Greenovation Circularity Challenge 2026 — ₹20 Lakh Prize for Waste Innovators — Frequently Asked Questions

Winners share a ₹20 Lakh prize pool, which is non-dilutive. Separately, high-potential cohort graduates can access follow-on funding support of up to ₹4 Crore through the EarthON Gurukul programme, backed by the EarthON Blended Finance Platform and the GreenovatiON Fund.

The ₹20 Lakh prize pool is non-dilutive, so winners do not give up equity in exchange for the prize. The follow-on route is delivered as blended finance and investment facilitation through the EarthON Blended Finance Platform and the GreenovatiON Fund, so those arrangements sit separately from the prize.

Registered startups, SMEs and social enterprises in India that are less than 10 years old, with full-time founders, and with a solution at prototype, pilot-tested or market-ready stage. The solution must fall under plastic, textile or food circularity, and applicants from all Indian states can apply.

Neither DPIIT recognition nor MSME registration is listed as a requirement for this challenge. The stated eligibility asks for a registered entity — a startup, SME or social enterprise — that is under 10 years old, has full-time founders, and offers a solution on one of the three circularity pillars.

There are three action pillars. Plastic Circularity covers recovery, reuse and recycling, including collection and sorting, mechanical, chemical and enzymatic recycling, bio-based alternatives and circular packaging. Textile Circularity covers fibre-to-fibre recycling, blend separation, upcycled products, resale and take-back models and Digital Product Passports. Food Circularity covers post-harvest and shelf-life solutions, surplus redistribution, composting, biogas and circular food supply chains.

Your solution should have reached prototype, pilot-tested or market-ready stage. Purely idea-stage concepts are outside the stated eligibility.

Yes. The programme is pan-India and open to applicants from every state.

Applications close on 30 September 2026 and must be submitted through the F6S portal. The challenge launched on 14 August 2026, with webinars held across August and September to help applicants prepare.

Screening and shortlisting take place from 1-6 October 2026, followed by detailed evaluation by the selection committee from 7-25 October 2026. Bootcamp attendees are announced around 30 October 2026. The virtual accelerator then runs from 3-20 November 2026, with a 2-day residential bootcamp and the Grand Finale on 25 November 2026.

Shortlisted participants get a 2-day residential bootcamp for capacity building, mentorship from industry experts, training workshops, networking, pilot and partnership opportunities with ecosystem partners, incubation and fundraising support, market access, and direct connections to investors, global climate finance networks and policymakers.

Submit your application through the F6S portal at https://www.f6s.com/greenovation-circularity-challenge/apply. Include your registered entity details, founder profiles, the stage of your solution — prototype, pilot-tested or market-ready — and how it fits one of the three action pillars.

Greenovation Circularity Challenge 2026 — ₹20 Lakh Prize for Waste Innovators is offered by EarthON Foundation. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.