Social Innovation Summit 2026
By COEP Bhau Institute of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership
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Quick Answer
A competition for social entrepreneurs and startups building sustainable solutions for society and the environment — ₹50,000 grants for top 3 finalists plus mentorship at COEP's Bhau Institute, Pune.
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹1.5 Lakhs
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 5 June 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by COEP Bhau Institute of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The Social Innovation Summit 2026 is the 3rd edition of a competition organised by COEP's Bhau Institute of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership — a DST-supported startup incubator in Pune. This innovation challenge invites social entrepreneurs, innovators, and early-stage startups to develop sustainable solutions across healthcare, agriculture, clean technology, waste management, grassroots innovation, and SDG-aligned innovation.
COEP's Bhau Institute has supported 380+ startups, created 1,500+ jobs, and facilitated 141+ intellectual properties. The summit aims to nurture social entrepreneurs building businesses with measurable environmental and societal impact.
Who Should Apply Social entrepreneurs, innovators, early-stage startups, and students working on sustainable solutions. Participants must be at the Prototype, MVP, or Commercialization stage. Teams and individual founders are welcome.
Focus Areas Healthcare, Agriculture, Environment, Clean Energy, Waste to Wealth, Grassroots Innovation, SDG-Aligned Innovation, and Sustainable Development.
Format & Timeline Applications open until June 5, 2026. The summit takes place in the 4th week of August 2026 at COEP's Bhau Institute in Pune. The top 10 shortlisted innovations will present before a jury panel. Winners will be announced at the closing ceremony.
Prizes & Benefits Top 3 innovators receive the Dr. Gauri Shah Best Ideation Grant of ₹50,000 each, plus incubation and mentorship support at COEP's Bhau Institute, Pune. All top 10 shortlisted teams receive a certificate and memento.
Eligibility Open to social entrepreneurs, innovators, early-stage startups, and students working on sustainability-focused solutions. No explicit geographic restriction — applicable to any team that can travel to/present at the summit in Pune.
Important Notes Shortlisted top 10 innovators are responsible for their own travel and accommodation. Detailed pitch deck templates and guidelines are available at https://bhau.org/events/social-innovation-summit-2026/
How to Apply Register and submit your innovation idea through the official Google Form (linked in the application URL). The deadline is June 5, 2026.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Organizer
COEP Bhau Institute of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and LeadershipPune · Maharashtra · India
COEP Bhau Institute of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership The Bhau Institute of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership is the startup incubation arm of COEP Technological University (formerly College of Engineering Pune), one of India's oldest and most prestigious…
Learn morePrizes & Awards
- Amount
- Up to ₹1.5 Lakhs
What You Get
- Top 3 innovators each receive a ₹50,000 cash grant.
- Top 3 innovators also receive incubation and mentorship support at COEP's Bhau Institute, Pune.
- All top 10 shortlisted teams receive a certificate and memento.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
