There are innovations capable of radically changing people's lives that remain unnoticed because they lack a suitable platform. These can be founders solving real problems in small towns, non-profit organizations improving access to healthcare or education, or entrepreneurs creating technological solutions previously deemed impossible in India. These stories are scattered across the country, often lacking the necessary recognition, mentorship, or capital for scaling.
The Indian Innovation Icons competition is designed to address this need, and applications for its 2027 edition have now opened. Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) launched its flagship program, Indian Innovation Icons (formerly known as Innovation for India Awards), in 2006. This event is held biennially and aims to identify and highlight Indian innovators whose work has the potential for large-scale impact but has not yet received due attention.
Applications are open under two streams. The Business category targets commercial organizations based in India, including startups. The Social category is available to non-profit organizations registered in India, which includes government bodies, charitable foundations, philanthropic organizations, social enterprises, multilateral agencies, public trusts, NGOs, as well as corporate or charitable foundations.
To qualify, the solution must be unique, sustainable, rapidly scalable, and capable of making a significant economic, social, or environmental impact in India and beyond. For the business category, innovations implemented within the last 10 years are considered, while for the social category, the period is 16 years as of the application submission month. All applications are evaluated based on four equally weighted criteria: uniqueness, impact, scalability, and sustainability.
The evaluation process takes nearly eight months and involves expert review by independent knowledge partners, two rounds of jury discussions, and thorough on-site verification before winners are announced at the Grand Finale in March 2027.
A distinguishing feature of Indian Innovation Icons is not just the recognition, but also the volume of support that follows. Winners receive a series of commitments that can significantly alter the trajectory of their organizations. This includes a guaranteed one-hour individual consultation with Harsh Marivala, founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Marico Limited, followed by six months of personalized mentorship from senior company leadership in areas such as marketing, finance, supply chain, operations, and strategy.
Furthermore, laureates gain exclusive access to capital and business networks. Marivala personally connects them with venture capitalists, institutional investors, grant providers, and corporate executives on their behalf. They present their projects at the Grand Finale to an audience of over 500 prominent industrialists, board members, and philanthropists. A month later, they participate in InnoWin Day—specially curated meetings with selected institutions aimed at accelerating progress without the need for cold outreach.
In addition to mentorship and access, winners receive public endorsement from Marivala on LinkedIn, as well as national recognition through an exclusive video partnership with The Better India, reaching over 129 million views. To enhance the communication of their work, the program also provides specialized storytelling and executive coaching in collaboration with The School of Practical Skills, led by communications trainer Ankita Vengulkar.
For the 2027 edition, a diverse group of industry leaders, politicians, investors, and social impact advocates has been assembled to evaluate the applications. The Chair of the Jury is Amit Chandra, Chairman of Bain Capital India and Co-founder of ATE Chandra Foundation.
The Business Jury includes Dr. Ashish Lale, Director of CSIR-National Chemical Library; Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Scientist at NITI Aayog; Namita Tapar, CEO of Emcure Pharmaceuticals; Prabha Narasimhan, CEO of Colgate Palmolive India; Ravi Marivala, Chairman and CEO of Smaart Water; and Sanjeev Kaul, Senior Partner at ChrysCapital.
The Social Jury features Aniket Deoghar, Founder and CEO of Haqdarshak; Chetna Gala Singh, Founder and Chairman of Mann Deshi Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation; Dipali Hanna, Vice President and Head of Asia at The Rockefeller Foundation; Louis Miranda, Co-founder and Chairman of the Indian School of Public Policy; Pratik Madhav, CEO and Co-founder of AssisTech Foundation; and Smariniti Shetty, Co-founder and CEO of India Development Review.
