Startup Challenge
The Operation Dronagiri Startup Challenge is a national initiative to identify and accelerate geospatial innovations that address India’s key challenges in agriculture, transportation & infrastructure, and livelihoods & skilling.
Implemented through the Geospatial Innovation Accelerators (GIAs), the program supports startups at both early and growth stages to validate, deploy, and scale their solutions. Selected startups receive funding, mentorship, and access to real-world pilot opportunities across the identified districts — Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Sonipat and Gurugram (Haryana), Kamrup (Assam), Vizianagaram (Andhra Pradesh), and Washim (Maharashtra).
The Operation Dronagiri Startup Challenge was officially launched on November 20, 2024, with applications closing on December 23, 2024. Designed to identify and nurture innovative and impactful geospatial startups, the multi-stage screening process was conducted across the three focus sectors.
Early-Stage Startups (ESS)
Startups with a working prototype or proof-of-concept (PoC) are invited to participate through the Grand Challenge and Call for Entries. These are startups beyond the idea stage, with early revenue (below ₹1 crore annually), focusing on developing and validating innovative solutions aligned with national priorities. Selected startups receive structured funding support of up to ₹10 lakhs for prototype development and validation.
Growth-Stage Startups (GSS)
The Growth-Stage Startup track is designed for revenue-generating startups (over ₹1 crore annually) with market-ready products addressing identified problem statements in agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihoods. These startups can avail structured funding support of up to ₹50 lakhs to scale operations and expand market reach under the national GIA network.
Applications Received: 838
Shortlisted
Final Selected: 24
