Innovations in Sustainable Urban Transition initiative

Social Alpha, in collaboration with the University of Toronto (U of T) India Foundation, launched the Innovations in Sustainable Urban Transition initiative in August 2024. This mission-driven platform focuses on advancing scalable, technology-enabled climate solutions for India’s rapidly expanding cities. Recognising the environmental challenges that accompany urbanisation—such as rising emissions, waste generation, and mobility concerns—the program aims to create a sustainable and resilient urban future. In its first year, the initiative successfully supported 22 deployments across 11 cities through 11 startups working alongside government bodies, academic institutions, industries, and civil society organisations. These projects addressed pressing needs in green construction materials, waste management, water infrastructure, clean mobility, energy efficiency, and air quality. Building on this impact, the second edition continues to promote collaborative models that empower innovators and entrepreneurs to co-develop and scale context-specific solutions. Through financial support, incubation, mentorship, and market access, Social Alpha and U of T India Foundation are committed to nurturing a robust ecosystem that enables startups to transform India’s urban centres into low-carbon, inclusive, and sustainable growth hubs.

The Innovations in Sustainable Urban Transition grant seeks to empower startups working on transformative solutions for India’s urban challenges. The program focuses on four core areas—Build, Operate, Dispose, and Mobility—reflecting the most critical touchpoints of urban sustainability. Selected startups will receive up to INR 35 lakhs as pilot grants to deploy their solutions in real-world settings, working with implementation partners from government, private sector, and civil society. In addition, the program offers incubation support for one year, market access opportunities, and mentorship through the University of Toronto ecosystem. Startups may also gain access to seed capital of up to INR 1 crore, subject to due diligence by Social Alpha. By providing exposure, validation, and collaboration opportunities, the grant aims to strengthen India’s urban sustainability landscape. The program ultimately seeks to identify and scale solutions that reduce emissions, improve efficiency, create value from waste, and transform mobility infrastructure, ensuring that India’s cities are well-prepared to transition toward sustainable, climate-resilient futures.