MARKET VALIDATION OPPORTUNITY THROUGH PILOTS, TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS ADVISORY SUPPORT, MARKET ACCESS SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO SEED CAPITAL
Program Overview
Social Alpha Innovations in Waste Management is back with its second edition
as ‘Techtonic – Innovations in Circular Economy’.
Science and technology have the power to transform the waste management crisis through viable solutions which bring about a convergence of social, economic, and environmental benefits. To further move the needle towards a circular economy, a confluence of technology driven social innovations and the integration of the informal waste pickers are necessary all along the waste management spectrum. With technological advancements, the waste management sector is poised to create opportunities for climate action, economic growth, and livelihood enhancement for all stakeholders.
The collaboration between the H&M Foundation (H&MF) for the Saamuhika Shakti Initiative, the JSW Foundation (JSWF) and Social Alpha seeks to support startups in waste management scale and build sustainable models. This partnership is designed to address the most intractable challenges that early-stage start-ups in the sector face – lack of capital and inability to scale to new geographies.
We are looking for transformative innovations in waste management that have the potential to enable progression towards circular economy by integrating the informal wastepickers into the fold.
Applications open for 'Innovations in Circular Economy'
Innovations in Circular Economy
Market Validation Track
This track supported by the H&M Foundation as a part of the Saamuhika Shakti initiative envisions to create an enabling ecosystem stack for innovators and entrepreneurs developing solutions to accelerate waste management and improve the overall quality of life of the informal sector in India.
The partnership is focused on innovative solutions which can integrate informal wastepickers into the operations and create stable employment opportunities for the wastepickers in Bangalore and other cities.
Through this track, 5 winners will be selected for a year long accelerator program which includes a pilot opportunity of INR 15 lakhs and will be supported in their lab to market journey.
Problem Statements
Network Optimization: Enabling innovative solutions to build an efficient supply chain for waste generated.
Waste to Value: Enabling recycling and resource recovery from waste streams through tech-based innovations, with a focus on low value waste streams.
Program Offerings
Market validation through pilot opportunities and access to field partner networks for on-ground implementation.
Support of up to INR 15 Lakh per start-up to implement pilots on ground.
Curated set of offerings to provide support on digitization or marketing and branding of up to INR 2.5 Lakhs per startup.
1-year long incubation at Social Alpha with dedicated Portfolio Managers to assist with developing go-to-market strategy and overall business advisory.
One on one engagement & mentorship with experts from the waste management sector, and technology and business support through sectoral experts.
Access to seed capital of up to INR 1 Cr per startup, subject to Social Alpha due diligence.
Scale Up Track
This track is supported by the JSW Foundation, to promote waste management and processing in Tier 2/3 towns in India. Given JSW Foundation’s presence in Vijayanagar, Karnataka and Dolvi, Maharashtra, these locations have been chosen for pilot implementations.
Through this track, 2 startups will be selected, whose innovations contribute to sustainable management and reduction of waste. Financial assistance of INR 40 lakhs for pilot implementation and on ground support will be provided to startups to set up operations in Dolvi or Vijaynagar (as per the startup’s choice) – this would be a soft-landing pad to support the startup’s work in a new geography and scale up.
Startups focusing on end-to-end operations to transform waste into value will be supported.
Problem Statement
Network optimization for creating value from waste
Recycling and resource recovery from waste streams through science and tech-based innovations, combined with process optimisation to establish efficient systems, and sustainable microentrepreneurial models to promote decentralised waste management.
Startups will work with JSW Foundation and Social Alpha to identify how their solutions can be implemented in the pilot location(s). Given below is information regarding the two pilot locations, to familiarize the startups with the on-ground situation and help them select the location that would be more suited for scaling up.
District: Bellary, Vijayanagar
Area (sq km): 9,886
Population: 27,54,598
Number of Households: 5,47,679
With JSWF’s support, waste collection, sorting and recycling/upcycling has been happening for 3 Gram Panchayats (6 villages) and 1 Town Municipal Council in this region for households and shops. After collection of waste, sorting is carried out in godowns, following which non-recyclables are sent to cement factories, and recyclables are sold to local vendors.
~16k households (population of 65k) are currently covered under JSWF’s activities. There is huge room for improving efficiency across supply chain and maximizing the value of different waste streams.
Indicative monthly data for 16k households:
Highest quantities of dry waste collected for:
- Clothing 31%
- Tin bottle 9%
- Footwear 7%
- Tetra pack 8%
- Leather 7%
- MLP 5%
District: Raigad
Area (sq km): 7,152
Population: 26,34,200
Number of Households: 5,26,840
JSW Foundation’s initiatives in Dolvi have focused on segregation and recycling/upcycling of waste in 20 villages in the region and are looking at scaling up to 69 villages. After collection, waste is transported to sheds where it is categorized into different categories.
Given that Dolvi is a recent addition, only 900 households (population of 3.6k) are covered under JSW Foundation’s activities. There is scope to reach a population of 15.6k in Wadkhal, Dolvi, and Karav for improving infrastructure facilities in villages, processing wet waste, streamlining waste management operations and generating value from different waste streams.
Indicative monthly data for 1.2k households:
Program Offerings
Work order/grant of INR 40 lakh per startup to set up operations for pilot in Vijaynagar/Dolvi.
Personalized professional support, for development of the startup’s project in the above-mentioned locations (business support, technical support, visibility and recognition, etc.).
Access to infrastructure such as DWCCs, crushing machines, bailing machines, etc. (subject to availability), with the support of JSW Foundation.
Support for connections with local government authorities to facilitate implementation of pilots on ground.
1-year long incubation at Social Alpha with dedicated Portfolio Managers to assist with developing go-to-market strategy and overall business advisory.
