0Degree
Structured First Steps for India's High-Agency In-Between Generation
Pilot Cohort: 17 Fellows
Capital Raise: ₹1 Crore
The Structural Problem
India assumes linear progress:
School → College → Degree → Job
When this works, it works well. When it breaks, there is no institutional support.
Dropping out in India is high-risk:
- Financial pressure
- Parental expectations
- Social stigma
- No safety nets
- No structured re-entry
We do not encourage dropping out. But millions are already navigating uncertainty without support.
The Missing Institution
India has:
- Colleges
- Incubators
- NGOs
- Skill centers
It does not have:
- A structured system for high-agency individuals between paths.
0Degree exists to provide:
Structure. Capital. Ecosystem. Accountability.
Not inspiration. Not rebellion. Not charity.
Who We Back
17 Fellows. Each must demonstrate:
- Proven self-initiated action
- Ownership under constraint
- Execution track record
- High agency
We do not optimize for:
- College brand
- English fluency
- Resume polish
- Social capital
We back movers in constrained environments.
Fellowship Structure
Duration: 6–9 Months
Phases:
- Field Immersion (Ground Reality Exposure)
- Structured Experimentation
- Capital Deployment
- Reflection + Public Artifact
- Decision Framework
Each fellow builds one substantial real-world initiative. This is not theoretical exploration. It is execution-backed clarity.
Capital Deployment
Each Fellow Receives Up To ₹5 Lakhs
Capital is deployed in tranches tied to milestones.
Use cases:
- Building a small enterprise
- Running a structured pilot
- Research + implementation in local systems
- Community infrastructure experiments
- Apprenticeship + field research hybrid models
This is not stipend-heavy. This is action-heavy capital. We fund serious attempts.
Financial Model
17 Fellows × ₹5L = ₹85L Direct Deployment
Operational Layer:
- Program leadership
- Selection process
- Field partnerships
- Legal + governance
- Documentation
- Contingency
Estimated operations: ₹15L
Total Raise Target: ₹1 Crore
Lean structure. High signal. No institutional bloat.
Risk Management
- Capital released in stages.
- Milestone-based deployment.
- Monthly accountability.
- Public documentation.
Failure is acceptable. Irresponsibility is not. Capital discipline is central to the model.
What Success Looks Like
Success is not unicorn outcomes.
Success means:
- Responsible capital deployment
- Durable enterprises
- Informed return to education
- Long-term local operators
- Alumni network compounding over time
The outcome is long-term agency, not short-term optics.
The Ask
India does not need more dropout mythology. It needs structured, responsible risk-taking in a high-pressure environment.
0Degree is raising ₹1 Crore to fund 17 high-agency individuals navigating uncertainty with seriousness.
We are building infrastructure for responsible first steps.