A Mission Born of Necessity
For Madhuban Pandey, entrepreneurship has never been just about business; it’s been about impact. A seasoned entrepreneur with experience spanning social and commercial ventures, Madhuban is currently leading SCORE Livelihood Foundation (SLF) as its Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer.
“SCORE Livelihood Foundation was not born out of inspiration but out of necessity,” he shares. “A decade ago, I was motivated by two stark realities—India’s growing unemployment rate despite having the world’s largest youth population, and the systematic exclusion of women from mainstream development.”
These twin challenges, compounded by the escalating effects of climate change on vulnerable communities, prompted Madhuban to take action. Leveraging his expertise and a network of like-minded professionals, he established SCORE Livelihood Foundation, a New Delhi-based social enterprise dedicated to empowering youth and women through sustainable economic opportunities.
Identifying the Gap: Challenges in the Livelihood Sector
While the startup ecosystem in India thrives with technological innovations, Madhuban saw an unmet need: sustainable livelihood solutions.
“The primary challenge we identified was the creation of sustainable livelihoods, not just in India, but across the South Asian region,” he explains. “People’s aspirations are evolving, technology is advancing rapidly, and access to information is greater than ever. The traditional approaches to livelihood development were no longer sufficient.”
To address these gaps, Madhuban and his team co-created solutions with stakeholders, ensuring dynamic and collaborative approaches to employment generation, financial resilience, and entrepreneurship.
The Unique Offerings of SCORE Livelihood Foundation
Unlike conventional job placement agencies or skill development programs, SLF focuses on holistic economic empowerment through innovative models. The organization has launched a range of programs designed to address different facets of livelihood development:
SARALsamudaay (Sustainable Action for Resilience and Advanced Livelihood): An integrated community development initiative.
SHEudyami: A program dedicated to empowering women through entrepreneurship.
SHEsamridhi: A financial resilience program aimed at strengthening women’s economic stability.
SMITA (Sustainable Model for Innovation & Target Market Access): A model for creating and reinforcing entrepreneurial collectives.
ENJOY (Entrepreneurship Journey of Youth): A program fostering self-reliance among young entrepreneurs.
A2-A3 (Agriculture Alternatives – Assessment, Advocacy, and Adaptation): Focused on providing innovative solutions for farmers.
Each of these initiatives is designed to drive long-term impact, ensuring that communities move from merely surviving to thriving.
Overcoming the Startup Hurdles
Launching a mission-driven enterprise comes with its own set of challenges.
“As a bootstrapped organization, we faced multiple hurdles—from talent acquisition and team building to regulatory and legal compliance, and even founder burnout,” Madhuban reveals.
However, he and his team took a strategic approach to problem-solving.
“We remained focused on developing innovative solutions by deeply understanding ground-level issues,” he shares. “Non-core functions such as compliance and IT were outsourced, allowing us to concentrate on delivering impact.”
A game-changer for SCORE was the formation of Friends of SCORE, a dedicated network of professionals committed to quality implementation and results-oriented execution. This network played a pivotal role in securing client confidence, repeat engagements, and sustainable growth.
A Turning Point: Resilience During COVID-19
Every startup has defining moments, and for SCORE, the COVID-19 pandemic was a critical one.
“Just as we were gaining momentum, the pandemic struck, severely impacting our business,” Madhuban recalls. “Our top priority was safeguarding the livelihoods and well-being of the communities we serve—and we succeeded.”
Rather than retreat, SCORE pivoted. The crisis pushed them to diversify their portfolio, explore new verticals, and strengthen their operational resilience.
Today, as the organization enters its eighth year, it stands stronger and more prepared for the challenges ahead.
The Future of SCORE Livelihood Foundation
Looking ahead, Madhuban envisions SCORE Livelihood Foundation as a leader in CSR-driven impact solutions.
“We aim to become the preferred partner for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and impact investors, designing multi-year programs that drive sustainable change.”
Expanding geographically is also a priority.
“We want to scale our impact to diverse regions, ensuring our solutions reach those who need them most.”
A Call to Action: Join the Movement
SCORE Livelihood Foundation is more than just an organization—it’s a movement towards inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Entrepreneurs, impact investors, and changemakers looking to make a difference can get involved in multiple ways—through partnerships, funding, or simply spreading the word.
To stay updated and engage with Madhuban Pandey and the SCORE team, follow their journey here:
