Deadline: September 25, 2025
The Sustainable Solutions for Hilly Region Development & Livelihood Promotion Challenge invites innovative startups to address socio-economic and environmental challenges in hilly regions, with the goal of promoting sustainable development and enhancing livelihoods.
The focus is on empowering local populations through sustainable agriculture, rural development, crafts and handloom promotion, agri-business innovations, e-commerce facilitation, and youth and women empowerment. Themes for the challenge include Livelihood Enhancement, Rural Development, Crafts & Handlooms, Local Produce Value Addition, Agri-business, E-commerce, and Women Empowerment. The problem statement emphasizes the need to innovate practical and scalable solutions to tackle livelihood, market access, sectoral integration, skill development, and infrastructure challenges faced by hilly regions across key sectors.
The program supports startups at all stages, including ideation, validation, early traction, and scaling, with preference given to DPIIT-recognized startups. Relevant industries range widely across agriculture, green technology, renewable energy, healthcare and lifesciences, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, finance technology, social impact, and more. Hilly areas face complex barriers, including limited market access, weak infrastructure, poor waste management, and gaps in education and technology adoption, which collectively lead to unemployment, outward migration, and underutilization of local resources. The challenge calls on startups to bridge these gaps with scalable solutions.
Winners of the challenge will receive a cash prize of ₹25,000 along with non-fiscal incentives such as three months of complimentary co-working space at the Incubation Centre, access to upcoming workshops, and certificates of recognition. Applications will be screened and assessed by a Screening Committee based on eligibility, innovation, and feasibility, followed by a presentation stage either online or offline, after which the final results will be published on the Startup India website.
Applications close on 25 September 2025, with results announced on 25 October 2025.
For more information, visit Startup India.
