Avalanche and Team1 Launch $100K India Grant to Fuel Web3 Innovation Among Young Developers

Avalanche, a high performance blockchain platform announced today that it has collaborated with Team1, a global network of builders, developers, creatives, and community members to launch a pilot $100,000 Team1 India Mini Grant fund, aimed at empowering and accelerating the Web3 ecosystem in India. This initiative represents a significant commitment to fostering innovation and driving the next wave of digital advancements in the region.

Most of the developers entering the Web3 space are newcomers and under the age of 27. Young developers lose passion due to insufficient funding opportunities and lack of quality mentorship. Avalanche and Team1 have created a dedicated team to explore potential Web3 projects and startups to disburse the grants promptly and work closely with the project team to help them scale their operations. The Avalanche team will monitor the team’s progress and provide access to Avalanche tools, community network, collaboration opportunities, and hackathons. The potential projects and startups will be selected through an In-person demo that will take place in multiple cities across the country.

Commenting on the development Devika Mittal, Regional Head at Ava Labs, said “India is rapidly gaining reputation as a major hub for Web3 developers globally and is projected to be the largest by 2028. Currently, there are 1200 Web3 startups in India and we aim to significantly increase this number by 2026 through our #Team1MiniGrants fund. Our initiative will fill the funding gap for web3 projects and create a level playing field for talented developers. In particular, we hope to see young developers, both men and women, applying to the fund.”

Commenting on the development, Eamonn Deane, Head of Ambassador Program at Ava Labs and Team1, said “India, being one of the tech superpowers of the world with strong digital infrastructure, provides a strong foundation for the growth and adoption of blockchain technology. With active participation from the government and big private enterprises, we see a huge growth potential for Web3-related products and services. Apart from metros, we aim to include projects from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities due to the fast-paced innovation in smaller Indian towns and cities”.

Avalanche is aggressively betting on India to create one of the world’s largest Web3 ecosystems. The large talent pool, business-friendly policies from the government, and robust digital infrastructure make India a highly lucrative Web3 destination. Avalanche recently collaborated with Indian state governments to execute the tokenization of land assets in India and unlock the economic potential of idle land parcels across the country. The recent collaboration between Avalanche and global digital exchange, Bitget is also aimed at boosting the Web3 ecosystem in India.

This strategic initiative underscores Avalanche’s commitment to driving innovation and growth within the region, empowering developers and entrepreneurs to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the blockchain space.

To apply for the grants, visit https://grants.team1.network/


About Avalanche Blockchain Network

Avalanche is a high-performance blockchain platform designed for builders who need to scale. Engineered with a revolutionary three-part Layer 1 (L1) architecture, Avalanche is anchored by its Avalanche Consensus Mechanism, ensuring near-instant finality for transactions. The platform also features an open-source Layer 0 (L0) framework, enabling the seamless creation of interoperable Layer 1 blockchains with high throughput on both public and private networks. Supported by a global community of developers and validators, Avalanche offers a fast, low-cost environment for building the next generation of decentralized applications (dApps). With its unique blend of speed, flexibility, and scalability, Avalanche is the preferred choice for innovators pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology.

For more information, visit avax.network.

About Team1:

Team1 is a global network of builders, developers, creatives, gamers & community members who grow Avalanche. After starting just one year ago with the first cohort, Team1 has since organized over 600 community events, collaborated with 80+ universities and has members in 51 countries. For more info and to join Team1, visit https://www.team1.network/

HCLFoundation to Accelerate Water and BioDiversity Stewardship in Rural India

HCLFoundation, which drives the corporate social responsibility agenda of global technology company HCLTech in India, announced a 45% increase in the annual outlay to ₹24 crore for its flagship HCLTech Grant initiative that supports innovative rural development projects by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in India.

Starting FY26, the HCLTech Grant will be open to applications for promising projects under the new Water category. The Environment category has been replaced with Biodiversity. The Education and Healthcare categories will continue as before.

Each winning NGO in these categories will receive ₹5 crore for four-year projects, while eight runner-up NGOs will get ₹50 lakh for two-year projects. The total grant for the FY26 edition will be ₹24 crore vs ₹16.5 crores in FY25.

The Water category aims to highlight the critical importance of water in sustainable development. HCLFoundation aims to drive impactful community-based solutions to address water scarcity and improve water management in rural areas. The Biodiversity category aims at focused interventions that bring about ecological biodiversity impact that can be seen and measured.

The new initiative will support projects that tackle various aspects of water management, including conservation, efficient usage and sustainable practices. NGOs focusing on water-related issues are encouraged to apply for funding and support.

