Climate change poses significant economic and societal risks for the world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has laid down pathways for the world to achieve net zero emissions in order to limit global warming and decarbonization efforts have accelerated around the world.
Building upon the momentum from COP26 where India announced the target of reaching net zero by 2070, India’s active participation in COP29 underscores its leadership role in global climate governance. By advocating for ambitious climate action, supporting vulnerable nations, and showcasing its own climate initiatives, India continues to drive progress towards a sustainable future.
Large-scale innovation is critical in helping India continue to grow its economy without creating further adverse impacts on the climate. India’s booming innovation ecosystem holds the key to unlocking a sustainable future. Continued support for start-ups across policy, capital, and industry can help scale solutions across mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
About the Challenge
The ‘Grand Challenge for ClimateTech Innovation’ by Startup India, in partnership with Avaana Capital, aims to identify and support entrepreneurs building world class solutions to aid India and the world in the climate transition.
Startup India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, intended to catalyse startup culture and build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in India. Startup India was launched in January 2016 under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and has rolled out several programs with the objective of supporting entrepreneurs and transforming India into a country of job creators, rather than job seekers.
Avaana Capital is an early-stage venture capital (VC), investing in disruptive, technology-led innovations to catalyse climate solutions and deliver exponential returns. Avaana Capital manages Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund, India’s first and largest climate-tech VC fund.
Innovators and entrepreneurs working towards climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience are invited to participate in this challenge and come up with creative solutions that can advance climate action in both India and the world.
All entries will be assessed by an eminent panel of leading investors, industry experts, policy makers, and thought leaders, making it a unique and thrilling opportunity.
Note: This challenge will only be applicable to startups that have a valid DPIIT registration.
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
Problem statement:
Unsustainable land use, greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, reliance on chemical fertilisers, high water footprint in agriculture, food wastage, and inefficient food distribution systems, inefficient management of agri residue
Solution examples (non-exhaustive):
Sustainable farming practices – Regenerative agriculture, Vertical/alternate farming, Precision farming. Reducing water footprint in agriculture, Organic fertilisers and pesticides; Agroforestry and biodiversity conservation;
Non-fossil fuel based power sources for agriculture use case- Electric/solar/biofuel based farm machines, tractors, dehydration and drying units, Closed loop use of agricultural biomass- for e.g. meeting farm energy needs;
Alternative proteins/ food solutions;
Automation and mechanisation to increase efficiency in farm operation and management;
Climate resilience…
Energy Transition and Industrial Decarbonization
Problem statement Energy Transition: Reliance on fossil fuels (for non- EV use cases), intermittent nature and associated uncertainty with renewable energy, lack of grid infrastructure for integrating renewable energy, inefficient/ sub-optimal asset performance of renewable energy plants
Problem statement Industrial Decarbonization: High carbon footprint of industries
Solution examples (non-exhaustive):
Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS);
Energy efficiency in manufacturing (non-HVAC solutions);
Renewable energy (non-EV use case)- hydrogen, solar, wind, biomass, biochar, bio-oil;
Round the clock renewables;
Renewable energy plant/asset optimization;
Energy storage (non- EV use case);
Material chemistry for energy storage;
Renewable energy integration into the grids, Smart grid;
Next generation materials for carbon footprint reduction or waste reduction in industries (excluding textile and construction sector)
Mobility and supply chains
Problem statement: Heavy fossil fuel reliance on movement of people and goods, sub-optimal EV charging infrastructure, high upfront cost and lack of financing solutions, range anxiety in EV, residual value management for EV, inefficient supply chain logistics in movement of goods
Solution examples (Non-exhaustive) –
Electric vehicles (passenger, commercial, public transport);
EV powertrain, Battery chemistry for EV use case, BMS for EV use case, battery analytics for uptime, residual value management;
Charging infrastructure;
Sustainable aviation fuels, Alternative fuels for shipping (e.g. Biofuels, green hydrogen, ammonia);
Smart logistics, Supply chain optimization for non-food applications, Last-mile delivery optimization;
Leasing/green financing solutions for EV adoption
Built environment
Problem statement: High carbon footprint of construction industry, construction waste
Solution examples (non-exhaustive):
Smart building management systems- reduced energy needs/ high energy efficiency of buildings;
Non HVAC temperature regulation (e.g. passive cooling design);
High efficiency HVAC;
Next generation construction materials-reduce carbon footprint of construction material;
Solutions for reducing construction waste;
Reducing water footprint in construction
Water and Solid Waste Management
Problem statement: Deteriorating fresh water quality, inefficient waste water treatment, inefficient water management/distribution, unmanaged solid waste, mixed solid waste, lack of efficient waste recycling, lack of scalable solid waste treatment solutions
Solution examples (non-exhaustive):
Water recycling and reuse;
Smart water management systems;
Potable water production;
Waste-water treatment (urban and industrial water);
Circular solid-waste management (Plastic, e-waste, medical waste, hazardous waste, battery waste, waste/scrap metal, tyre waste) [excluding construction and agricultural waste];
Solid-waste treatment (MSW, Plastic etc)
Next Generation Materials (Packaging, furniture, goods, textiles, inks and dyes)
Problem statement: Heavy reliance on petrochemical derived plastics and synthetic fibres in packaging, furniture, and textile industry
Solution examples (non-exhaustive):
Bioplastics Nature/fermentation/biotech derived alternatives to microplastic and synthetic fibres
Recycled textiles, Natural fibre textile; Sustainable dyes/ inks
Recyclable packaging solutions (eg. mono-material packaging), Bio-based packaging materials, Edible packaging
Sustainable wood and plastic furniture alternatives
Awards:-
In its inaugural edition in 2023-24, Grand Challenge united the entire climate ecosystem drawing over 400 applications from innovating start-ups. Key highlights included
– Awards up to ₹ 1 crore
– Cumulative Grants up to ₹ 2 crores from ACT
– Green Seeding Funds from SIDBI
– Credits worth $100K from AWS & Google
– Opportunity to network and mentorship from leading corporates, investors, policy makers, and thought leaders
Deadline:- 28-02-2025
