Government innovation contests and Grand Challenges offer prize money and pilot deployment opportunities for Indian startups. Programs like the Smart India Hackathon, NITI Aayog's Atal New India Challenges, and MeitY's Digital India Awards provide ₹5-50 Lakhs in non-dilutive prizes alongside government procurement pathways.
Showing 18+ programs for Indian startups
National Health Authority (NHA), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
Government hackathon to build AI solutions for automated health insurance claims processing.
R|Elan (Reliance Industries), United Nations India
Global competition for sustainable fashion innovations by designers and startups, offering seed funding and mentorship.
World Food Prize Foundation
$50,000 prize for early-stage agtech startups tackling global food security — open worldwide.
AIC T-Hub Foundation & Shetty Institute of Technology (SIT), Kalaburagi
24-hour hackathon with ₹1L prize pool, T-Hub ecosystem access, and MVP support.
Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH), Government of Andhra Pradesh
Deployment-driven innovation challenge for alternate energy solutions across Andhra Pradesh, open nationwide.
Global Leaders Institute
Global Arts Prize for Innovation recognizing ventures redefining culture's contemporary significance.
Social Impact Award / Impact Hub Hyderabad
Incubation, mentorship, and pre-seed funding for youth-led social ventures (ages 14–30).
Deel
Global seed-stage competition for startups under $5M raised
Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi in partnership with Boeing
₹10 lakh prize competition for deeptech early-stage startups & students.
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)
Up to ₹1.5 crore grant for defence & aerospace innovators.
IFAD, IDB Lab
Open innovation challenge for growth-stage enterprises in agritech, climate, and rural development.
Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
National blockchain and Web3 startup challenge for citizen-centric solutions
NXP Semiconductors
Deeptech challenge for Indian semiconductor, AI, robotics and EV startups
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)
Up to ₹10 crore for IAF deep-tech defence challenges.
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)
Up to ₹1.5 crore for IAF helicopter glide path landing system.
BOSCH and BML Munjal University
Sustainable mobility innovation challenge.
Women Development & Child Welfare Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh
Up to ₹2Cr govt contract for DPIIT-recognised AI/ECD innovators.
EarthON Foundation, SwitchON Foundation
Up to ₹15L + access to ₹2Cr grants for agrivoltaics pilots.