Avinya'27 Energy Startup Challenge — ₹1L–₹3L Prizes, FIPI — Frequently Asked Questions

The challenge awards cash prizes to the three best entries: ₹3 lakh for the top winner, ₹2 lakh for the runner-up and ₹1 lakh for the team in third place. Startups finishing in the top five also receive mentorship and introductions to curated investor cohorts, while the top ten are given certificates of recognition and visibility through FIPI's platforms.

You need to be a DPIIT-recognised Indian startup with Indian citizen founders, and your solution must relate to the energy value chain. Your company should be within 10 years of incorporation as of 1 January 2027, have annual turnover below ₹100 crore, and must not have been formed by splitting up or reconstructing an existing business.

Yes. Being a DPIIT-recognised Indian startup is a stated eligibility condition for the challenge, so it is worth confirming your recognition status before you begin the application.

Yes. Entries are accepted from the ideation stage all the way up to Series C, which covers bootstrapped, pre-seed, Series A, Series B and Series C companies. A concept note without a finished product is welcome — the organisers explicitly invite participants to present an idea and explain how it could benefit the energy sector.

Solutions should sit somewhere along the energy value chain. That includes renewable energy such as solar, hydro and wind; alternative fuels such as biofuels and green hydrogen; low-carbon technologies such as CCUS and e-mobility; and the hydrocarbon value chain covering oil & gas and coal gasification. Functional areas including AI/ML, digital technology and energy trading also fall within scope.

Two limits apply. Your startup must have been incorporated no more than 10 years ago, counted as of 1 January 2027, and its annual turnover must be less than ₹100 crore. Entities created by splitting up or reconstructing an existing business are not eligible.

Applications open on 25 July 2026 and close on 15 October 2026 at 11:59 PM IST. Submissions are made online through the Startup India portal. Try to send a complete application that addresses the identified themes and problem statements, since that is what the screening round is judged on.

There are two rounds. In Round 1, all applications are screened against predefined evaluation criteria and the top 10 are shortlisted. In Round 2, those ten startups present their business case to a jury of venture capitalists, industry stalwarts, energy experts and incubator leaders, and the top 5 winners are chosen from those pitches. Winners are felicitated at India Energy Week 2027.

Avinya'27 is a competition rather than an investment round. What it offers is cash prize money, mentorship, investor introductions and showcase opportunities — the stated rewards do not include an equity stake in your company, and no shareholding requirement is mentioned as a condition of participating.

The top five receive industry mentorship, facilitated introductions to curated investor cohorts and a designated exhibition space at India Energy Week '27. They may also gain access to a shared incubation workspace, lab facilities and prototyping infrastructure, fast-tracked procurement pathways, and the chance to work on Proof of Concept and pilot projects with industry partners. The top ten receive certificates of recognition and enhanced visibility through FIPI platforms.

Write to the organisers at energystartupchallenge@gmail.com. You can also reach Mr. Karan Karwal, Senior Assistant Director at the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI), at karan@fipi.org.in. If you have already submitted an incomplete application, email the organisers and they will advise you on how to proceed.

Avinya'27 Energy Startup Challenge — ₹1L–₹3L Prizes, FIPI is offered by Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI). It is provided as non-dilutive funding.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.