Deadline Date: March 3, 2026
Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026 in India, organised by UNDP in collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and T-Hub Foundation, invites young innovators to develop solutions that promote responsible consumption and support the Government of India’s Mission LiFE.
The focus areas for the challenge are Sustainable Textiles and Fashion, Circular Economy Innovations, and Sustainable Food Systems and Water Conservation.
The Youth Co:Lab initiative, launched in India in 2019, has conducted seven national youth social innovation and entrepreneurship challenges through this collaboration, engaging youth through national dialogues, workshops, panel discussions, conversations, and webinars. The programme offers seed grants and connects early-stage entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, and peers, helping them transform ideas into viable ventures.
For the 2026 challenge, the selected 50 startups will join the National Springboard Programme, a 6–8 week virtual capacity-building journey designed to strengthen business fundamentals, refine product-market fit, and improve impact and scale readiness. The programme offers expert-led workshops, mentor connect sessions, peer learning, and ecosystem exposure, focusing on design thinking, business and financial fundamentals, impact measurement and ESG readiness, leadership and team development, fundraising preparedness, storytelling, pitching, and market access strategies.
Programme benefits include participation in the National Springboard Programme for up to 40–50 startups, which is designed to strengthen business fundamentals, refine product-market fit, embed Responsible Consumption and Mission LiFE principles, and build impact and scale-readiness through expert-led workshops, mentorship, and peer learning. The Top 20 startups will be invited to the Regional Immersion and Bootcamp at T-Hub, Hyderabad, featuring intensive workshops, one-on-one mentoring, investor and ecosystem interactions, and pitch preparation, with focus on scaling strategies, impact measurement, market access, and investment readiness. The Top 6 startups emerging from the programme will receive seed grants ranging from INR 2.2 to 3.5 lakhs to support further development and scale-up of their solutions. Selected startups will also gain national visibility, access to T-Hub’s innovation ecosystem, and opportunities for continued engagement with mentors, investors, corporates, and policy stakeholders.
The Springboard Programme concludes with the National Innovation Dialogue, where startups present their solutions to a diverse jury including ecosystem leaders, investors, policymakers, and subject-matter experts. This event serves as a platform for showcasing innovation, knowledge exchange, partnerships, and identifying high-potential startups for the next stage.
From the National Innovation Dialogue, the top 20 startups will be shortlisted for a 5-day in-person Regional Immersion Programme at T-Hub in Hyderabad. This intensive bootcamp focuses on deep mentorship, business model refinement, impact and sustainability alignment, investor readiness, and pitch enhancement. The immersion ends with the Youth Co:Lab Finale, where startups pitch live to a jury and ecosystem stakeholders.
For more information, visit T-Hub Foundation.
