Tuesday, 17 June 2025
As part of this collaboration, DPIIT and GEAPP will introduce the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE), a competitive platform that offers rewards of up to $500,000 for innovative clean energy solutions. DPIIT will also connect the program with the Startup India network, ensuring extensive reach through key government initiatives and enhancing its impact on the wider startup ecosystem
The collaboration between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) marks a significant step in advancing India’s clean energy and manufacturing sectors. This partnership focuses on accelerating the growth of climate tech startups by providing them with the critical resources and connections needed to scale innovative solutions.
Through this two-year initiative, DPIIT and GEAPP aim to help early-stage startups by offering crucial funding, mentorship from industry leaders, opportunities to pilot their technologies in real-world settings, and access to a wide range of markets and customers. This support is expected to catalyze the growth of a vibrant clean energy ecosystem in India, which has already been home to several high-growth cleantech startups.
A key component of this initiative is the launch of the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE). This competitive platform, which will offer up to $500,000 in rewards, is designed to encourage the development of impactful and scalable clean energy solutions. Additionally, the program will provide investment support through collaborations with partners such as Spectrum Impact and Avana Capital, ensuring that startups have the financial backing and guidance to grow.
By integrating the program with the Startup India network, DPIIT aims to amplify the reach of this initiative and maximize its impact on the broader startup ecosystem. The integration will facilitate startups’ access to government schemes, research and development support, and a robust network of stakeholders, enabling them to grow and scale their clean energy technologies faster.
Saurabh Kumar, GEAPP’s Vice President for India, emphasized the importance of the partnership, calling it a pivotal moment for systemic change. With the combined expertise of GEAPP in clean energy innovation, the entrepreneurial ecosystem fostered by Startup India, and the institutional support of DPIIT, this collaboration is set to unlock new opportunities for clean energy entrepreneurs in India.
India’s cleantech sector is already seeing promising developments, with 63 startups making a notable impact in the industry. Leading companies like Ather Energy, Ola Electric, and ReNew Power are among the notable unicorns emerging from this sector. The Indian cleantech ecosystem attracted significant funding in 2024, securing $829 million through 75 investment deals, making it the fifth most-funded sector that year.
To support the growth of this sector, the Indian government has introduced various initiatives that provide funding, mentorship, regulatory support, and R&D incentives. Earlier this year, the government launched the ‘Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform’ to bring together key stakeholders from policy, industry, finance, and research to boost cleantech manufacturing in India. Sectors like solar, wind, hydrogen, and battery storage are expected to benefit significantly from this platform.
In addition, government schemes like the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), and the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) have provided crucial support to startups. The Union Budget 2025 further solidified this commitment, increasing the FFS allocation to Rs 20,000 crore, signaling the government’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the clean energy sector.
With these efforts, India is well-positioned to become a global leader in clean energy innovation, supporting both the growth of startups and the country’s broader sustainability goals.
