UNDPIndia 345d ago

Six youth-led startups have been named winners of the 7th Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2024–25 held for their innovative solutions that advance disability inclusion and accessibility. The winning ventures were selected from across India for their bold ideas, entrepreneurial drive, and commitment to transforming the lives of persons with disabilities through technology, education, and inclusive care models. Co-led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Citi Foundation, organized together with the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and implemented by AssisTech Foundation (ATF), Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge has become a platform for empowering youth-led innovation and advancing the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hosted in collaboration with the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Bangalore, the winners were announced at the culmination of a five-day residential bootcamp on 13th June 2025. This programme brought together 18 youth-led startups—selected from more than 200 applicants nationwide—for mentorship, technical guidance, and opportunities to refine and present their solutions. This seventh edition of the Youth Co:Lab Innovation Challenge focused on empowering young innovators and entrepreneurs with disabilities, fostering solutions that enhance access, opportunity, and well-being for persons with disabilities.