"Water is a precious resource. Its responsible management is crucial for reducing water stress in India. Through this initiative, we seek to partner with NGOs on innovative projects on water conservation. Also, there is a need to focus on Biodiversity enhancement across the country. Therefore, we have introduced two distinct categories under HCLTech Grant, Water and Biodiversity, while we continue focusing on Education and Healthcare. The increase in total financial outlay further strengthens our commitment towards nation building," said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, SVP, Global CSR, HCLTech and Director, HCLFoundation. 

To date, the HCLFoundation has awarded ₹152.8 crore (~$18.4 million) through the HCLTech Grant initiative to scale high-impact projects. Through the HCLTech Grant, it has supported 59 projects across 142 districts in 22 States and two Union Territories.

With these new categories, HCLFoundation has announced the 11th Edition of HCLTech Grant, after 10 consecutive successful editions over 10 years. This year's edition includes increased grant funding, more commitment for runners-up NGOs and a higher focus on conservation efforts. The applications portal is already live. Help desks are active, and soon, the HCLTech India Grant team will be conducting symposiums in various regions of the country.

For more details and to apply, visit https://www.hclfoundation.org/hcltech-grant.

HCLTech is deeply committed to water stewardship through various innovative initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable water management and conservation. Platforms like AquaSphere provide a comprehensive solution that helps organizations monitor, measure and optimize water usage using real-time data, enhancing water sustainability practices. HCLTech has been recognized for its efforts in water stewardship, winning the National Water Award 2022 for its water conservation and management initiatives in India.

Through the HCLFoundation, the company has harvested 57.9 billion liters of water and rejuvenated over 200 water structures. Their projects include rainwater harvesting, river rejuvenation and biodiversity enhancement along the Ganga's catchment area. These initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 15 (life on land). 

About HCLFoundation

HCLFoundation delivers the corporate social responsibility agenda of HCLTech in India. The Foundation contributes to national and international development goals by investing in long-term sustainable programs and special initiatives with thematic focus on education, nurturing grassroots sports, health and sanitation, skill development and livelihood, environment and disaster risk reduction and response management. To ensure equitable development, child protective strategies, inclusion and gender transformative approaches are at the core of all the programs of the Foundation. To date, the HCLFoundation has positively impacted over 6.5 million lives. To learn more visit www.hclfoundation.org

MeitY Grants ₹2 Crores Funding to 5 Start-ups Incubated at BIMTECH AIC

Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) Greater Noida, a leading Business School in India, is at the forefront of fostering start-up growth under the SAMRIDH program, an initiative by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

Through this program, AIC-BIMTECH has supported eight startups, five of which have successfully secured ₹2 crores in funding from MeitY. The funded 5 startups are:

1. Cunomial, 
2. Credit Siddhi, 
3. Origin Connect, 
4. Transport Simple, and 
5. Vacus. 

This achievement underscores the program's pivotal role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, contributing to an aggregated valuation of ₹75 crores, and driving economic growth towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Dr. Prabina Rajib, Director, BIMTECH stated "SAMRIDH program has been instrumental in enabling BIMTECH to further this mission by providing resources and insights tailored to the unique needs of early-stage ventures. Our researchers and faculty actively contribute to building a knowledge foundation that startups can draw upon to make informed decisions, innovate more effectively, and stay ahead in competitive markets. BIMTECH is committed to creating a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem where startups can grow with a strong foundation in research, continuous learning, and a passion for meaningful impact."

Dr. Shalini Singh, Chairperson; Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development and Acting CEO of AIC BIMTECH, sheds light by stating “At AIC BIMTECH, we provide comprehensive support for startups offering not just soft infrastructure and co working spaces but also invaluable mentorship, extensive networking, opportunities for market access, investor connections, and a range of business development activities. This approach ensures that startups are equipped with the right tools and resources to scale their operations, innovate, and thrive in an ever-evolving market landscape.”

With a strong commitment to create a dynamic ecosystem, AIC BIMTECH has successfully supported around 400 startups and established more than 200 partnerships, fostering a vibrant incubation environment. Birla Institute of Management Technology has also empowered these startups to accelerate their growth by providing tailored mentorship, strategic business networking, team-building support, investor relations, and helping them secure the resources essential for scaling.

The eight start-ups supported by AIC BIMTECH are Cunomial, Credit Siddhi, Origin Connect, Transport Simple, Vacus, Fabrik, Detrocel, and Ecotio. These start-ups are making notable progress in their respective fields, fostering innovation, creating Job opportunities, generating revenue, and making a significant impact on India’s economy.

