Greenovation Circularity Challenge — Up to ₹20L for Waste Startups

The Greenovation Circularity Challenge is a national competition organised by Greenovation Hub, the flagship accelerator of SwitchON Foundation, and supported by EarthON Foundation. Its premise is a shift away from the usual make-use-throw-away habit: plastic, textile and food leftovers are treated as inputs for new products and new businesses.

Around 10 companies are backed each year. Winners draw from a ₹20 lakh prize pool, paid out as non-dilutive awards, so founders hand over no equity in return for the money. Selected teams also join a 2-day residential bootcamp, where technical, operational and business-model gaps are worked on with mentors.

Applications are welcome across the maturity curve, from a working prototype through to a venture already selling in the market. The organisers are looking for answers that are affordable, practical to run and able to scale, and that suit Indian conditions. Areas of interest include how waste is collected and sorted, newer forms of recycling, packaging designed to circulate, handling of textile and food waste, and turning by-products into something saleable.

The broader goal is to move promising circular-economy ventures from a good idea to measurable environmental and social impact in India. Cash is only part of the offer: teams get industry exposure, a showcase in front of investors and policy stakeholders, and the chance to progress into a structured acceleration track with follow-on funding behind it.

• Up to ₹20 lakh in non-dilutive prize money per company
• Total prize pool of ₹20 lakh; roughly 10 companies backed each year
• Focused on plastic, textile and food waste circularity
• 2-day residential bootcamp plus mentorship and industry exposure
• High-potential teams can progress to EarthON Gurukul with follow-on investment of up to ₹4 crore
• Applications submitted online via F6S; no deadline has been announced

The challenge is open to startups and social enterprises building around circularity for plastics, textiles or food.

• Your solution should be at prototype, pilot-tested or market-ready stage — the organisers accept ventures anywhere along that range.
• Founders must be able to commit to the venture full-time.
• The company needs to be incorporated and registered, and no more than 10 years old.
• The solution has to be applicable and relevant to India.

Prior funding is not a filter. Whether you have raised nothing yet, are in the middle of a round, or already generate revenue, you can apply — the challenge does not require an existing investment or turnover history.

Greenovation Circularity Challenge — Up to ₹20L for Waste Startups is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Greenovation Circularity Challenge — Up to ₹20L for Waste Startups accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

Winners share a ₹20 lakh prize pool, and an individual company can receive up to ₹20 lakh. The awards are non-dilutive: the prize money comes without any equity changing hands.

Beyond cash, selected participants get:

• A 2-day residential bootcamp covering technical, operational and business-model support.
• Mentorship from people working in the circular economy space.
• Visibility and networking — the chance to present to investors, industry leaders and policy stakeholders.
• Incubation-style support as they refine and scale their solution.

High-potential participants are also considered for EarthON Gurukul, a structured acceleration programme that offers further mentorship and growth support, along with potential equity or debt investment of up to ₹4 crore through the EarthON Blended Finance Platform and the GreenovatiON Fund. That follow-on route sits after the challenge itself and is separate from the prize money.

Greenovation Circularity Challenge — Up to ₹20L for Waste Startups is offered by Greenovation Hub. It is delivered directly by Greenovation Hub as a competition. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

• Application submission: You fill in the online application form on the F6S platform, giving details about your startup, your solution, your team and the impact you expect to create.
• Initial screening: The Greenovation Hub team reviews every application for eligibility and for how well it fits the focus areas — plastics, textiles or food circularity — along with innovation and scalability.
• Shortlisting: Promising applicants are shortlisted for deeper evaluation. This stage may involve an interview or a request for additional documentation.
• Selection committee review: Shortlisted ventures may be invited for detailed discussions or a presentation before a panel that includes experts from Greenovation Hub, EarthON Foundation and industry partners.
• Bootcamp selection: Finalists are chosen to take part in the 2-day residential bootcamp.
• Prizes and post-programme support: Winners receive their non-dilutive cash prizes, and high-potential participants are considered for the EarthON Gurukul acceleration programme and possible follow-on funding.

Final decisions weigh the likely impact of the innovation, its scalability, the strength of the team and how well the solution fits the Indian context.

Before you apply to Greenovation Circularity Challenge — Up to ₹20L for Waste Startups, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

Greenovation Circularity Challenge — Up to ₹20L for Waste Startups is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹20L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.