WATER Innovation Challenge
A programme by AWaDH, IIT Ropar
A water and agriculture innovation challenge run with HDFC Bank Parivartan; winners have been announced and the call is closed.
At a glance
| Best for | Startups solving water management, irrigation efficiency, leakage or water body restoration problems |
|---|---|
| Stage | Prototype – Early revenue |
| Format | Hybrid |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | HDFC Bank Parivartan |
About WATER Innovation Challenge
The WATER Innovation Challenge — Water and Agriculture Technologies for Eco Revolution — was run with HDFC Bank's Parivartan initiative. Winners have been announced, so the call is closed; the hub and HDFC also published a joint report mapping innovation and investment in the agri-water space.
What you get
- Networking with the venture capital and angel ecosystem.
- Access to government and hub funds for selected startups.
- Connections into the deep-tech ecosystem and to business opportunities.
Who can apply
- Startups with an innovative technology focus on water, working on one of four problem statements: sustainable agriculture water management, smart water usage in agriculture, leakage prevention in water supply systems, or cleaning water bodies for aquatic life.
- Individuals may apply; women founders are encouraged; patents and IP preferred.
How selection works: the same funnel as the hub's other programmes — application, screening, an internal pitch to the seed management committee, then a demo day before an external panel.
How to apply: through the challenge registration link on its page when a round is open, naming IIT Ropar Technology and Innovation Foundation as the incubator.
Where to apply
Other AWaDH, IIT Ropar programmes
- SPRINTRolling-intake incubation for researchers and first-time founders turning a deep-tech idea into a startup or getting a technology commercialised.
- SAMRIDHIAWaDH's accelerator for growth-stage deep-tech startups, running in numbered editions and ending in a demo day before external investors.
- Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at iHub – AWaDHAWaDH is a participating incubator for the national seed fund scheme, taking DPIIT-recognised startups through its own seed management committee.
- 100 Startups 100 DaysA mission-mode push run with ANNAM.AI and IIT Ropar TBIF to back a hundred early-stage deep-tech startups ahead of the India AI Impact Summit.
- MeitY GENESIS at iHub – AWaDHAWaDH delivers MeitY's GENESIS programme for technology startups based in smaller Indian cities; the last published round has closed.
- DTC Accelerate – ClimateTechA climate-tech cohort accelerator run with NASSCOM's Deep Tech Club, covering agriculture and water technology; the published round has closed.
- PRAGATI Micro-AcceleratorA six-week micro-accelerator for early-stage agriculture and sustainability startups, run as a CSR initiative with Puri Oil Mills; currently between intakes.
- REAL — Real Estate Acceleration LaunchpadA sector accelerator for real estate, construction and property technology run with Omaxe; the published round closed in mid-2025.
- SWACHAn accelerator for water, sanitation and waste startups with at least one commercial pilot behind them, run with Innovation Mission Punjab and the India Sanitation Coalition; closed.
- IdeathonAn inclusive ideathon with reserved places for Scheduled Caste participants, open to startups, students, faculty and researchers; it has concluded.