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Implementation partner

Grand Challenge –

Agritech and Climate Action
Tourism and Sustainability

The Grand Challenge is aimed at supporting early-stage innovators to upscale from the R&D phase to developing workable prototypes and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) for the Agritech and Climate Action, Tourism and Sustainability sector. 20 shortlisted innovators will be invited to attend a 2-week bootcamp. Of the 20 innovators, 4 will be supported in development of MVP(s)/ prototypes. The Grand Challenge is a part of the XR Startup Program, a collaboration between Meta and MeitY Startup Hub, and will be run and managed by AIC-SMU Technology Business Incubation Foundation (AIC-SMUTBI).

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Application end date:
September 24, 2022, 11:59 PM (IST)

Problem statements

The applications should propose ideas or solutions that leverage XR technologies with the objective of:

  • Transforming and revolutionizing agriculture
  • Solving for present-day challenges of the agriculture sector
  • Addressing the impact of climate change
  • Enabling climate action

The applications should propose ideas or solutions that leverage XR technologies to:

  • Enhance/ re-define/ revolutionize tourism
  • Enable sustainable tourism
  • Address challenges faced by the travel industry
  • Promote sustainability

Why should you apply?

1. Top 20 shortlisted innovators will receive the following benefits:

Opportunity to attend the bootcamp.

Shortlist grant of ₹ 50,000 on successful completion of the bootcamp.

2. Top 4 innovators out of the bootcamp will receive the following benefits:

Grant of ₹ 20,00,000 to be utilized solely for conversion of solution/ idea/ proof of concept to MVP/ prototype.

Mentorship by industry experts and researchers.

Access to a network of potential strategic partners and investors.

Opportunity to participate and present at demo days and various industry events.

Access to technology and infrastructure support.

Who should apply?

  • Students studying at a university in India
  • Entrepreneurs, working professionals, faculty or researchers based in India
  • Aspiring Indian startups at the ideation stage or at pre-MVP/ prototype stage
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Application end date:
September 24, 2022, 11:59 PM (IST)

Key target outcomes

  • Development of workable MVP(s) prototypes
  • Partnership/ customer connects
  • Investor introductions

Program timeline

Application Start DateAugust 10, 2022, 9:00 AM (IST)
Application end dateSeptember 24, 2022, 11:59 PM (IST)
Announcement of top 20 shortlisted applicantsNovember 2022
BootcampNovember 2022
Announcement of top 4 final applicantsDecember 2022
Commencement of 6-month programDecember 2022
Demo daysJuly 2023
Note: Dates/ timelines are subject to change. Kindly check this site regularly for the latest information.

Mentors

Knowledge partners

Eligible innovators can click here to submit the application form. They will need to provide information such as the description of solution/ idea/ proof of concept, how it addresses problem statements among other things. For reference, a copy of the application form can be downloaded from here. Applicants can submit only 1 application.

Innovators working on Extended Reality (XR) technologies in the gaming and entertainment sector and who fulfill the eligibility criteria mentioned above and detailed in the program terms and conditions available here may apply. All finalists (whether individual or startups) will be required to pursue their solution/ idea with full dedication and commitment, and form a business entity for developing and marketing their solution/ idea before the conclusion of the program.

The terms and conditions of the Grand Challenge can be found here.

AIC-SMUTBI will establish a 3-member panel to evaluate and shortlist the applications. The applications will then be discussed with the steering committee established by Meta in collaboration with MSH. The shortlisted applicants will be informed by AIC-SMUTBI.

The selection will be based on the following criteria:

  • Alignment of the proposed solution with the problem statement
  • Uniqueness, originality and innovativeness of the proposed solution
  • Effectiveness and practicability of the proposed solution
  • Potential of the proposed solution to become a business opportunity at scale

In the event of a tie in the selection, the application with the highest score in the uniqueness, originality, and innovativeness of the proposed solution criterion will be considered.

20 innovators will be selected for the bootcamp. During the bootcamp, they will be required to pitch their proposal/ solution and will receive the shortlist grant. 4 innovators will be selected out of the bootcamp and provided with the program benefits mentioned above. To avail the benefits, the innovators must attend, participate, and complete the 6-month program.

The bootcamp will help the top 20 shortlisted innovators assess their ideas, evaluate market opportunity, establish unique value propositions, and hone an initial startup business plan. After completing the bootcamp, the shortlisted innovators will have to pitch their idea/ solution to the panel formed by AIC-SMUTBI. The bootcamp will help shortlisted innovators make a Go/ No-Go decision about their startup ideas.

Individuals may participate collectively in a group of up to 4. Individuals may only participate 1 time in the program as an individual/ part of a team/ employee of a startup. Requirements set forth in T&Cs are applicable to each individual member of a team. Shortlist grant and program benefits will be given to the individual who applies to the program. For further details, refer to T&Cs.

Depending on your focus area, you can apply to only 1 implementation partner under the XR Startup Program. For further details, refer to T&Cs.

For further information, drop an email to contact@smutbi.com

All the program benefits mentioned on this page above shall be made available to the selected startups by AIC-SMUTBI. For further details, refer to T&Cs

About AIC-SMUTBI

AIC-SMU Technology Business Incubation Foundation nurtures and incubates early stage entrepreneurial ventures based on technology and innovation by providing infrastructure, mentorship and seed grants to promising young entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams of starting their own venture. AIC-SMUTBI persistently encourages young entrepreneurs to hone their skills in generating valued human resources rather than the traditional manpower that feeds need of the industry.Get in touch

Email – contact@smutbi.com

Phone – +91 7063819616

Hours of contact – 9:00 AM – 5:00PM (All working days)

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