Inspired by its founders Late Basant Kumar Birla and Sarala Birla, BIMTECH pioneered innovative programs like PGDM, PGDM-International Business (IB), PGDM-Retail Management (RM), and PGDM-Insurance Business Management (IBM), nurturing individuals into global leaders. Also, BIMTECH is now AACSB accredited, joining the Ivy League of Top Globally Recognized B-Schools. Fostering a symbiotic relationship, the institute excels in management education, supported by its globally placed robust alumni network of over 8000 individuals.

Ministry Approves 2 Textile Startups With a Grant of ~ ₹50 Lakhs Each

The Ministry of Textiles has approved two start-ups in the field of Technical Textiles under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM). These start-ups have received a grant of approximately INR 50 lakhs each under the 'Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)' scheme.

The names of the two start-ups approved for their innovative projects in Sustainable Textiles and Medical Textiles are not explicitly mentioned in the available information from the Ministry, as of yet. However, the approved Start-Up projects are focused on key strategic areas of Sustainable Textiles and Medical Textiles.

Focus Areas:

• Sustainable Textiles: Innovations aimepd at creating eco-friendly textile solutions.
• Medical Textiles: Development of textiles for medical applications.

Additionally, the committee has approved grants to six education institutes, including IITs, to introduce courses in Technical Textiles. These institutes will offer new B.Tech courses in various fields such as Medical Textiles, Mobile Textiles, Geotextiles, and Geosynthetic.

The committee has approved a grant of approx. INR 14 Cr. to these six education institutes to introduce courses in Technical Textiles under the ‘General Guidelines for Enabling of Academic Institutes in Technical Textiles’.

Govt Approves 4 Startups in the Field of Technical Textile with Grant of ~ ₹50 Lakhs Each

The government has given the green light to four start-ups in the domain of technical textiles. Each of these start-ups will receive a grant of approximately INR 50 lakhs under the 'Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)' scheme.

This was announced in the 8th Empowered Programme Committee (EPC) meeting, chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, under the National Technical Textiles Mission, on Tuesday, at Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi.

Technical textiles are engineered fabrics with specific functionalities.

The approved Start-Up projects are focused on key strategic areas of Composites, Sustainable Textiles, and Smart Textiles. The approved Education Institutes have proposed to introduce new B.Tech courses in different fields and applications of technical textiles including Geotextiles, Geosynthetics, Composites, Civil Structures, etc.

Additionally, five educational institutes, including NITs, will introduce new courses related to technical textiles, thanks to a grant of around INR 20 crores. These courses will cover various applications, including geotextiles, geosynthetics, composites, and civil structures.

Technical textiles are materials designed for their functional properties rather than aesthetics. These find applications in various industries. One of the examples is its usage in agriculture for crop protection, shade nets, and soil stabilisation. Another is Fabrics with conductive properties, used in wearables and smart clothing.

India’s technical textiles market is the 5th largest globally, expanding at a CAGR of 8-10% over the past five years. In 2021-22, the market size reached US$ 21.95 billion, with US$ 19.49 billion in domestic production and US$ 2.46 billion in imports.

Recognizing the potential, India has set up a National Technical Textiles Mission with the goal of achieving an average growth rate of 15-20%. The mission aims to increase the domestic market size of technical textiles to US$ 40-50 billion by 2024 through market development, international collaborations, and the Make in India initiative.

The Technical Textiles sector gained further prominence during the Covid-19 crisis, as India rapidly scaled up production of PPE kits and masks, showcasing its ability to innovate even in challenging times.

Last year in October, the Ministry of Textiles cleared 23 strategic research projects worth around INR 60 crores. These projects cover areas like specialty fibers, sustainable textiles, geotextiles, mobiltech, and sports textiles.

Govt to Offer Grants to 10 to 15 Promising Startups on Quantum Computing

The National Quantum Mission (NQM) in India is actively supporting startups in the field of quantum computing.

The NQM will offer grants to 10 to 15 startups in the next three months. These grants aim to enable startups to grow, scale, and expand globally. This was announced by NQM's board chairman Ajai Chowdhury.

The plan is to set up four independent section 08 companies, each focused on a specific area – computing, communications, sensing, and materials. These companies are expected to take India-developed quantum products to a global audience.

The government is keen on increasing research and development in quantum technologies (QT). Startups working in this field will receive support to advance quantum computing and related technologies.

Funding Range: The grants will range from Rs 2 crore to Rs 25 crore, based on the startup's technology readiness level and other factors.

