The motivation to start Sustaintech has its origins in the collective experience of its promoters who have created and nurtured Technology Informatics Design Endeavour (TIDE). Set up as a not-for-profit society, TIDE has more than 15 years of experience in dissemination of firewood conserving equipment through local entrepreneurial networks. During the period 2000 - 2007, TIDE has enabled rural / small town entrepreneurs to sell 10,000 stoves and dryers. The total turnover of 14 - 18 entrepreneurs was Rs. 73.6 million, whereby their profits were about Rs. 10 million, leading to a significant reduction of carbon emissions.

The promoters of Sustaintech are also the key members of the management of TIDE. They believe that the efforts of small town entrepreneurs, promoted by them for similar activities but in artisanal industries, were commendable. However, the potential for adoption of environment-friendly products in India and other countries of the south Asian region, is far higher than the level of penetration achieved in about eight years of efforts from TIDE. The primary reasons identified were the not-for-profit society status of TIDE and the limitation of the small entrepreneurs on delivering volumes to achieve scale.

TIDE has been awarded the world's leading green energy prize "The Ashden International Energy Champion 2008 Award", while Sustaintech has been selected by New Ventures India as one of the seven business ventures to be part of their portfolio in 2009.