changeadminSix youth-led startups from across India have been recognised 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).
Founded in 2017, Youth Co: Lab aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and invest in youth, enabling them to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship.
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 in 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, NavaPrayoga Labs, UnBubble and Ecorenowa Solutions, will receive seed grant support of ₹3,50,000 each, along with capacity-building opportunities and ecosystem access.
Hyderabad-based NavaPrayoga Labs won for Grassip, a drinking straw made from natural grasses that offers a 100 per cent biodegradable, non-soggy alternative to plastic and paper straws.
Delhi-based UnBubble developed a solution that converts agricultural waste, including husks, stalks, and crop residue, into eco-friendly, home-compostable packaging as a sustainable alternative to bubble wrap and thermocol.
Bengaluru-based Ecorenowa Solutions is a clean-tech startup that has developed a system to recover valuable materials from decommissioned solar panels, providing waste-management and circular-economy solutions for the renewable-energy sector.
The three runners-up, Eco Cushion, Vasudeva Innovations and WomenasticCO were awarded ₹2,20,000 each in recognition of their promising contributions and potential for scale.
Vasudeva Innovations tackles industrial wastewater with microbial technology; WomenasticCO converts plastic waste into 3D-printing filament, fibre, and recycled products; and Eco Cushion provides eco-friendly packaging material.
The awards were presented in the presence of senior representatives from UNDP, AIM, T-Hub, government institutions, investors and innovation ecosystem leaders.
Delivering the special address on Building India’s Green Economy: Youth, Capital and the Next Decade of Innovation, Meraj Faheem, CEO, Telangana Innovation Cell (TGIC), Government of Telangana, said, “Initiatives like Youth Co: Lab reinforce the power of innovation, collaboration, and youth leadership in addressing some of our most pressing challenges. We are proud to have been part of this journey and remain committed to nurturing ecosystems that enable young changemakers to transform ideas into meaningful impact.”
“India does not have a startup problem. India has a distribution problem. Capital distribution is too concentrated in Bangalore and Delhi. A distribution of mentorship — too thin in Tier-3 and the North-East. A distribution of opportunity — too narrow for women, persons with disabilities, and founders from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Programmes like Youth Co: Lab exist to fix that distribution problem. And the evidence we are unveiling today suggests they are starting to,” said Prateek Deshmukh, Program Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog.
“One of India’s greatest resources is its youth dividend. With nearly 65 per cent of the population under the age of 35, the country’s ability to meet its development and climate goals will depend on how effectively we support young innovators to turn ideas into action. More than 350 startups stepped forward with solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time, from waste and water scarcity to unsustainable production systems. More than 40 per cent of the selected ventures are women-led, demonstrating the diversity of talent driving India’s innovation ecosystem. With the support of our partners, we are proud to invest in a generation that is actively building a better future, “ said Dr Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India.
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