This initiative aims to accelerate quantum technology development and research, fostering innovation in India's startup ecosystem.

How to Apply

To apply for the National Quantum Mission grants for quantum computing startups in India, follow these steps:

1. Eligibility Check: Ensure your startup meets the eligibility criteria set by the National Quantum Mission. Typically, this includes being a registered Indian company with a focus on quantum technologies.

2. Prepare Documentation:

• Business Plan: Create a detailed business plan that outlines your startup's goals, technology, and market potential.
• Technology Proposal: Describe your quantum computing project, its innovation, and how it aligns with the mission's objectives.
• Financial Projections: Provide financial projections, including how the grant will be utilized.

3. Application Submission:

Keep an eye out for official announcements regarding the application window.
Submit your application through the designated portal or channel specified by the National Quantum Mission.

4. Evaluation and Selection:

Your application will be evaluated based on technical merit, feasibility, and impact.
If shortlisted, you may be invited for an interview or presentation.

5. Grant Utilization:

If approved, utilize the grant for research, development, and scaling up your quantum computing project.

Remember to stay updated on official announcements and guidelines from the National Quantum Mission.

3 Non-profits from Brazil, Canada and U.S Win $1 Mn in Grants From HCLTech for Climate Action Projects

Selected NPOs use innovative themes including youth-led environmental activism, art and forest restoration to raise awareness and combat climate change

HCLTech, a leading global technology company, has announced Brazil-based Argilando, Canada-based No. 9 Contemporary Art and the Environment and US-based The Longleaf Alliance as the winners of the first edition of the HCLTech Grant Americas.

Launched in September 2023, the HCLTech Grant Americas program has committed $5 million in grants over five years to support Not-For-Profit organizations (NPOs) with innovative projects focused on combating climate change, restoring ecosystems and biodiversity across Americas.

Every year, three NPOs will be selected through a rigorous screening process to receive grants totaling $1 million. One NPO will receive $500,000, while two others will receive $250,000 each.

Among the inaugural edition winners, Brazil-based Argilando will receive the grant of $500,000 for their project Atitude Jovem. The project ignites youth-led environmental activism across Brazil's diverse biomes. Through comprehensive mobilization efforts, educational workshops and strategic planting of native trees, Argilando confronts climate challenges and promotes awareness about sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Canada-based No. 9 Contemporary Art and the Environment will receive $250,000 for using art and design to bring awareness to environmental concerns. Its project "Imagining My Sustainable Community" aims to increase awareness of sustainable design solutions in schools across Canada.

The Longleaf Alliance will receive $250,000 for their project, "Restoring America's Great Southern Forest through Climate Action by Empowering and Enabling Landowners" aims to restore 8 million acres of longleaf pine forests, in the US Southeast.

“Congratulations to the winners of the first HCLTech Grant Americas. Whether it is fostering sustainable design literacy or spearheading vast ecosystem restoration projects, these endeavors showcase a collective resolve to address environmental challenges with innovative solutions. We are delighted to support these projects as part of the collective effort needed to combat climate change,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR, HCLTech.

Since its launch, HCLTech Grant Americas has received a positive response from NPOs in Americas. Within 19 weeks of its launch, the program received 238 registrations and 91 eligible applications from all 10 target countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and the US. Through rigorous vetting, the top 10 applications were selected, followed by the HCLTech Grant Jury nominating the top three finalists.

HCLTech has a sharp focus on Sustainability. The company is committed to becoming net zero by 2040 and reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030. Since the baseline year of FY20, the company has reduced per capita scope 1 and 2 emissions by 22%. It is the first India-headquartered IT services company to join the Water Resilience Coalition and endorse the CEO Water Mandate.

With a total of investment of over $ 175 million in CSR globally so far, HCLTech has helped transform over 6.5 million lives, brought 72,000 acres of land under green governance, harvested 76 billion liters of water and had a positive impact on 92,000 animals.

HCLTech has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies 2024 and has been included in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024 for the second year in a row. Global environment non-profit CDP has recognized HCLTech with A- leadership rating for its climate change initiatives.

In India, HCLTech Grant, a flagship program of HCLFoundation, has touched over 2 million lives across 27,000+ villages through the grant recipient NPOs.

In An India's 1st, Karnataka Govt To Grant Funding To 100 Startups with ₹20 Crores, Without Any Equities

Karnataka state government will be funding around 100 startups with its committed budget of Rs 20 crore this year, under the Elevate Karnataka programme. The interested startups that need funding and mentoring to scale up can apply to this scheme till December, announced Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, in Bengaluru on November 18.

