NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), with Villgro as the implementation partner, organised the Swachhata Startup Conclave, which closed on September 20, 2022. The Conclave hosted the Swachhata Startup Challenge, wherein startups were awarded for their innovative solutions, accelerating the growth of the waste management ecosystem in India. Kaushal Kishore, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, Roopa Mishra, Joint Secretary and National Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (MoHUA), and Manoj Joshi, Secretary, felicitated the top 10 startups.
Each of the top 10 startups will get funds worth Rs 25 lakhs from MoHUA and AFD and individualised professional and capacity-building support for one year. Villgro will also make a follow-on investment of Rs 50 lakhs in eligible businesses.
The SwachhataStartup Challenge aims to foster a favourable environment for impactful startups developing solutions at the intersection of social innovation and technology. In accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal for Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, it also offers entrepreneurs financial, capacity-building, and GTM support to strengthen India’s waste management ecosystem and accelerate digital transformation.