Over the past ten editions, the platform has recognized more than 70 breakthrough Indian innovations. In the Business category, past winners include Astrome Technologies, which provides high-speed broadband internet access at affordable prices in remote areas using E-band multi-beam wireless technology. Chara Technologies, which develops synchronous relaxation motors without rare-earth magnets as a sustainable alternative for India's electric vehicle and industrial motor sectors, was also a winner. Other past laureates include Indra Water, whose patented ElectroX technology cleans wastewater without chemicals, reducing space requirements by 90% and operational costs by 40%, and Skyroot Aerospace, the first private Indian company to build a fully 3D-printed cryogenic engine, working to democratize access to space for satellite launches.
In the Social category, AssisTech Foundation was recognized as the first assistive technology accelerator in India, supporting startups developing mobility, communication, and independent living solutions for people with disabilities. The People's Archive of Rural India (PARI) was also acknowledged—a digital platform preserving the voices of rural India through multimedia archives in 15 languages—and Rocket Learning, which uses technological solutions to bridge the gap between parents, teachers, and communities in early childhood education.
This track record underscores why Indian Innovation Icons has become a significant benchmark of trust for both commercial and non-profit organizations across the country.
Marico Innovation Foundation was established in 2003 as a non-profit division of Marico Limited. It implements two main programs: the Scale-Up Program and Indian Innovation Icons, both aimed at developing and stimulating the innovation ecosystem in India. MIF's mission is to identify breakthrough innovations capable of delivering long-term socio-economic and environmental impact, providing them with the visibility, opportunities, and support necessary for success.
Indian Innovation Icons 2027 offers precisely the platform that innovators who have created something significant but have yet to find a match for their ambitions need. The deadline for applications is set for July 22, 2026. Interested organizations can apply through the official form.
Applications for Tech30 2026, YourStory's flagship program that highlights the most promising early-stage startups in India, have officially opened. Every year, Tech30 selects thirty early-stage startups developing breakthrough technologies in India.
The 2026 cohort will be featured at TechSparks 2026—YourStory's premier technology summit, which will take place in Bengaluru from October 13 to 15. This year's theme is 'The New Technological Order,' reflecting the transition of India's deep tech sector from initial potential to real global impact. Tech30 continues to serve as a key platform for identifying the founders driving this transition.
Over many years, Tech30 has established itself as one of the most closely tracked startup lists in India. Its alumni include companies such as Freshworks, Chargebee, Juspay, Innovaccer, Capillary, Skyroot, Pixxel, Qure.ai, Addverb, Hasura, Digantara, Apna, Onsurity, and DeepSource. Collectively, previous Tech30 cohorts have contributed to the creation of two IPO companies, five unicorns, nine 'superunicorns,' and 45 'minicorns.' These companies have created over 35,000 jobs across 53 different locations.
Even more telling is the longevity of these companies: nearly two-thirds of all Tech30 alumni (64.3%) remain actively operating, demonstrating the program's ability to identify companies with long-term potential.
The thirty startups selected for Tech30 2026 will receive a dedicated exhibition booth at TechSparks 2026. This will allow them to showcase their products to investors, corporations, founders, operators, and the wider startup community over the three days of the event. Furthermore, inclusion in the list means the startups will be alongside a cohort that consistently identifies companies long before they become widely known.
Tech30 2026 seeks early-stage startups in deep technology that solve complex and defensible problems. The program is open to startups operating in various sectors, including space and defense, drones and unmanned systems, robotics and autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, and next-generation communications.
This year, the program places increased emphasis on startups operating outside major urban centers in India. Founders from Tier 2 cities and emerging startup hubs are strongly encouraged to apply, reflecting the growing depth of innovation across the country.
Applications undergo a two-stage evaluation process. Startups are assessed based on the strength and defensibility of their technology, the significance of the problem they solve, the capabilities of the founding team, product maturity, market opportunities, scalability, and overall business viability. The goal of the process is simple: to find 30 startups with the potential to shape the next phase of India's deep tech ecosystem.
Applications for Tech30 2026 are open and close on August 24. Founders can submit their applications through the Tech30 2026 registration form. For those building a deep tech startup in India, this is a chance to become part of one of the country's most sought-after early-stage startup cohorts.
