AIM, NITI Aayog, & UNDP India Invite Entrepreneurs to the Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2024-2025 in India

-The initiative, aimed at promoting social entrepreneurship and advancing sustainable development, will be carried out in partnership with the AssisTech Foundation (ATF).

-The challenge will focus on empowering young entrepreneurs, including those with disabilities, to innovate solutions.

-The startup or team, if incorporated, should be no older than five years, meaning it should have been founded in December 2019 or later.

The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Citi Foundation, invite young entrepreneurs, including those with disabilities, to participate in the seventh edition of the Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge for 2024-2025.

Young innovators are invited to create innovative solutions that aim to "Enhance access to opportunities and well-being for Persons with Disabilities" (PwDs).

The initiative, aimed at promoting social entrepreneurship and advancing sustainable development, will be carried out in partnership with the AssisTech Foundation (ATF). It is an organization dedicated to accelerating Assistive Technology (AT) innovation for People with Disabilities and will serve as the program’s implementation partner.

The challenge will focus on empowering young entrepreneurs, including those with disabilities, to innovate solutions across the following sub-categories: inclusive and accessible assistive technology, inclusive educational technology and skilling solutions for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and care services models and solutions for PwDs.

Youth-led startups (ages 18-29, with an extension to 32 for marginalized groups, including PwDs) that have developed solutions addressing one or more of this year’s focus areas—Inclusive Assistive Technology, Accessible Education and Skilling, or Innovative Care Models—are eligible to apply for the program, the organization announced in a press statement.

The startup or team, if incorporated, should be no older than five years, meaning it should have been founded in December 2019 or later. Additionally, the team must have a functional prototype or product ready for deployment. NGOs whose work aligns with the program’s three key themes are also eligible to apply. The application deadline is January 18, 2025.

Speaking at the virtual launch, Dr Angela Lusigi, UNDP resident representative for India, emphasized, “We firmly believe that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the changemakers of today. This belief is embodied in Youth Co:Lab, now in its seventh edition. For the first time, it prioritizes startups by and for persons with disabilities. Promoting disability-inclusive development is not just the right thing to do; it’s essential for achieving the SDGs.”

Rewards Include 

Shortlisted Participants of Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge in India 2024-25 will benefit from the National Springboard Programme, where the top 35 startups will gain access to a two month virtual incubation program designed to refine their business models, enhance product-market fit, and receive hands-on mentorship from industry leaders, culminating in a comprehensive growth strategy; A five day in-person bootcamp where the top 20 startups will be invited to an immersive bootcamp featuring workshops, expert-led sessions, and personalized mentoring, focusing on scaling operations, investment readiness, and strategic partnerships to drive enterprise growth.

The programme will also provide seed grants, enabling funding opportunities worth INR 1.5 - 2.5 Lakh each for the top six startups to foster innovation and provide initial support towards growth. 

Additionally, startups will get a chance to represent India at the Regional Asia-Pacific Youth Co:Lab Summit. The Regional Youth Co:Lab Summit provides young entrepreneurs with access to technical and business mentors, networking opportunities, and a doorway to learning and acceleration opportunities.

Highlighting the critical role of assistive technology, Prateek Madhav, cofounder & CEO of ATF, said, “By combining our deep knowledge of Assistive Technology with the Youth Co:Lab platform, we aim to inspire and support young innovators to create solutions that make society more inclusive and accessible for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Empowering youth is central to the future of innovation.”

One can go through the following link to apply for this programme: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvrBA2QvO3IDhP2tNozGBOMtrk-Hdvhaft7TsYiPcHkShX6w/viewform

For more details on programme content, eligibility, and fees, one must visit: https://aim.gov.in/youthcolab.php