Six youth-led startups from across India were named winners and runners-up in the eighth Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026, a programme co-led by UNDP India and the Citi Foundation with Atal Innovation Mission and implemented by T-Hub Foundation. The challenge attracted more than 350 applications from ventures representing 28 states and targeted sustainable textiles and fashion, circular economy innovations and sustainable food systems and water conservation. A three-month National Springboard Programme provided mentorship, training and business development support from 16 industry experts.

Fifty startups were selected for the accelerator after a competitive evaluation, with 20 advancing to a Regional Immersion Bootcamp in Hyderabad from 15 to 19 June that included workshops, mentoring and site visits. Participants presented at the National Innovation Dialogue on 4 June and underwent a final round of judging on 18 June that emphasised scalability and measurable environmental and social impact. The programme sought to strengthen business models and prepare ventures for market expansion and investment.

The three winners were NavaPrayoga Labs LLP (Grassip), UnBubble and Ecorenowa Solutions Pvt Ltd; the runners-up were Eco Cushion, Vasudeva Innovations and WomenasticCO. Each winner received seed funding of Rs 0.35 million (mn) and each runner-up received Rs 0.22 mn, alongside access to capacity building and innovation networks to support market entry. Organisers also offered continued mentoring and introductions to potential investors to assist scaling and impact measurement.

Senior representatives from partner organisations attended the awards and highlighted the role of youth leadership and collaboration in addressing development challenges. Organisers emphasised the need to expand access to funding and mentorship beyond major startup hubs in order to reach entrepreneurs in smaller cities, rural areas and underrepresented communities. They noted that empowering young innovators is central to national development and climate goals given that nearly 65 per cent of the population is under the age of 35 and that more than 40 per cent of selected startups were women-led.