**Executive Summary**
The 8th edition of the Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026 concluded at T-Hub, Hyderabad, recognizing six youth-led startups for innovations in sustainability and the green economy. Co-led by UNDP India, Citi Foundation, and Atal Innovation Mission, the initiative evaluated over 350 applicants, culminating in a final jury selection on June 18, 2026. The program provided seed grants and capacity-building support to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Thematic Focus Areas**
* **Circular Economy Innovations:** Solutions focused on waste reduction and resource efficiency.
* **Sustainable Textiles and Fashion:** Innovations in eco-friendly garment production and materials.
* **Sustainable Food Systems and Water Conservation:** Technologies addressing food security and water scarcity.
**Program Structure and Selection Process**
* **Application Stage:** Received more than 350 applications from startups across 28 Indian states.
* **National Springboard Programme:** 50 high-potential startups underwent a three-month virtual capacity-building journey with 16 industry mentors.
* **Regional Immersion Bootcamp:** The top 20 startups participated in a five-day intensive program (June 15–19, 2026) featuring masterclasses, site visits, and mentorship.
* **Final Evaluation:** Six startups were selected as winners and runners-up based on scalability and impact potential.
**Awards and Recognition**
* **Winners:** NavaPrayoga Labs LLP (Grassip), UnBubble, and Ecorenowa Solutions Pvt. Ltd. each received seed grants of ₹3,50,000.
* **Runners-up:** Eco Cushion, Vasudeva Innovations, and WomenasticCO each received ₹2,20,000.
* **Additional Benefits:** All six startups gained access to capacity-building opportunities and the broader innovation ecosystem.
**Inclusivity and Reach**
* More than 40% of the selected ventures are women-led.
* The initiative specifically aims to improve the distribution of capital and mentorship to Tier-3 cities, the North-East, and socially disadvantaged founders.
**Impact Analysis**
**Winning and Runner-up Startups**
**Impact:** These enterprises received critical financial seed grants, industry mentorship, and access to a network of investors and sustainability experts to scale their business models.
**Action Required:** Winners must utilize the provided grants and ecosystem access to further develop their solutions and transition their ideas into measurable environmental impact.
**Youth Entrepreneurs and Applicants**
**Impact:** Participants across India gained access to the National Springboard Programme, providing them with three months of specialist-led capacity building.
**Action Required:** Aspiring innovators should align their solutions with circular economy and sustainability themes to participate in future editions of the National Innovation Challenge.
**Organizing Partners (UNDP India, Citi Foundation, AIM, T-Hub)**
**Impact:** These organizations have established a platform to localize SDGs and address the "distribution problem" of capital and mentorship in India’s startup ecosystem.
**Action Required:** Partners must continue to nurture the innovation ecosystem and provide ongoing support to ensure the selected ventures can effectively contribute to India’s climate and development goals.
Key Entities Referenced
Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge: The primary initiative and competition aimed at empowering youth-led startups to advance sustainability and circular economy solutions in India.
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): A flagship initiative of NITI Aayog that co-leads the challenge to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship through world-class hubs.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India: The international organization co-leading the initiative to foster social innovation and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
T-Hub, Hyderabad: The primary implementation partner and startup incubator that hosted the National Innovation Challenge's regional bootcamp and finale.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The global policy framework which serves as the core objective and guiding criteria for the startups and innovations recognized in the challenge.
NITI Aayog
Six Youth-Led Sustainability Startups Win Youth
Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026
Top innovators in circular economy, sustainable textiles, and
food systems honoured at T-Hub, Hyderabad; selected from
more than 350 applicants across 28 states
Posted On: 24 JUN 2026 11:21AM by PIB Delhi
Six youth-led startups from across India have been recognized as winners of the 8th edition of the Youth
Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026 for developing innovative solutions that advance
sustainability through circular economy innovations, sustainable textiles and fashion, and sustainable food
systems and water conservation.
Co-led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India and Citi Foundation, in partnership
with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), and implemented by T-Hub Foundation, the Youth Co:Lab National
Innovation Challenge has emerged as one of India's foremost platforms for empowering youth-led
innovation that accelerates progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year, the challenge received over 350 applications from youth-led startups across 28 states. Following
a rigorous selection process, 50 high-potential startups were enrolled in the National Springboard
Programme, a three-month virtual capacity-building journey supported by a curated group of 16 industry
mentors and domain specialists.
The participating startups worked across three thematic areas:• Sustainable Textiles and Fashion
• Circular Economy Innovations
• Sustainable Food Systems and Water Conservation
All 50 startups pitched before a distinguished jury during the National Innovation Dialogue held on 4th
June 2026. Following the evaluation, the top 20 startups advanced to the Regional Immersion Bootcamp
hosted at T-Hub, Hyderabad from 15th to 19th June 2026.
