Startup Grand Challenge
A transformative platform to identify and empower breakthrough innovators building for a resilient and future-ready world
Upcoming
Avaana - Startup India Grand Challenge for Deep Tech Innovation
2025-26
KEY OBJECTIVES
- Identifying startups leveraging cutting edge innovation to solve for India’s most critical strategic imperatives
- Accelerating growth via national recognition, monetary awards and mentorship from industry leaders
- Unifying the frontier tech ecosystem to accelerate innovation-led growth
2
Editions Hosted
~1000
Applications Received
~2.5 Cr
Grants Enabled
100+
Partnerships Unlocked
2
Editions Hosted
~1000
Applications Received
~2.5 Cr
Grants Enabled
100+
Partnerships Unlocked
Benefits to startups
Monetary Rewards (Grants) & nationwide industry recognition to help validate and accelerate frontier tech solutions
Showcase opportunities at Startup Mahakumbh, world’s largest startup gathering (1,000 investors, 10,000+ delegates, and 250,000+ visitors from 50+ countries)
Mentorship opportunities from 50+ Grand Challenge Partners to help startups with insight, resources and partnerships to scale
Masterclasses by industry experts on fundraising, pitching strategies, thematic deep dives into frontier sectors, etc.
Recognition from policy stakeholders with 2024-25 Winners awarded by Hon’ble CIM Shri Piyush Goyal, 2023-24 Winners awarded by Hon’ble JS, DPIIT Shri Sanjiv Singh
Corporate Credits worth ₹88 Lakhs/startup from Google and Amazon and credits + technical support of ₹35 Lakhs/startup
Follow-on funding opportunities from SIDBI, ACT Grants, ShelterTech and Marico Innovation Foundation to catalyze long-term growth
Incorporation into Bharat Climate Forum by Dalberg Advisors to drive thought leadership in frontier sectors
Our partners across editions
Grand Jury Members
Amit Chandra
MD, Bain Capital (India)
Amitabh Kant
G20 Sherpa
Anjali Bansal
Founding Partner, Avaana Capital
Dr. Arunabha Ghosh
CEO, CEEW
Caroline Flammer
A. Barton Hepburn Prof. of Econ., Columbia University
Chintan Vaishnav
Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission
Jon Creyts
CEO, RMI
Muthu Murugappa
CEO, EID Parry India Ltd
Nandini Piramal
Chairperson, Piramal Pharma Ltd
Naveen Tewari
Founder and CEO, InMobi
Rajat Gupta
Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Ravi Chhabria
MD, Netapp India
S Ramann
CMD, SIDBI
Sally Taylor
Minister Counsellor, UK Government
Vasanthi Ramesh
VP Engineering and MD, NetApp India
Stream Jury Members
Aakanksha Gulati
Director, ACT Grants
Aakrit Vaish
Co-founder and CEO, Haptik
Ajith Pai
COO, Delhivery
Akhil Airan
Regional Manager (India, APAC & EMEA), NetApp
Akshay Panth
Chief Investment Officer, Neev Fund
Akshima Ghate
Managing Director, RMI India
Alankrita Khera
Director, ACT Grants
Anil Kumar
GM, ESG and CFU, SBI
Ankit Todi
Lead - Sustainability Strategy and Partnerships, Mahindra
Anson Sando
Head of Energy Programs, IITMRP
Ashish Goel
Founder, OctoLife and Urban Ladder
Aun Abdullah
Deputy Vice President, Lodha Group
Avinash Punekar
CEO, iCreate
Dr. G Ganesh Das
Chief - Collaboration & Innovation, TATA Power
Gayathri Reddy
Founder, NOW Venture Studio
Harsh Thacker
Director and Analyst - Emerging Tech, CES
Hemendra Mathur
Venture Partner, Bharat Innovation Fund
Himanshu Joshi
Director, NITI Aayog
Jagdeep Marahar
Head, Nestle R&D Centre, India
Jagjeet Sareen
Partner, Dalberg Advisors
Madhavan N. RAJEEVAN
Vice Chancellor, Atria University
Mahua Acharya
Chief of Staff, C-Quest Capital
Manmohan Rathi
Jt President - Power Plant, Shree Cement
Manoj Kumar
Founder, Social Alpha
Mirik Gogri
Principal, Spectrum Impact
Dr. Mohammed Adil
MD, Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre
Mridula Ramesh
Founder, Sundaram Climate Institute
Neeraj Verma
AGM and Lead - Energy Efficiency, SIDBI
Pranava Sinha
AGM, Lead - Circular Economy, SIDBI
Prashanth Venkatesh
Marketing Director, Brand Unilever & Sustainability
Priya Mohan
Entrepreneurship Lead (India), ShelterTech
Rajiv Kumar
GM, Green Vertical, SIDBI
Saji Joseph
Director of Engineering, Netapp
Sangeeta Mamgain
Senior Core Team Member, Piramal Foundation
Sanjay Khajuria
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Nestle
Saurabh Kumar
CEO, GEAPP
Shashidhar Subramaya
Head, Corporate Technology, Bühler
Sidhartha S. Das
GM - ESG & CFU, State Bank of India
Sophia Nadur
Managing Director, BP Ventures
Suranjana Ghosh
Head, Marico Innovation Foundation
Swapna Gupta
Partner, Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund
Tejas Rao
External Ventures Manager, Saint-Gobain
Vineet Agarwal
MD, Transport Corporation of India
