A SWACH Accelerator Demo Day was organized at Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) Federation House, New Delhi, bringing together innovative startups, investors, government representatives, and ecosystem partners to drive impactful solutions in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
The event was a collaborative effort of iHub - AWaDH at IIT Ropar under National Mission on
Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM ICPS), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Innovation Mission Punjab, and ISC-India Sanitation Coalition, demonstrating their commitment to empowering startups that address critical challenges in water management, sanitation, and hygiene. In a significant move to accelerate deep-tech solutions in the WASH sector, iHub - AWaDH announced an investment of ₹1.2 crore to support high-potential startups.
On the occasion, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, shared a video message, extending his congratulations to the participating startups and reinforcing the importance of innovation in addressing India’s sanitation and water management challenges.
Dr. Ekta Kapoor, Mission Director, NM-ICPS (National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems), graced the even and emphasized the significance of technology-driven solutions in tackling sanitation and water-related challenges.
The event commenced with a welcome note from representatives of iHub - AWaDH, Innovation Mission Punjab, and the India Sanitation Coalition, setting the stage for an engaging and insightful day of innovation and investment opportunities.
The highlight of the day was the startup pitch session, where 10 dynamic startups in the WASH sector presented their solutions before a panel of 30+ investors, ecosystem partners, and government officials, seeking funding and strategic support. The session also included an interactive Q&A round to facilitate deeper discussions between startups and potential Stakeholders.