mission. I have worked with international organizations such as Amnesty International, Heifer International, Human Rights First, Oxfam USA, Planned Parenthood, and World Wildlife Fund.

I am co-author of Making IT Our Own: Information & Communication Technology Training of Trainers Manual, which has been adapted and translated into Arabic, French, and Russian.

Work & passion: women & girls + youth + technology (ict4d) + social change. Currently: tech-enabled agriculture + rural livelihoods. Misc: food, travel, reading, spirituality.