Greenovation DRE for Livelihoods Challenge – EarthON & Startup India

The Greenovation Renewable Energy for Livelihood Challenge is a structured grant programme supported by Startup India and DPIIT, designed to identify, fund, and scale clean energy innovations that improve livelihoods in India's rural and peri-urban communities. Run by Greenovation Hub and EarthON Foundation, the challenge funds 10 companies per year with up to ₹20 lakh each in non-dilutive catalytic funding , no equity taken.

The programme targets decentralized renewable energy (DRE) solutions across six broad problem areas: cold chain and food preservation, solar-powered irrigation and water access, productive use and rural livelihoods, operations and service ecosystems, women-led DRE enterprises, and data and finance platforms. Specific use cases include solar cold rooms, solar-powered fish and food preservation, community water purification, DRE-powered livelihood equipment, pay-per-use energy services, predictive maintenance tools, and digital platforms for performance monitoring and payments.

Beyond the grant, selected startups participate in a 3-day residential bootcamp covering technical, operational, and strategic skills. High-potential participants may be invited into the EarthON Gurukul, a structured incubation programme that offers mentorship, growth support, and potential equity or debt investment through the EarthON Fund , creating a capital continuum from grant to follow-on investment for startups that demonstrate traction.

The programme gives participants direct visibility with policymakers, investors, and industry leaders across the clean energy, rural livelihoods, and climate ecosystem , a meaningful advantage for founders working in a space where policy context and investor familiarity with the sector are both critical to scale. With Startup India and DPIIT backing, the programme also provides credibility and institutional linkage for startups navigating government procurement and partnership opportunities.

India's DRE sector is at a significant inflection point , programmes like this one are among the few that fund the productive use segment specifically, rather than just generation, making it a relevant opportunity for founders building for smallholder farmers, fisher communities, and rural women entrepreneurs.