One on one engagement & mentorship with JSWF representatives for insights, connects, and understanding gaps/constraints, as well as with other experts from the waste management sector for technology and business support.
Access to seed capital (equity) of up to INR 1 Cr per startup, subject to Social Alpha due diligence.
Important dates
-
Application Start Date
22nd April 2022
-
Application Deadline
12th May 2022
-
-
Grand Jury Round
May 03rd week
-
Announcement of Winners
05th June 2022
frequently asked questions
Program structure
1. What is the Structure of the Program?
The program is cohort-driven; however, the durations will vary based on the needs of each start-up and the implementation partner they would be working with. The first month will be an orientation launchpad where the portfolio managers will map an in-depth plan for the Accelerator for each winner.
2. What is the duration of the Program?
The Accelerator program is typically for 12 months; however, it will vary from case to case based on needs of winning cohort.
3, What are the benefits I can avail from the Program?
Winners will receive incubation support and accelerator offerings depending on their needs assessment as below:
- Access to technical advisory and mentorship support for R&D
- Assistance in product development and design
- Assistance in development of a marketing plan
- Assistance in creating digital support tools
- Opportunity to implement the innovation with a test bed partner
- Hands on operational support, business mentorship and go-to-market strategic advisory
- International exposure and collaboration opportunities through H&M Foundation/JSW Foundation and Social Alpha Network
- Access to seed capital (equity) of up to 1 Cr per startup, subject to Social Alpha due diligence
4. How frequently will Social Alpha interface with the winners during the program?
There will be regular interface between the winning start-ups and the Social Alpha program team. Each start-up will be allocated a portfolio manager who will regularly engage with the start-ups to help with their specific needs.
Eligibility
1. Who can apply for the program?
The Program is looking for start-ups with innovative solutions in the waste management sector that have the potential to create impact, scale across locations and demonstrate business model sustainability.
Start-ups applying for the Market Validation track must display potential to work with and improve livelihoods of the informal community in the waste management ecosystem.
Start-ups applying for the Scale Up track must display potential to establish end-to-end operations to create value from waste in selected location(s).
Start-ups registered in India are eligible to apply for the program.
2. What if I am applying for the Market Validation track and not working with the informal sector, can I still apply for the program?
Yes, you may apply if your solution has demonstrated impact and business model sustainability. However, if shortlisted, the start-up will need to build a one-year implementation plan demonstrating the integration of the informal waste pickers into their pilot operations.
3. Is there any preference for a particular type of innovation?
Start-ups are encouraged to submit applications that are technology-based solutions. Innovations can be a product or a service but must be aligned to the focus areas outlined in the program. There is a preference for tech-based innovations that have a high social impact potential.
Timelines
What are the important dates to remember during the selection process? By when will the results be announced?
- Launch Date/ Application Start Date: 22nd April 2022
- Application Deadline: 12th May 2022
- Pitch to Grand Jury: May 3rd week
- Announcement of Finalists: 05th June 2022
Terms and Conditions
Please read the following terms and conditions before submitting your entry:
ELIGIBILITY
- Participating or proposed ventures should be independent entities, meaning that they should not be a subsidiary of an existing corporation or have legal ties to a government body.
- Existing non-profits can participate; however, they should propose a venturing idea or a plan to transform their existing solutions into a more sustainable solution.
- The applicant should be a registered company in India. The shareholding by Indian promoters in the company should be at least 51%.
SUBMISSIONS AND PARTICIPATION
- Submissions which are incomplete will be deemed void and disqualified from the evaluations.
- Submissions should be the original work of the participant/participating entity and should demonstrate positive social or environmental impact, have a disruptive technology innovation with potential to be sustainable and scalable in India (though not exclusively in the region).
- Winners agree to the use of their names, photographs, disclosure of their country of residence; and are required to cooperate with any other reasonable requests by the organiser relating to any publicity-related activities.
- Winners are required to submit a declaration of good standing and solvency at the final stage of evaluation. If there is any change in circumstance that invalidates their good standing and solvency, the team is to immediately inform the organisers.
- All participants own the rights to their ideas. Participants must properly acknowledge any trademarks, patented or copyrighted materials of others that are incorporated into the submission materials. Participants are responsible for obtaining any necessary permission before utilizing such materials into their submissions.
- Submitted ideas are protected in the spirit of non-disclosure, and all submitted materials will be treated as company confidential. The only people with access to the entry materials will be evaluators/judges, partners and select members of the organising committee. Materials will not be distributed to any other party unless requested by a participant. No other provisions are made to protect intellectual property.
- Participants are advised not to disclose critical information which would affect a successful filing of patent(s). All presentations are open to the general public, and some presentations may be videotaped. Attendance by media personnel is expected in the final stages of the program. Any data or information discussed or divulged in public sessions by participants should be considered information that will likely enter the public realm, and entrants should not assume any right of confidentiality in any data or information discussed, divulged or presented in these sessions.
DECISIONS REGARDING THE WINNERS
- The selection of the ‘Winners’ is at the sole discretion of the judges and the organisers from Social Alpha and partnering organisations. Best efforts will be made to make decisions in accordance with this document.
- Throughout any and all phases of Techtonic, all decisions of the judges are final.
DISQUALIFICATION AND ORGANISER’S RIGHT TO AMEND COMPETITION RULES
- The organisers of Techtonic reserve the right to disqualify any participant who is found to have violated the spirit of the program guidelines and terms and conditions stated herein. Disqualified participants shall forfeit any and all prizes awarded to them.
- The organisers reserve the right to amend these rules at any point before the Closing Date of Techtonic in line with the overall goal of program.
- The indicated dates for Techtonic may be revised at any point of time by the organisers. Any change in schedule will be suitably intimated on the webpage and on other relevant platforms.