Challenge areas to be addressed

Environmental and climate action (Details: Climate change)

Overview

Pooling unused resources within communities to reduce waste and build sustainable local networks.

Target region / country

Japan, South Asia – India

Details

currently Bootstrapped

Category

Funding (investment/subsidies/donations etc.)

Details

Human resources: A core team with experience in development (Dart/Flutter, Node.js), UX design, operations, and community outreach. Know-how: Deep understanding of circular economy models, hyperlocal pooling mechanisms, and behavioral nudges for sustainable actions. Network / Connections: Partnerships with NGOs, local institutions, and college communities across 5 Indian states; growing relationships with recyclers and food banks. Technology: A functioning tech platform (mobile app and backend) with GIS-based radius filtering and in-app communication tools. Services / Products: The Picapool app, which enables resource sharing (food, clothes, tools, e-waste, cab pooling) within 1–5 km. Data: Insights from 3,200+ users on sharing behavior, pooling frequency, and category-specific needs (e.g., books vs. food). Field for demonstration or pilot testing: Operational in 5 colleges and residential communities—ideal environments for live pilots and testing circular sharing models.

Category

Technology, Service/Product, Customer base, Know-how, Network/Connection, Data, Media

Reference (JICA-owned assets)

• The Challenges and Business Needs of Developing Countries
• JICA Global Agenda

Tokyo, Nagoya