Swati Bhushan

Indian social entrepreneur developing affordable sanitation solutions for underserved communities

Swati Bhushan is the co-founder of InCubate, an Indian social enterprise addressing the global sanitation crisis through innovative toilet technology. Born in Mumbai, Bhushan's work focuses on creating sustainable solutions for the 2.3 billion people lacking access to clean toilets. Her engineering background and experience in rural development inspired her to tackle this critical issue.

In 2014, Bhushan co-founded InCubate with Anshu Sharma. Their flagship product, the 'Ecofiltro' toilet, uses biogas technology to convert waste into energy, eliminating odors and reducing water usage by 90%. This low-cost system costs just $300-$500, making it accessible to low-income families. The company has installed over 15,000 units across India, impacting 150,000+ lives by 2019.

Bhushan's approach combines technology with community engagement. InCubate trains local entrepreneurs to install and maintain the toilets, creating livelihood opportunities. The organization's 'Sanitation as a Service' model ensures long-term sustainability. Recognized with the Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur Award (2017), Bhushan's work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Her advocacy extends to policy influence. Bhushan collaborates with governments to integrate InCubate's models into rural development programs. By 2020, her innovations had prevented over 200 tons of untreated waste from entering water systems annually. Bhushan's story exemplifies how grassroots innovation can drive scalable social change.