Abhay Bhutada And His Strategy To Give Back

Abhay Bhutada—the chartered accountant-turned-entrepreneur from Latur—is renowned for his transformative leadership in the NBFC space. He climbed the ladder from working at the Bank of India to launching TAB Capital in 2016, and later leading Poonawalla Fincorp, earning praise for digital lending innovation and achieving a CRISIL “AAA” rating. In 2023, he established the Abhay Bhutada Foundation with a mission to translate corporate discipline into social transformation.

Bhutada’s mantra reflects his business success: “Every day is a new opportunity… every failure is a stepping-stone”. At the Foundation, he replicates this results-driven ethos—designing programs with rigorous selection, measurable goals, and follow-up—to ensure philanthropy stays as accountable as enterprise.

LearnByDoing – Empowering Rural STEM Learners

The Foundation’s LearnByDoing initiative embodies the principle that genuine learning happens through touch and experimentation. Launched in 2024 across eight government schools in Pune district, the program distributed over 2,000 STEM kits—featuring microscopes, anatomical models, and periscopes—to students who previously had little hands-on exposure.

Teachers witnessed a dramatic shift: classrooms once dominated by rote memorization transformed into hubs of exploration. Children began conducting experiments, asking “why” and “how,” and approaching science with curiosity rather than caution. While direct academic metrics aren’t available, qualitative feedback indicates this shift is laying the groundwork for long‑term STEM interest and educational equity.

Also Read: Building Futures Through Action: Abhay Bhutada Foundation’s Holistic Approach to Change

Scholarships for Maheshwari Students – Nurturing Promise and Removing Barriers

In partnership with Maheshwari Vidya Pracharak Mandal, the Abhay Bhutada Foundation launched a focused scholarship program in Pune. It selected 25 Maheshwari students—10 based on academic excellence and 15 on financial need—awarding each a ₹1 lakh scholarship to pursue higher education. Though precise selection criteria aren’t publicly detailed, Bhutada’s involvement—known for structured vetting—suggests a rigorous, fair process.

By combining merit-based and need-based awards, the program ensures high achievers advance regardless of income, while giving socially disadvantaged students a viable pathway to college. This dual-track model reflects Abhay Bhutada’s principle of equity aligned with excellence.

₹51 Lakh for Shivsrushti – A Cultural Mission with Impact

One of the Foundation’s most high-profile interventions came in May 2025: a ₹51 lakh grant to Shivsrushti, Pune’s sprawling 21-acre theme park dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Between May 15 and July 15, 2025, entry tickets dropped to just ₹50. The experience—rich with holography, 3D mapping, Time Machine Theatre, and displays on Maratha fort architecture—became affordable for families, students, and senior citizens.

The move broke a key barrier: cost. Previously, entry prices limited visits mainly to tourists or the affluent. Subsidized tickets created a surge in attendance and opened doors for experiential history learning, reinforcing civic pride and inclusivity.

Also Read: Strengthening Education and Culture Together through the Abhay Bhutada Foundation

Layered Impact Across Education, Culture & Opportunity

Taken together, these programs create a powerful triad of societal influence:

• STEM Engagement: LearnByDoing addresses resource gaps in rural education, nurturing inquisitive minds at an early stage.

• Academic & Social Mobility: Scholarships counter income-based exclusion for high-performing students from the Maheshwari community.Cultural Inclusion: The Shivsrushti grant redefines heritage access, shifting history from textbook to immersive experience for the masses.

  
  

This integrated approach reflects a holistic vision: education isn't limited to schools—it includes community heritage and individual empowerment. The ripple effects—students inspired to pursue STEM, scholars able to continue studies, families connecting with their roots—extend far beyond immediate beneficiaries.

A Blueprint for Strategic Philanthropy

What differentiates the Abhay Bhutada Foundation is its corporate-style approach to social investment. Each initiative is conceived with measurable objectives, transparent partner selection, and follow-through. The Shivsrushti discount program included online booking and crowd management, ensuring the subsidy served actual students and families, not just free-riders.

Similarly, the scholarship and kit-distribution models reflect planning, auditing, and evidence-based refinement. Bhutada’s ongoing engagement—tracking outcomes and tweaking delivery—echoes the rigor he applied in building digital-lending NBFCs.

Also Read: Rediscovering History Through Experience The Cultural Importance of Shivsrushti Theme Park

Conclusion

In just under two years, the Abhay Bhutada Foundation has evolved from a corporate leader’s vision into a catalyst for social change. By integrating STEM learning, equitable scholarships, and accessible heritage experiences, the Foundation touches on education, empowerment, and cultural pride—essentials for sustainable societal growth.

Under Abhay Bhutada’s leadership, philanthropy isn’t just charity—it’s strategic investment. The Foundation’s initiatives in Maharashtra offer a scalable template: when business acumen meets measurable intent, giving becomes both compassionate and consequential.

As Pune’s classrooms buzz with science, scholars pursue higher education unburdened, and families walk through Shivsrushti’s gates, the impact is visible. Each STEM kit, scholarship cheque, and subsidized ticket solidifies a legacy: purposeful giving that transforms lives and communities.