Indian Start-ups to Showcase Innovations at India Energy Week

New Delhi [India], February 7: Indian start-ups are set to take center stage at the India Energy Week (IEW) 2025, where they will showcase their innovative energy solutions to a global audience. Scheduled to be held from February 11-14, 2025, at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, the event is expected to attract over 70,000 energy professionals from 120 countries.

A key feature of IEW 2025 will be a special start-up pavilion that highlights the growing innovation in India’s energy sector. The pavilion will host the winners of two prestigious energy startup challenges: Avinya’25 and Vasudha, announced last week by Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri.

In a special ceremony held at the ONGC headquarters, Puri revealed the winners of Avinya’25, India’s premier energy startup competition, which was awarded to UrjanovaC Pvt Ltd. The runners-up included Breathe ESG Private Limited, AgriVijay, Apeiro Energy, and UGreen Technology. Meanwhile, Latin Energy Partners Inc. from Paraguay won the Vasudha challenge, a global startup competition focusing on the upstream oil and gas sector, with Ultrasound Process Consulting LLC from the USA securing second place.

Speaking about these developments, Minister Puri emphasized the crucial role of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in nurturing innovation. Through a Rs. 547.35 crore startup fund, these PSUs have supported 303 start-ups with Rs. 286.36 crore in funding, driving growth in India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.

“The winning start-ups will receive significant exposure at IEW 2025, where they will present their cutting-edge solutions to over 70,000 professionals from across the globe,” said Puri.

The India Energy Week event has seen substantial growth since its inception, and this year’s edition is expected to be one of the largest yet. More than 700 companies will exhibit, and 500 speakers will share insights across key areas of energy transition, sustainability, and innovation. Additionally, more than 6,000 delegates are expected to attend, reinforcing India’s position as a leader in the global energy sector.

Startups Paving the Way for Energy Transition

Indian start-ups are increasingly playing a vital role in shaping the future of the energy sector. Innovations presented at the IEW start-up pavilion are expected to address the critical challenges of energy security, transition, and sustainability.

Pankaj Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, recently urged young innovators to explore new ways to mine seismic data for hydrocarbon exploration. “We have vast amounts of seismic data, and I encourage our brightest minds to develop solutions to mine and analyze this data to contribute to India’s energy exploration efforts,” Jain said.

Industry veterans such as Sarthak Behuria, Former Chairman of IOCL and ONGC, and Dr. Suddhasatwa Basu, FIPI Chair Professor at IIT Delhi, have lauded the innovative energy solutions showcased during the Avinya’25 program. Behuria emphasized the importance of such platforms in fostering energy security, transition, and affordability, while Basu highlighted the rigorous selection process that identified the most promising startups.

India’s Growing Startup Ecosystem

India continues to reinforce its position as a global startup hub. The country’s entrepreneurial landscape is flourishing, with over 1.57 lakh startups recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as of December 2024. This vibrant startup ecosystem, which includes more than 100 unicorns, is poised to drive transformative growth in multiple sectors, including energy.

With the support of government policies, such as the startup fund, and platforms like IEW, India is accelerating its energy transition and fostering innovation that will contribute to its ambitious renewable energy goals.

India Energy Week 2025 will serve as a pivotal moment in showcasing the country’s capabilities in energy innovation, while further strengthening its global leadership in the clean energy transition.