YouthNet, Nagaland’s first and largest youth development and social enterprise, has been named one of five national finalists for the 17th Social Entrepreneur of the Year (SEOY) India 2026 Award.
The recognition was announced at a ceremony in New Delhi by the Jubilant Bhartia Foundation and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, a sister organisation of the World Economic Forum. Nuneseno Chase, Director and Chief Functionary of YouthNet, represented the organisation among the five finalists selected from across India.
YouthNet was recognised for its work in youth-led development through education, livelihoods, entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability across Nagaland and the wider Northeast.
The 2026 SEOY India Award was presented to Nidhi Pant, co-founder of S4S Technologies, for developing biotechnology-based solutions that convert agricultural waste into eco-friendly products for smallholder women farmers. The other finalists were recognised for work in healthcare, agriculture, disability-inclusive livelihoods and youth empowerment.
Chief Guest N K Singh, former Rajya Sabha member and former chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, described the finalists as “people who have made a difference in their lives, transcending barriers to build a more wholesome society”.
Dr François Bonnici, Director of the Schwab Foundation, said the finalists demonstrated how social entrepreneurship can address complex challenges through innovation and systems-level thinking.
For YouthNet, the recognition marks more than two decades of work since its establishment in 2006. The organisation supports entrepreneurs, livelihoods and NGOs across the Northeast through initiatives focused on environmental education, entrepreneurship incubation, women’s economic empowerment and the Made in Nagaland brand.
“This is not one person’s achievement. It belongs to every entrepreneur, artisan and community YouthNet has walked alongside these past years, and to Nagaland itself,” Chase said.