The second edition of the Design Impact Awards Conclave concluded today at The Lalit Ashok, marking a significant milestone in the fight against India’s water scarcity. The event served as both a celebration of a year of on-ground success and a launchpad for the next phase of large-scale innovation.
Scaling Innovation: From Pilot to “Deep Impact”
Over the past year, six high-potential startups were awarded grants of ₹50 lakh each to deploy their solutions across India. Today’s conclave highlighted the measurable results of these pilots, ranging from robotic pipeline inspections to IoT-driven agriculture.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the conclave culminated in the announcement of the “Deep Impact” phase. A select group of 2–3 startups from the initial cohort were awarded enhanced grants of up to ₹3 crore, specifically designed to scale their innovations to a national level.
A Multi-Stakeholder Ecosystem for Change
The event fostered critical dialogue between government, industry, and philanthropy. Notable attendees included:
- Ajoy Chawla, Managing Director, Titan Company
- N.E. Sridhar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Titan Company
- Srinivasulu, IFS, Principal Secretary, Forest, Environment & Ecology Department, Government of Karnataka
- Ashok Natarajan, CEO, Steady-Taps Consulting
Representatives from the BWSSB, EMPRI, and various CSR leaders also participated, reinforcing the need for collaborative action to solve the water crisis.
The Innovators: Impact Highlights
The six featured grantees demonstrated diverse, scalable solutions across the country:
The winners acknowledged at the Design Impact Awards Conclave today are:
- CultYvate (Farm2Folk Pvt. Ltd.)
- SmartTerra Urban Water Management Pvt. Ltd.
- Solinas Integrity Pvt. Ltd.
Over the past year, the six grantees have piloted scalable solutions across agriculture, urban water management, wastewater recycling, and pipeline inspection. Highlights include:
- CultYvate (Farm2Folk Pvt. Ltd.) – IoT-based Alternate Wetting & Drying system for paddy farming; pilot in Punjab covering 2,500 acres and 600–800 farmers
- SmartTerra Urban Water Management Pvt. Ltd. – AI-driven software for leak detection and NRW reduction; pilot in Khammam, Telangana
- Solinas Integrity Pvt. Ltd. – Robotic inspection systems to reduce Non-Revenue Water; 16 km of pipeline inspected in Kolhapur
- EF Polymer Pvt. Ltd. – 100% organic biodegradable superabsorbent polymer to enhance soil water retention; pilot in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
- EcoSTP Technologies Pvt. Ltd. – Net Zero Sewage Treatment Technology; pilot demonstration at EMPRI, Bengaluru
- Transwater Systems Pvt. Ltd. (BOSON White Water System) – Decentralized wastewater treatment; pilot at Kadubeesanahalli BWSSB STP, Bengaluru
Beyond financial support, the Design Impact Awards platform provides startups with a strategic stage to showcase their work to policymakers and investors. By bridging the gap between innovation and adoption, the initiative continues to build a resilient water future for India.
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