According to Karnataka's IT&BT minister Priyank Kharge, Karnataka is the first state in the country to provide grant-in-aid to startups without taking equity in return.

According to the Minister, through the Elevate Scheme, Karnataka has created a platform for start-ups even in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. “Interestingly, 24% of fund recipients are from Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities, and 30% are women entrepreneurs.”

"We have also done better than private venture capital firms at a time when the funding industry is still talking about slowdowns due to funding winter," minister Kharge said.

The state government will provide a one-time grant of up to Rs 50 lakh to each startup to encourage innovators who may need early-stage funding.

Minister Kharge said that In the last four years, the State has offered around ₹200 crore to 874 start-ups that operate across various business domains. No State government has done this. In fact, we have done better than private venture capital firms, especially when the funding industry is still talking about a funding winter."

In addition, the state government also initiated special programmes to equip Kalyana Karnataka by enhancing the start-up ecosystem in the region to compete with larger markets.

Around 25 start-ups from Kalaburagi, Bidar, Raichur, Yadgir, Koppal, Ballari, and Vijayanagar districts have benefitted under the Elevate Kalyan Karnataka initiative.

Kratos Studios Announces Rs 50 Cr Grant for Gaming Studios; Launches ‘Kratos Games Network’

With an aim to boost revenue for Web2 Gaming Studios

Kratos Studios, owner of the IndiGG IP, announces the ‘Kratos Games Network’ program which will allocate a grant of INR 50 cr towards gaming studios. The company will aim to target the first set of 10-15 studios by March 2024. Kratos has already enabled monetization for 1.5 lakh gamers, amounting to INR 5 crore, and is expected to see a 100X increase in the number of gamers with this move.

The ‘Kratos Games Network’ will extend the grant to web2 gaming development studios and will transition their games to blockchain gaming. The program aims to build a strong game developer community across the world and create a pipeline of the top games that cut across genres, languages and cultural sensitivities and make the same available on the Kratos platform.

The shortlisted gaming studios will get the benefit of the Kratos proprietary blockchain tech stack giving them access to the 10 lakh user base of the on-chain global gamer community. The integration of blockchain will enable these studios to monetize and build revenue for developers and gamers alike.

The Kratos gamer community is already present in multiple geographies and will target gaming studios beyond India, including LATAM, East Asia, and SE Asia.

The rigorous selection process will focus on factors based on profitability spanning 2-3 years, game studios with a minimum daily active user count of 500,000.

The Kratos Games Network will offer a multitude of benefits, including access to a large number of gamer communities. Being a part of Kratos Games Network, the partner developers will also have an economic value-sharing model with their gamers, leading to enhanced user retention and increased monetization for individual gamers.

Elaborating on this, Manish Agarwal, Founder of Kratos Studios, stated, “Kratos Studios stands for the gamer community. This initiative will bring high quality games and hence more gamers to blockchain gaming. We are on our way to becoming the largest network of gamers on the blockchain, globally.

Benefits from Web 2 to Web 3

Transitioning from Web2 to blockchain technology in the gaming industry offers several benefits. Firstly, blockchain enhances player ownership by allowing gamers to have true ownership of in-game assets that can be bought, sold, and traded across different games and platforms. Blockchain technology ensures transparency and security through decentralised ledger technology, reducing the risk of cheating, fraud, or centralised control. According to a recent report, the market size of gaming is expected to reach $8.6 billion by 2027, up from $2.6 billion in 2022, at a CAGR of 27 per cent. The global Web3 gaming industry is expected to rise at a CAGR of 18.7 percent from 2023 to 2033. This not only empowers players but also creates a new economy around gaming.

Good Universe, An Organisation Working for Women Sexual/ Reproductive Health Gets Rs. 25 Lakhs Grant from CIE-IIIT Hyderabad, PRIF

GOOD UNIVERSE, an organisation working for women sexual and reproductive health along with the impacts of climate change on women health receives a grant of Rs. 25 lakhs from CIE-IIIT Hyderabad, PRIF (Pernod Ricard India Foundation).

The grant was received for its project E3 for female sanitation workers in the districts of Rangareddy, Sangareddy and Hyderabad. The organisation aims to intervene into the lives of the most vulnerable community of women, the female sanitation workers. Through the project, Good Universe will Educate, Empower and Enable (E3) the female sanitation workers with the right tools and resources that will allow them to live a healthy and dignified life.

