The Namma Bengaluru Challenge ‘26, a city-led startup accelerator by UnboxingBLR, in partnership with Social Alpha, & WTFund, and supported by the Government of Karnataka & GBA, is inviting innovators to pilot solutions addressing sustainable construction, air pollution, waste management, and water and sanitation

●      Selected winners will receive ₹25 lakh each, along with an opportunity to access additional ₹1 crore to scale their innovations

●      The winning startups will have an opportunity to deploy their solutions as part of a six-month pilot program in collaboration with leading real estate and infrastructure partners in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, October 14, 2025 – Following the resounding success of its inaugural edition in December 2024, UnboxingBLR’s Namma Bengaluru Challenge (NBC) returns bigger, sharper, and more ambitious with the official launch of its second edition today.

This city-led NBC is a startup accelerator launched by UnboxingBLR, with Social Alpha as the acceleration partner and WTFund as the fund partner, supported by the Government of Karnataka and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). It offers a bold and focused path for startups to deliver city-first innovation at a time when climate action cannot wait. Bengaluru is under growing pressure from rapid urbanization, rising temperatures, and increasing climate risks, making locally driven, scalable solutions more important than ever. NBC gives innovators a platform to address these challenges directly and turn urgency into meaningful impact for a more resilient and sustainable city.

The challenge invites innovators and startups from across India to develop scalable solutions for urban problems. NBC ’26 aims to transform the city into a living lab for climate innovation by identifying, funding, and piloting cutting-edge solutions in key areas such as sustainable construction, air pollution, water & sanitation, and waste management.

Each of the winners will receive a grant of ₹25 lakh, which will be utilised to deploy pilots in Bengaluru, along with comprehensive incubation support and a pathway to implement their solutions in collaboration with the Government of Karnataka and leading real estate and infrastructure partners over a six-month pilot period.
“Bengaluru’s toughest challenges have always been seeds for innovation. With the Namma Bengaluru Challenge, we’re forging a dynamic space where entrepreneurs, government, and industry join forces to redefine what’s possible for our city. We are not chasing quick fixes. Instead, in the face of the climate crisis pressing on Bengaluru, we are harnessing the collective will of Bengaluru’s problem solvers to shape a resilient, thriving urban future together,” said Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner, Accel India & Co-Founder, UnboxingBLR.

“Bengaluru’s challenges are too complex for any one entity to solve alone. When we work collaboratively, combining administrative strength with private sector creativity and agility, then we unlock practical solutions that benefit every resident. This partnership is key to shaping a future-ready, livable Bengaluru,” said M. Maheshwar Rao, Chief Commissioner of Greater Bengaluru Area (GBA)

“Climate action is the defining opportunity for our generation, both for the planet and for the economy. Bengaluru, with its legacy of innovation, is the ideal place to build the climate-tech solutions of tomorrow. At WTFund, our mission is to back ventures that deliver tangible impact on pressing issues like climate change. The Namma Bengaluru Challenge is a platform that identifies high-potential ideas and provides a direct pathway to pilot them in real-world urban environments. By partnering with NBC, we are empowering entrepreneurs to solve Bengaluru’s critical challenges and create solutions that can be exported and scaled globally – turning local innovation into global impact,” said Nikhil Kamath, investor and Entrepreneur.

“The Namma Bengaluru Challenge is a powerful expression of our vision for enabling meaningful systems transformation in our cities through science and technology-led innovations. At Social Alpha, we are deeply committed to Bengaluru’s urban transition journey, not just as a pilot ground for climate and infrastructure solutions but as a living lab for reimagining urban futures. This initiative offers entrepreneurs a rare opportunity to validate their innovations in real-world contexts, catalyzing scalable solutions that serve both people and the planet,” said Manoj Kumar, Founder, Social Alpha.

“In its debut 2024 edition, the Namma Bengaluru Challenge attracted over 600 entries and showcased how Bengaluru’s innovators are driving tangible impact across sustainability, mobility, and social equity – setting the stage for NBC ‘26, which will take a more focused approach to tackling climate challenges. The overwhelming response to the ‘24 edition has encouraged us to increase the grant money – from Rs 10 lakh last year to Rs 25 lakh this year – to pilot even more impactful solutions in the city. Why climate? Why now? Bengaluru stands at the intersection of challenge and opportunity. Our WeAreCity Report ‘24 – a data report on India’s top cities – reiterates this, showing that more than 90% of Bengaluru is now built up, vegetation and water bodies have dwindled, and the city generates over 4,500 tons of construction waste daily. Yet it remains India’s most dynamic startup ecosystem. There is a need to make this growth sustainable. NBC is a step in that direction,” said Malini Goyal, CEO, UnboxingBLR.

How to Apply:
Startups will be evaluated based on innovation, market potential, deployment feasibility in Bengaluru, team strength, and impact potential. Interested participants from across India must:

1. Fill out the application form on the NBC website
   https://www.socialalpha.org/namma-bengaluru-challenge-26/

Applications for the Namma Bengaluru Challenge ‘26 close on 4th November, 2025.

DM @unboxingblr on Instagram for more information

About UnboxingBLR:

UnboxingBLR (UBLR) is a Bengaluru-focused collaborative platform dedicated to celebrating and shaping the city’s culture and identity. Founded in 2023 by Prashanth Prakash and Malini Goyal, UBLR brings together people, communities, and institutions to co-create Bengaluru’s story, serving as a city champion, idea catalyst, and collaborative platform.

UBLR drives initiatives such as the Namma Bengaluru Challenge, an accelerator that supports startups and changemakers tackling urban challenges; BLR Hubba, a city-wide festival celebrating art and culture; the annual We Are City Data Report, a data-driven snapshot of how citizens experience and engage with Bengaluru; and Code to Culture, a podcast exploring the city and its people. Together, these initiatives highlight citizen-led innovation and showcase Bengaluru’s cultural vibrancy in action.