Six youth-led startups from across India have been recognized as winners of the 8th edition of the Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026 for developing innovative solutions that advance sustainability through circular economy innovations, sustainable textiles and fashion, and sustainable food systems and water conservation.
Co-led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India and Citi Foundation, in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), and implemented by T-Hub Foundation, the Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge has emerged as one of India's foremost platforms for empowering youth-led innovation that accelerates progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year, the challenge received over 350 applications from youth-led startups across 28 states. Following a rigorous selection process, 50 high-potential startups were enrolled in the National Springboard Programme, a three-month virtual capacity-building journey supported by a curated group of 16 industry mentors and domain specialists.
The participating startups worked across three thematic areas:
• Sustainable Textiles and Fashion
• Circular Economy Innovations
• Sustainable Food Systems and Water Conservation
All 50 startups pitched before a distinguished jury during the National Innovation Dialogue held on 4th June 2026. Following the evaluation, the top 20 startups advanced to the Regional Immersion Bootcamp hosted at T-Hub, Hyderabad from 15th to 19th June 2026.
The five-day immersive programme brought together ecosystem leaders, sustainability experts, investors, government stakeholders and entrepreneurs through masterclasses, mentorship sessions, site visits and peer learning opportunities designed to strengthen business models and scale impact.
Following a final jury evaluation on 18 June 2026, six startups were selected for their scalable, high-impact solutions.
The three winning startups received seed grant support of ₹3,50,000 each, along with capacity-building opportunities and ecosystem access. The three runners-up were awarded ₹2,20,000 each in recognition of their promising contributions and potential for scale.
