Greenovation Urban Climate Resilience Challenge

The Greenovation Urban Climate Resilience Challenge is a national initiative designed to identify and support early-stage innovators who are developing scalable solutions to address India's pressing urban climate issues. This program is a collaborative effort by the EarthON Foundation and Greenovation Hub, with additional support from Startup India and DPIIT.

The challenge focuses on five critical problem areas within urban environments: heat and the built environment, air quality and waste management systems, urban livelihoods and health, water and food security, and climate data and finance mechanisms.

Successful participants receive up to ₹20 lakh in non-dilutive catalytic funding. This funding is disbursed in stages, tied to specific milestones, to facilitate the implementation and early scaling of their solutions. Beyond the financial award, selected teams are invited to a comprehensive 3-day residential bootcamp. This intensive program covers essential topics such as design thinking, developing robust business models, and effective impact pitching. Participants also gain direct access to key stakeholders, including policymakers, investors, and city-level decision-makers from across India.

High-potential participants may also be offered an invitation to the EarthON Gurukul incubation programme. This incubation offers invaluable mentorship, operational support, and access to the EarthON Fund, which provides opportunities for potential equity or debt investment of up to ₹1 crore. The challenge specifically seeks founders who are building solutions within, and not just for, Indian cities, emphasizing affordability, contextual relevance, and demonstrable real-world impact in both urban and peri-urban settings.

• Up to ₹20 lakh in non-dilutive catalytic funding for winners.
• Potential for up to ₹1 crore in equity or debt investment through EarthON Gurukul.
• Open to startups and social entrepreneurs incorporated within the last 10 years.
• Solutions must address urban climate resilience in India, across five key themes.
• Includes a 3-day residential bootcamp and direct exposure to investors and policymakers.
• Application deadline for initial submission is May 24, 2026.

To be eligible for the Greenovation Urban Climate Resilience Challenge, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Startups and social entrepreneurs should be at the prototype, pilot, or market-ready stage.
• Founders are required to be committed full-time to the proposed solution.
• The company must have been incorporated within the last 10 years.
• The solution presented must directly address one of the five specified urban climate themes: heat and built environment, air/mobility/waste, livelihoods/health/inclusion, water/food systems, or data and finance.
• The proposed solution must be directly applicable to the Indian urban context.

Greenovation Urban Climate Resilience Challenge is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for Greenovation Urban Climate Resilience Challenge closed on 24 May 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

Participants in the Greenovation Urban Climate Resilience Challenge receive a range of substantial benefits designed to accelerate their growth and impact:

• Catalytic Funding: Winners are awarded up to ₹20 lakh in non-dilutive funding, provided against achieving pre-defined milestones to support solution implementation and early-stage scaling.
• Residential Bootcamp: Selected teams participate in an intensive 3-day residential bootcamp. This program enhances skills in design thinking, business model development, and impactful pitching.
• Market Access & Exposure: Participants gain direct exposure to crucial stakeholders, including policymakers, investors, and city-level decision-makers across India, facilitating networking and potential partnerships.
• Incubation Opportunity: High-potential teams may be invited to the EarthON Gurukul incubation programme, which offers extensive mentorship and operational support.
• Investment Pathway: Through the EarthON Gurukul program, participants gain access to the EarthON Fund, which provides opportunities for potential equity or debt investment of up to ₹1 crore.

Greenovation Urban Climate Resilience Challenge is offered by EarthON Foundation, a non-profit foundation. It is delivered directly by EarthON Foundation as a equity. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

The selection process for the Greenovation Urban Climate Resilience Challenge involves several distinct stages:

• Initial Online Application: Interested applicants must submit their online application via the F6S platform by May 24, 2026.
• Detailed Application Submission: Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a more detailed application between June 1 and June 14, 2026.
• Finalist Announcement: Finalists for the challenge will be announced on June 23, 2026.
• Residential Bootcamp and Finale: Selected finalist teams will attend a 3-day residential bootcamp and finale event scheduled from August 3 to August 6, 2026.
• Funding and Incubation Evaluation: Following the finale, winners will receive milestone-based grant funding. Additionally, all selected teams will be evaluated for potential inclusion in the EarthON Gurukul incubation programme.

Before you apply to Greenovation Urban Climate Resilience Challenge, 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 Urban Climate Resilience Challenge is best suited for startups in India seeking an equity investment of ₹20L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.