SAAF Cities 2.0 Program by Villgro

SAAF Cities 2.0 is a national program run by Villgro and HDFC Bank Parivartan that supports innovations addressing urban waste and wastewater challenges across Indian cities. The program aims to help deployment-ready startups work directly with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to achieve measurable, on-ground impact in areas such as digital waste systems, waste-to-value, waste-to-energy, wastewater management, and lake restoration. Selected enterprises gain access to a shared INR 2.4 crore grant pool, along with technical assistance, expert mentorship, and structured deployment support. The program runs over a 12-month period, helping startups pilot, validate, and scale their solutions in real-world urban environments, contributing to India's transition toward sustainability and a circular economy.

• Grant funding from a shared pool of ₹2.4 crore.
• 12-month engagement period for deployment support.
• Technical assistance, expert mentorship, and scale-up support provided.
• Focus on working directly with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
• Priority areas: digitisation of waste systems, waste-to-value/energy, wastewater management, and lake restoration.

This program is open to deployment-ready startups or enterprises with proven pilots or early commercial traction, focused on urban waste, wastewater, or water body restoration. They must be ready to work closely with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Eligible solutions should be scalable and address digitisation of waste systems, waste-to-value, waste-to-energy, wastewater management, or lake restoration.

SAAF Cities 2.0 Program by Villgro is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for SAAF Cities 2.0 Program by Villgro closed on 20 Jan 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

Selected startups receive non-equity grant funding from a shared pool of INR 2.4 crore. In addition, they get technical assistance, expert mentorship, and structured deployment support over a 12-month engagement to pilot, validate, and scale solutions in collaboration with ULBs.

SAAF Cities 2.0 Program by Villgro is offered by Villgro, a non-profit foundation. It is delivered directly by Villgro as a grant. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Applications are evaluated based on the startup's readiness for deployment and alignment with program focus areas like urban waste, wastewater, or water restoration. Startups with proven pilots or early commercial traction are preferred. Selection likely involves review, shortlisting, and interviews, though specific stages are not detailed.

Before you apply to SAAF Cities 2.0 Program by Villgro, 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.

SAAF Cities 2.0 Program by Villgro is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹2.4Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.