The five-day immersive programme brought together ecosystem leaders, sustainability experts, investors,
government stakeholders and entrepreneurs through masterclasses, mentorship sessions, site visits and
peer learning opportunities designed to strengthen business models and scale impact.
Following a final jury evaluation on 18 June 2026, six startups were selected for their scalable, high-
impact solutions.
The three winning startups received seed grant support of ₹3,50,000 each, along with capacity-building
opportunities and ecosystem access. The three runners-up were awarded ₹2,20,000 each in recognition of
their promising contributions and potential for scale.
Winners: NavaPrayoga Labs LLP (Grassip), UnBubble and Ecorenowa Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Runners Up: Eco Cushion, Vasudeva Innovations and WomenasticCO
The awards were presented in the presence of senior representatives from UNDP, AIM, T-Hub,
government institutions, investors and innovation ecosystem leaders.
Delivering the special address on Building India's Green Economy: Youth, Capital and the Next Decade of
Innovation, Meraj Faheem, CEO, Telangana Innovation Cell (TGIC), Government of Telangana,
said, "Initiatives like Youth Co:Lab reinforces the power of innovation, collaboration, and youth
leadership in addressing some of our most pressing challenges. We are proud to have been part of this
journey and remain committed to nurturing ecosystems that enable young changemakers to transform
ideas into meaningful impact."
“India does not have a startup problem. India has a distribution problem. A distribution of capital — too
concentrated in Bangalore and Delhi. A distribution of mentorship — too thin in Tier-3 and the North-
East. A distribution of opportunity — too narrow for women, persons with disabilities, and founders fromsocially disadvantaged backgrounds. Programmes like Youth Co:Lab exist to fix that distribution problem.
And the evidence we are unveiling today suggests they are starting to,” said Prateek Deshmukh, Program
Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog.
“One of India's greatest resources is its youth dividend. With nearly 65 percent of the population under the
age of 35, the country's ability to meet its development and climate goals will depend on how effectively
we support young innovators to turn ideas into action. More than 350 startups stepped forward with
solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time, from waste and water scarcity to
unsustainable production systems. More than 40 percent of the selected ventures are women-led,
demonstrating the diversity of talent driving India's innovation ecosystem. With the support of our
partners, we are proud to invest in a generation that is actively building a better future, “ said Dr. Angela
Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India.
The finale also featured a panel discussion on "Inclusion as Infrastructure: Building Innovation
Ecosystems That Work for Everyone", moderated by Pankaj Vaish, Head, Startup for GCCs, T-Hub.
Panellists included Shravya Kanithi (Senior Professional for Learning and Inclusion), Manabendra Sanyal
(CEO, Youth Aid Foundation), and Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli (Development Professional and Member,
Supreme Court of India constituted Justice Asha Menon Advisory Committee).
A second panel, "Betting on Youth: What Investors and Institutions Look for in the Next Generation of
Impact Founders", was moderated by Vitasta Tiwari, Innovation Lead, AIM, and featured Sidhartha
Mohanty, Founder, Brahma Kamal and Angel Investor; Viiveck Verma, Founder and CEO, Upsurge
Global; Amit Kumar, Head, Sustainable Inclusive Growth, UNDP India; Prateek Deshmukh, Program
Lead, AIM; and Padmavathi Annapurna, Vice Chairperson, Skill Development, ALEAP.
About Youth Co:Lab
Co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation,
Youth Co:Lab aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and
invest in youth so that they can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. Read more about Youth Co:Lab here.
About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)AIM including Self-Employment and Talent Utilisation (SETU) is the Government of India’s endeavor to
promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Its objective is to serve as a platform for the
promotion of world-class innovation hubs, grand challenges, start-up businesses, and other self-
employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas.
About UNDP
UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories, supporting efforts to eradicate poverty and reduce
inequalities and exclusion. In India, UNDP partners with the Government of India to localize and
accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals. It promotes sustainable and inclusive growth, climate
action, and stronger energy and environmental systems. UNDP also supports resilience building and health
system strengthening across all states and union territories. For more information, visit https://www.undp.
org/india
About Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income
communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyse job
opportunities for youth and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant communities. The Citi
Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people
to fulfil our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifou
ndation.com.
About T-Hub
T-Hub is the world’s largest startup hub, supporting founders from ideation to scale through programs,
partnerships, and global access anchoring some of the world’s most significant incubation and innovation
initiatives.
It brings together startups, corporates, academic institutions, government bodies, investors, and global
markets to support founders from ideation to scale. Through cohort-based initiatives across sectors, T-Hub
enables founders to engage with leading mentors and access structured, stage-appropriate support, visit w
ww.t-hub.co
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