Nine climate-tech startups are rolling out low-carbon solutions across 10 Indian cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi. The Innovations in Sustainable Urban Transition Program, run by Social Alpha and the University of Toronto India Foundation, provides grants of up to INR 35 lakh per startup to de-risk adoption in urban environments. Technologies range from fly ash-based cement alternatives and vertical wind turbines to AI-driven water leak detection and decentralized wastewater treatment. The program targets sectors like construction, energy, waste management, and water. Pilot partners include municipal corporations, schools, hospitals, and private firms. The first cohort reportedly avoided 106 tonnes of CO2e, diverted 407 tonnes of waste, and saved nearly 17,000 kiloliters of water. The new cohort aims to scale these results through 17 partnerships across public and private organizations.
