Ashoka’s Influence on Sustainable Entrepreneurship: The Breathe ESG Journey

We spoke to Karantaj Singh, an Ashoka Alum about his journey in sustainability, from co-founding the Deepam Initiative to establishing Breathe ESG, and how his experiences have shaped his commitment to environmental responsibility.

Can you share how your passion for sustainability has influenced your career path?
I’ve always been passionate about sustainability, and that passion has shaped my journey over the years. At the age of 16, I co-founded the Deepam Initiative in 2015, focusing on building climate infrastructure in rural Karnataka. In 2017, I transitioned into the CSR space, deploying capital for Embassy Group tenants in Bangalore, which further honed my understanding of how businesses can influence communities. In 2021, I joined KPMG, working in their Infrastructure, Governance, and Healthcare department. It was here that I had the opportunity to become part of the first ESG Advisory team in India. This experience was pivotal in understanding the complexities of ESG and how essential it is to businesses today. In July 2022, I founded Breathe ESG to build an enterprise operating system that empowers companies to manage sustainability effectively.

Could you share the story behind founding Breathe ESG and what inspired you to pursue this entrepreneurial journey?
The journey of starting Breathe ESG began with a realisation during my time at KPMG. While working with clients across sectors, I saw firsthand how complex and scattered ESG data management and reporting processes were. Sustainability was rapidly evolving into a core business function, yet the technology to support it lagged behind. There were comprehensive systems for procurement, HR, and finance, but no dedicated platform for sustainability management. That’s when I knew the time was right to build a solution that integrated all aspects of ESG into a seamless process.

In July 2022, I took the leap and founded Breathe ESG with a personal loan of ₹6 lakhs. With this capital, I built the MVP and began generating interest. By December 2022, we raised our first investor cheque of ₹1.25 crore from 100X.VC, which allowed us to scale both the team and the product. By July 2023, we had raised another ₹1.25 crore from strategic angel investors, fueling our early traction and growth.

How has Ashoka’s open and liberal atmosphere impacted your thinking as an entrepreneur?
Ashoka’s liberal academic landscape was instrumental in shaping my entrepreneurial mindset, particularly through my time studying under Professor Priyank Narayan. His approach to entrepreneurship emphasised disruptive thinking, and he constantly pushed us to challenge conventional ideas. This mindset was pivotal when the idea for Breathe ESG began to take shape. It made me realise that innovation in the sustainability space, required more than just incremental improvements—it called for reimagining the entire process.

Beyond the classroom, Ashoka’s interdisciplinary curriculum allowed me to view challenges from multiple lenses, while the vibrant campus culture fostered a spirit of collaboration and intellectual curiosity. This blend of academic rigour and creative freedom helped lay the foundation for my entrepreneurial journey, ultimately inspiring the creation of Breathe ESG.

What kind of positive changes do you hope your venture will bring to society?
At Breathe ESG, our primary mission is to make the transition to a sustainable planet affordable, accessible, and efficient.

We recognise that effective sustainability management not only benefits the environment but also contributes to social equity and economic resilience. By providing a comprehensive enterprise operating system for sustainability, we aim to simplify and streamline the complex processes of carbon accounting, compliance, and ESG reporting for businesses of all sizes.

One of the most significant ways we see our venture making a positive impact is through enabling organisations to measure and reduce their carbon footprints, thus contributing to global efforts against climate change. By facilitating transparency in sustainability practices, we help companies build trust with their stakeholders, including customers, investors, and communities. This transparency can lead to more informed decision-making and greater accountability.

Additionally, by supporting businesses in their sustainability journeys, we promote responsible practices that can lead to job creation, resource conservation, and enhanced community well-being. Our focus on technology also allows us to reach a broader audience, making sustainability tools accessible to organisations that might not have the resources to implement them otherwise.

Ultimately, we aspire to be a catalyst for change, helping businesses not only meet regulatory requirements but also adopt proactive approaches to sustainability that align with their values and drive long-term positive outcomes for society.

What insights would you share with students or graduates considering a venture of their own?
You will encounter 99 reasons to talk yourself out of taking the plunge, it’s crucial to hold on to that 1 compelling reason that drives you forward.

This age is the perfect time to take risks. If you don’t take risks now, you might never.

Trust your instincts, stay committed to your vision, and don’t be afraid.

About Breathe ESG:

Breathe ESG is building enterprise SaaS to streamline sustainability management. While ESG adoption and compliance are necessities, 91% of businesses struggle to meet their sustainability goals, mainly due to data management challenges. The platform centralises sustainability data management and enables precise ESG reporting. Breathe ESG is already live and being used by companies such as WeWork, Embassy Group, ESPL, and Ethos. Additionally, it is conducting pilots with well-known names in the built environment sector. Breathe Impact, the social impact solution, allows users to scientifically track the social impact of CSR projects by defining KPIs, assigning targets, and managing CSR finances. The solutions are designed with organisations that have little to no experience in ESG reporting in mind.