The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, in collaboration with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade’s Startup India initiative, has opened applications for ENTICE 3.0, the latest edition of the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge. ENTICE is the Alliance’s flagship innovation programme in India, designed to support clean-tech innovators working on solutions for real grid-level challenges.
Through this platform, participants gain access to real-world utility environments, technical guidance, expert mentorship, and partnerships across the energy ecosystem. Over the years, ENTICE has evolved from a standalone innovation challenge into a structured initiative focused on converting promising technological ideas into practical, deployable solutions within regulated power systems, helping build institutional confidence for scale-up and adoption.
The programme’s first edition in 2023–24 attracted more than 400 applications, engaged with 20 investors, and facilitated over 30 ecosystem partnerships. ENTICE 2.0 further expanded the initiative’s reach by transitioning into a broader ecosystem-building platform that formalised partnerships with utilities in Delhi and Jaipur, signed several MoUs with investors, and enabled pilot deployments for winning technologies with the two DISCOMs.
Building on this momentum, ENTICE 3.0 adopts a systems-level approach, focusing on two carefully designed problem statements identified through extensive consultations with sector partners. The first challenge targets non-lithium energy storage technologies that can operate at the distribution transformer level to help manage local peak demand.
The second seeks hyperlocal, AI-driven forecasting tools capable of predicting net grid demand by modelling weather-sensitive consumption patterns and distributed renewable energy generation. Innovators addressing these areas will have the opportunity to compete for technical assistance grants of up to $100,000, deployment opportunities with BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, and potential investment consideration from ENTICE’s network of funding partners.
They will also receive mentorship from senior experts across India’s clean energy ecosystem.ENTICE 3.0 will be evaluated by a distinguished jury panel that includes Govind Iyer, who serves as Distinguished Patron for the programme; Alok Kumar, President of the All India DISCOMs Association and Jury Chair; and Ashish Khanna, Director General of the International Solar Alliance and Jury Co-Chair.
Additional jury members and advisors include leaders from Vena Energy, the India Energy Storage Alliance, Transition VC, RMI Energy Solutions India Foundation, Green Marble, Networks for Humanity, Hero Future Energies, and Spectrum Impact. Emphasising the significance of the initiative, Ashish Khanna noted that the energy transition depends heavily on innovators capable of translating bold ideas into market-ready solutions, and highlighted ENTICE as a platform that bridges the gap between innovation and real-world deployment.
According to him, such platforms are critical for building smarter and more resilient energy systems, especially across the Global South, where the need for scalable solutions is both urgent and profound.Seema Chaturvedi, Founder and Managing Partner of AWE Funds, echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for immediate capital investment in climate and clean-tech sectors. She remarked that ENTICE plays an important role in de-risking emerging deep-tech solutions by embedding them directly into utility operations, thereby transforming early-stage innovations into investable enterprises.
By engaging directly with utilities and investors, the programme creates a pathway for entrepreneurs to bring new technologies into the mainstream of India’s power sector.Applications for ENTICE 3.0 are now open. Shortlisted startups will move on to an intensive three-day bootcamp where they will refine their value propositions, strengthen their pitches, and receive targeted guidance from industry mentors and energy experts.
They will also have opportunities to interact with investors through the Investor Marketplace, participate in interactive workshops, and receive direct feedback on go-to-market strategies and product positioning. The bootcamp is designed to provide actionable insights and practical support, helping founders convert innovative concepts into deployable, scalable solutions.Commenting on the launch of the third edition, Woochong Um, CEO of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, emphasised the Alliance’s commitment to accelerating renewable energy transitions, especially in emerging economies.
He highlighted that the most effective solutions are those grounded in local contexts, driven by local talent, and adapted to regional needs. ENTICE 3.0, he noted, represents a deepening of the Alliance’s efforts to support India’s transition to a smarter and more resilient grid while offering a model for other developing countries seeking equitable and inclusive clean-energy pathways.
With this new edition, the Global Energy Alliance aims to strengthen an ecosystem capable of tackling critical, real-world challenges in the energy sector, while scaling innovative solutions that can accelerate India’s clean energy transition and contribute to global progress on climate and development goals.
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