PM SVANidhi Startup Challenge

A national challenge inviting DPIIT-recognized startups to innovate solutions for street vendors in areas like financial management, sustainable packaging, and climate-resilient infrastructure, with grants up to ₹20 lakh and pilot opportunities.

The PM SVANidhi Startup Challenge, a flagship initiative by Startup India and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), aims to harness the innovative power of India's startup ecosystem to uplift street vendors, who form the vibrant backbone of the urban informal economy. This challenge seeks to foster the development and deployment of scalable, technology-driven solutions that address critical pain points faced by street vendors across the nation.

Recognizing the crucial role of street vendors, this program focuses on key areas such as enhancing financial literacy and access, promoting eco-friendly and sustainable practices, improving vendor identification and outreach mechanisms, and developing climate-resilient and ergonomic vending infrastructure. By inviting DPIIT-recognized startups, the challenge seeks to bridge the gap between grassroots needs and cutting-edge innovation, ensuring that solutions are both impactful and scalable.

Selected startups will not only receive significant financial support but also gain unparalleled opportunities to conduct live pilot projects in collaboration with MoHUA and various Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). This hands-on implementation phase provides a unique platform for validation and real-world impact. Beyond funding and piloting, successful innovations will be recognized by MoHUA and provided pathways for national scale-up, integrating them into the broader PM SVANidhi ecosystem to create lasting change for millions of street vendors.