The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), in collaboration with the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur, has launched the second cohort of 32 clean-tech startups focused on strengthening India’s sanitation and waste-management ecosystem. The announcement was made during the Swachhata Startup Conclave held on 24 November 2025 in New Delhi. The initiative was formally inaugurated by Shri Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State, MoHUA.
Driving Innovation for Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban
Over the last decade, the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U) has evolved from traditional waste practices to modern, technology-driven sanitation systems. Shri Tokhan Sahu highlighted how the Mission is empowering young entrepreneurs to develop homegrown, market-ready innovations that contribute to a cleaner, greener, and more self-reliant urban India. MoHUA & IIT Kanpur Launch Secon…
He also announced plans to develop a national exchange platform that will connect startups with urban local bodies (ULBs), investors, and key stakeholders—streamlining the deployment of clean-tech solutions at scale.
India’s Expanding Waste-Management Startup Ecosystem
India’s startup landscape is rapidly rising, with over 100 unicorns and a growing network of innovators emerging not only from major hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR, but also from tier-2 and tier-3 cities. More than 5,000 waste-management startups have already been recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), strengthening nationwide urban sustainability efforts.
Successes from Cohort 1
The Swachhata Startup Challenge, launched in 2022, has already showcased significant results. From the first cohort:
- 30 startups received techno-financial assistance
- Revenue expanded 11-fold
- Funding support grew 6-fold
- 20% of the startups were led by women innovators
- Startups delivered strong on-ground impact by treating 300+ lakh litres of wastewater, processing 63,000+ MT of waste, clearing 15,000 MT of street garbage, and managing 200 MT of biodegradable waste
- Collectively, these startups achieved a valuation of over ₹500 crore and generated 2,000+ jobs
What the New Cohort Brings
The newly onboarded 32 startups under Cohort 2 will focus on:
- Circular waste-management models
- Waste segregation and traceability
- Faecal sludge and septage management
- Waste-to-energy solutions
- Digital platforms and smart technologies for ULBs
Through SIIC IIT Kanpur, the startups will receive access to R&D facilities, mentoring, investor networks, market access, bootcamps, and incubation support, enabling them to trial and scale their solutions across Indian cities.
Looking Ahead
MoHUA is also building a unified national platform for solution exchange, enabling ULBs to highlight local challenges and identify appropriate innovations from the startup ecosystem. This integrated approach aims to accelerate the adoption of clean technologies and advance India’s journey toward Aatma Nirbhar Bharat in sanitation and waste management.