This grant is made possible through the WE Incubation Program operated by CIE-IIIT Hyderabad, one of India's largest and oldest deep-tech academic incubators, in collaboration with financial partner Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pernod Ricard India.

The main component of this project is the health of the female sanitation workers. Good Universe is working very closely with these females to bring change in their lives.

Why Female Sanitation Workers?

Facing the intersectionality’s of discrimination, female sanitation workers are one of the most vulnerable communities of women. Being underpaid, undervalued, invisible and unrecognised these women strive to have good health and hygiene. Their exposure to hazardous waste puts their health at high risk.

"If you wake up early in the morning, you will see women cleaning the roads and public toilets, they are the Female Sanitation workers. We see them every day working without any break. These women clean and collect waste in their tri-cycle which they push for long-distance. Public roads and streets being their workplace, they often face the problems of unavailability of proper WASH facilities. During their menstrual cycle being closer to unhygienic environments and conditions along with improper WASH facilities puts them at a high exposure to health and hygiene problems. As a result, during their menstrual cycle, these female sanitation workers suffer from various infections, rashes, bruises on the thighs as well as stomach cramps and lower body pains. Because of the socio-economic status and stigma around menstruation, these women fail to approach and express their needs and pains.

Not only this, the psychosocial risks of female sanitation workers indicate that the mental health of these women often goes unaddressed. With COVID-19 uncertainties and socio-economic situation, there is a rise in mental health issues among this community of women." says Kamal Nayak, Founder of Good Universe.

What is Project E3?

E3 stands for Educating, Empowering and Enabling. Project E3 is the new initiative of Good Universe intervening in the lives of female sanitation workers. By educating, empowering and enabling with the right and adequate tools and resources, Good Universe’s E3 Project adds to the ability of female sanitation workers to live a healthy life and adapt informed lifestyle practices.

After receiving the grant of 2.5 million from CIE IIIT-Hyderabad and PRIF, E3 will be functional among female sanitation workers of Sangareddy, Rangareddy and Hyderabad. The major action areas of this project will be sexual and reproductive health, mental health, non-communicable diseases and breast and cervical cancer.

Kamal Nayak mentions, “Sanitation workers have been kept away from the mainstream knowledge and information around sexual & reproductive health, mental health, breast and cervical cancer and non-communicable diseases. Based on the survey conducted among FWS by Good Universe, women at the age as young as 22 underwent hysterectomy in private hospitals for reasons like contraception, swollen uterus which is not the right thing to do. Lack of awareness and understanding being the major reason for this to happen. Our aim is to provide comprehensive health care to these female sanitation workers. In the first phase, we will be working with 6000 FSWs.”

Through E3, Good Universe would be supporting and engaging female sanitation workers and their adolescent girls in active health programmes and provide them with the knowledge to navigate and voice out through various health issues they often come across due to their poor working conditions.

Made-in-India Web3 Games Marketplace Tegro Announces $1 Mn Grant for Game Developers

• Web3 games developers can apply for the grant to get up to $25,000 per project
• Successful applicants to learn how to better craft their web3 games from a founding team with deep experience in making games and designing marketplaces with high liquidity

Made-in-India web3 games marketplace Tegro has announced a $1 million grant for web3 game developers. Developers can apply for the grant to get up to $25,000 per project with no strings attached. Successful applicants will receive guidance on how to better craft their web3 games from a founding team with deep experience in making games and designing marketplaces with high liquidity.

"We are excited to invite developers to collaborate with us," says Siddharth Menon, CEO and co-founder of Tegro. "Game development and publishing are in itself complex processes. Developers may not be completely conscientious of the slate of activities behind these words, let alone the complexities involved with building web3 games with economies that are sustainable and can stand the test of time.

 Through the first Tegro grant we hope to bring users a new class of games worthy of actually being games, rather than a collection of poorly cobbled together websites and weak economies that eventually end up being rug pulls.”

Developers can apply for the $1 million grant at the official Tegro site right here.

Along with this, Tegro recently unveiled Tegronomics. This is a set of economic frameworks authored by the stalwarts in the space of crypto, gaming and economics that developers can leverage to build a sustainable and scalable economy in their games.

The economic framework proposes the use of Fungible tokens (FTs) as a core element of economy design based on the belief that game economies should be built on top of FTs as opposed to NFTs to increase both frequency of trading and liquidity, and also making it much easier to deploy large funds.

You can check out more details on Tegronomics and how it can improve web3 game development at the official Tegro website.

Tegro believes that web3 games are the next paradigm shift in gaming, similar to how mobile and free-to-play were. Tegro plans to unlock a $2 trillion market by building a sustainable web3 gaming ecosystem.

