By Asmita - May 28, 2025
Start-ups in emerging markets are embracing frugal tech, focusing on affordability and accessibility by leveraging local materials and simplified manufacturing processes. Frugal innovation drives the creation of products tailored for resource-constrained environments, such as the ChotuKool refrigerator for rural households and AI-powered breast cancer screening tools like those from Niramai. Technology, especially smartphones and mobile internet, enables the scaling of frugal innovation, as seen with M-KOPA Solar in Africa offering pay-as-you-go solar power systems. Collaboration with NGOs and community engagement are key to the movement, allowing start-ups to co-create solutions that address local challenges effectively.
A man installs a solar panel, showcasing sustainable energy solutions for rural and underserved communities via Why Chinese
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Start-ups embracing frugal tech are transforming the innovation landscape by focusing on affordability and accessibility. In India and other emerging markets, entrepreneurs are leveraging local materials and simplified manufacturing processes to create products that meet essential needs at a fraction of conventional costs. This approach, known as frugal innovation, is driven by the necessity to serve large populations with limited purchasing power, pushing start-ups to maximize impact with minimal resources.
A hallmark of frugal tech is the creative adaptation of existing technologies and the development of entirely new solutions tailored for resource-constrained environments. For example, the ChotuKool refrigerator was designed for rural households, offering an energy-efficient and low-cost cooling solution using basic components. Similarly, healthcare start-ups like Niramai have developed affordable, AI-powered breast cancer screening tools that bypass the need for expensive, traditional equipment, making vital diagnostics accessible to underserved communities.
Technology plays a pivotal role in scaling frugal innovation. The proliferation of smartphones and mobile internet enables start-ups to reach remote customers and deliver services efficiently. M-KOPA Solar in Africa exemplifies this by offering pay-as-you-go solar power systems using mobile payment platforms, allowing off-grid households to access clean energy without large upfront investments. These digital tools lower entry barriers and open new markets for frugal solutions, amplifying their social and economic impact.
Collaboration and community engagement are also central to the frugal tech movement. Many start-ups partner with NGOs, local governments, and grassroots organizations to co-create solutions and ensure their offerings are relevant and sustainable. By involving end-users in the design process and fostering open innovation, these companies not only keep costs low but also build products that genuinely address local challenges, reinforcing the ethos of doing more with less.
