New Delhi, June 24 (IANS). Six youth-driven startups from across the country have been selected as winners of the 8th Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026. The government said on Wednesday that all these startups have been provided seed funding as well as capacity building assistance.
According to an official statement, these startups were selected for developing innovative solutions that promote sustainable development through circular economy, sustainable textiles and fashion, sustainable food systems and water conservation.
Jointly led by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) India and Citi Foundation, the challenge was run in collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission and implemented by T-Hub Foundation.
The competition received more than 350 applications from 28 states, out of which 50 promising startups were included in the three-month National Springboard Programme.
The three winning startups were provided a seed grant of Rs 3.5 lakh along with opportunities for capacity development and connecting with the ecosystem, a NITI Aayog statement said. At the same time, an amount of Rs 2.2 lakh was given to the three runner-up startups.
The three-month National Springboard Program was a virtual capacity development journey with the participation of 16 industry experts and experts from different sectors.
All 50 startups presented their ideas and models before the prestigious jury during the National Innovation Dialogue. Out of these, the top 20 startups were selected for the Regional Immersion Bootcamp organized at T-Hub, Hyderabad.
This exclusive five-day event gave startups the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, sustainability experts, investors, government representatives and entrepreneurs.
The program focused on strengthening the business models of startups and enhancing their impact through masterclasses, mentorship sessions, industrial visits and mutual learning activities.
Meraj Faheem, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Telangana Innovation Cell (TGIC), Government of Telangana, said that initiatives like Youth Co:Lab harness the power of innovation, collaboration and youth leadership and help find solutions to many of the biggest challenges of the society.
Prateek Deshmukh, Program Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, said that there is no dearth of startups in India, but the real challenge is equitable distribution of opportunities and resources.
“The distribution of capital in India is still limited to cities like Bengaluru and Delhi. Mentorship is not adequately reaching Tier-3 cities and North-Eastern states. Opportunities for women, persons with disabilities and entrepreneurs coming from socially deprived sections are still limited,” he said.
He said that initiatives like Youth Co:Lab are playing an important role in bridging this gap.
Dr. Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative of UNDP India, said that more than 40 percent of the selected startups are run by women entrepreneurs.
He said this reflects the diverse talent present in India’s innovation ecosystem and the increasing participation of women.
–IANS
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