Tegro is a web3 games marketplace built by Siddharth Menon, co-founder of WazirX, India’s largest cryptocurrency exchange and SuperGaming, India's leading game developer with 300 million users. Siddharth is an expert at building liquidity and markets, while the founders of SuperGaming have been building games for over 10 years and have built over 100+ games including PAC-MAN, Silly Royale, and the upcoming Indus, a made-in-India for-the-world battle royale.

Govt Offering Financial Support to Co.s and Startups in Semiconductor and Sensor Domain, Invites Applications

Financial Assistance to Indian Companies for Commercialization.

Evaluation based on Scientific, Technological, Financial and Commercial Merit.

Financial Assistance in the form of Loan, Equity and/or Grants.

Indian companies having innovative technologies at commercialization stage in semiconductor & sensor domain now have an opportunity of been supported financially for commercialization and receive financial assistance in the form of loans, equity, and grants from government.

Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has invited proposals from Indian Companies with innovative/indigenous technologies in Semiconductor and Sensor domain.

Aligning with the national requirement and focus in the electronic/semiconductor sector, proposals have been invited from Indian companies with indigenous technologies at commercialization stage in semiconductor & sensor domain focusing on semiconductor fabrication, display fabrication, designing for integrated circuits (ICs), chipsets, system on chips (SoCs) and so on.

We have taken a decisive step on semi-conductors to encourage research and innovation in the sector. It will also boost manufacturing and thus strengthen the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

- Narendra Modi

The proposals invited by TDB has key features like providing financial assistance to Indian Companies for Commercialization, evaluation based on Scientific, Technological, Financial and Commercial Merit, and Financial Assistance in the form of Loan, Equity and/or Grants. The companies applying should be Indian companies (as per Companies Act,1956 /2013) or Start-ups with Recognition Certificate from DPIIT.

Who can APPLY

• Indian companies (as per Companies Act,1956 /2013) 
• Start-ups with Recognition Certificate from DPIIT

The vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi aims at positioning India as a global hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing. The government has undertaken a large number of initiatives for development of core components, including chipsets, and creating an enabling environment for the industry to compete globally.

Semiconductors and displays are the foundation of modern electronics driving the next phase of digital transformation under Industry 4.0. Semiconductors and display manufacturing are very complex and technology-intensive sectors involving huge capital investments, high risk, long gestation and payback periods, and rapid changes in technology, which require significant and sustained investments. The call will give an impetus to semiconductor and display manufacturing by facilitating capital support and technological collaborations.

Sh. Rajesh Kumar Pathak, IP&TAFS, Secretary, TDB, added, “TDB has played a pivotal role in developing conducive ecosystems for growth of technology companies, this call shall provide impetus to the Semiconductor & Sensor Ecosystem, which will be essential to the AatmaNirbharBharat initiative.”

For detailed Funding Guidelines and Proposal Submission, applicants can visit TDB’s website- www.tdb.gov.in. Last date to submit the proposal is 26th March, 2022.

13 IoT and Hardware Startups Receive Grants of INR 9.7 Mn + from MeitY and T-Hub

The grant will support startups in their innovation journey as well as nurture them in offering unique solutions.

MeitY along with T-Hub disbursed a grant of INR 7.5 Lakhs each to selected startups.

T-Hub, India’s pioneering innovation ecosystem, in partnership with MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) today announced grant disbursement to Indian startups in the hardware and IoT sector. 13 startups were selected from across the country for Digital India’s Scale Up program to receive a grant of INR 7.5 lakh each from MeitY. The grants will support the startups in accelerating the development of their innovative solutions.

This is the partial grant that has been disbursed to the startups who have demonstrated proof of concept, built an existing customer base, and exhibited the potential for scale across the country. The selected startups are Bariflo Labs Pvt Ltd., Startoon Labs Pvt. Ltd, Ayasta Technologies Pvt Ltd., BluArmor, Detect Technologies, Greenies, MLIT Solutions, Mobilytics, Nemocare Wellness, Rizel Automotive Pvt Ltd, SatSure Analytics India Pvt Ltd, Swaayatt Robots Private Limited and RoadMetrics Pvt Ltd. Rest of the grant will be disbursed post the completion of the program.

MSR, CEO, T-Hub, said “T-Hub's collaboration with MeitY is targeted to support startups who are ready for the growth phase and make the best use of the grants provided. T-Hub enabled these 13 startups and mentored them to be ready for this growth leap, and it all started with an idea to further support Indian innovators on the Internet of Things (IoT) and hardware. 

Further, the selected startups now can leverage the provided leading corporates and specialized mentors and continue the acceleration journey for respective businesses. This program has enabled us to help startups push past the roadblocks they face to scale their innovations and excel in the modern business environment.”

Digital India’s Scale Up program received 230 applications from early and growth-stage startups across the country, who shared their proposals last year. In addition to the grant funding, the startups received access to unparalleled mentorship through bootcamps on business model development, Go-to-Market strategy, pitching process, and fundraising tips.

T-Hub, for this six-month acceleration program, onboarded a pool of experts namely Ravikiran Prabhakara, Entrepreneur, Investor, and Partner at Shirak, Srikar Y.V., Director Government Relations at redBus, Rajeev YSR, Mentor with TSIC, PanneerSelvam Madangopal, VP Corporate Innovation, T-Hub, Madhusudhan Rapole, Managing Director of Oorja Energy, and many others.

The mentorship and guidance from T-Hub and MeitY through this acceleration program helped the selected startups in acquiring more customers, receiving incentive opportunities from the State government, fundraising from investors, global expansions, and successful launch of new products.

About T-Hub

T-Hub (Technology Hub) is an innovation hub and ecosystem enabler. Based out of Hyderabad, India, T-Hub leads India’s pioneering innovation ecosystem. With a mission of enabling and empowering an ecosystem hungry for innovation, T-Hub is creating impact for startups, corporations, and other innovation ecosystem stakeholders. Incorporated in 2015, it has provided over 1800+ national and international startups with access to better technology, talent, mentors, customers, corporates, investors, and government agencies. It has elevated innovation for leading national and global corporations, transforming their business models for the better. Working in collaboration with innovation partners and enablers in Telangana, India and worldwide, T-Hub is building a future-ready innovation ecosystem.

For more information about T-Hub, visit www.T-Hub.co.

For AI-based Seed Quality Testing Agritech Startup 'Agdhi' Awarded the BIRAC's 'BIG' Grant of $70K

Agdhi, Agritech Startup awarded the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG), a Flagship Program by BIRAC

Agdhi has received a grant of USD 70,000/- for their flagship product ‘SEEDVISION’

(SEEDVISION is an AI-based seed Phenotyping method)

Bangalore, 17 August 2021: Agdhi, an agritech start-up, announced that the company has been awarded the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) which is a flagship program by BIRAC. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Public Sector Enterprise and largest early stage biotech funding programme. Agdhi has received a grant from BIG for USD 70,000/- for their flagship product, “SeedVision- Seed Classifier and Quality Analyser.”

SeedVision is an AI-based seed phenotyping method that classify critical parameters of a seed in a few minutes. This product would help the farmers get good seeds for cultivation and help growers improve the number of cycles because of faster payment realization from seed companies. This automated technique provides an efficient method for seed sorting compared to manual inspection, and the reports are accessible on a real-time basis.

"BIG team at C-CAMP quoted "The entire team at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) have been a part of extensive discussions with the team Agdhi all through the 5 months of the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) application process and are very glad to have them on board as an awardee. The need and gap in the seed assessment market was clearly validated and executed till the idea to proof of principle stage by the technical team at Agdhi. We recognise the proposed solution at Agdhi is tailor-made, traction oriented and look forward to many more discussions through and post the BIG grant."

Speaking on this occasion, Vaibhav Kashikar Co-Founder & Director (Marketing) – Agdhi, said, “We are delighted to announce the grant we have received that will support start-ups like us in bringing technology closer to market and help in the commercialization of the product across India”. He further added that with a vision to disrupt technology in the agriculture sector, we plan to bring new technologies like block chain, edge computing, IoT, and microbiology in agriculture.

Agdhi is an agritech startup based in Bengaluru which aims to create the next revolution in agriculture. The startup is revolutionizing agriculture by introducing digital technology and building alternative solutions to facilitate sustainable methods in agriculture.

Agdhi has won National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition #NBEC2020 for best Agri Tech start up and has recently joined NVIDIA Inception, a program designed to nurture startups revolutionizing industries with advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data sciences.

Thus, today Agdhi is building new age products & solutions catering to the seed & farmers community.

About Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) Flagship Program by BIRAC

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Public Sector Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India as an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs.

BIG is the largest early stage biotech funding programme in India. It is currently managed through 8 BIG Partners across the country who works with the Ignition grantees (BIG Innovators) to provide mentoring, monitoring, networking and other business development related activities.