The International Solar Festival 2024 finale: 20 SolarX Startups Challenge winners from APAC, plus10 from India announced

New Delhi, India | 6 September 2024: The International Solar Festival,organized by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on 5 & 6 September at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, concluded on Friday with the announcement of the winners of the SolarX Startup Challenge for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Twenty promising startupsfrom the region,plus10 from India were crowned winners of the SolarX Startupschallenge that the ISAhad launched during COP27 in Sharmel-Sheikh.

The Valedictory session was graced byShri Shripad Yesso Naik, Hon’ble Minister of State (New & Renewable Energy), Government of India; H.E. Eric Garcetti, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of India; Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE);and Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General of the ISA. They were joined by other distinguished officials from the ISA.

The SolarX Startup challenge winners were granted a winning prize of USD 15,000 in cash. Winnerswill get access to a robust acceleration program, mentorship from seasoned professionals, enabling them to implement their innovations on a larger scale.

The SolarX Startup Challenge, open for participation for all startups, entrepreneurs, innovators in the solar sector, solidifies ISA’s commitment to driving entrepreneurship and promoting local solutions in the pursuit of increasing solar deployment.Through this initiative, successful entrepreneurs will find avenues to engage with potential investors and opportunities to explore diverse markets across the Asia-Pacific region.

In his valedictory address, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Hon’ble Minister of State (New & Renewable Energy), MNRE, Government of India,said, “Over the past two days, we have united in our vision of a world powered by clean solar energy, focusing on accelerating the transition globally and building an equitable solar future. India has demonstrated leadership in energy transition and South-South cooperation. The unique development challenges faced by countries in the Global South, which include lower-income nations primarily located in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia call for an urgent need for targeted support and investment. I am delighted that the International Solar Festival 2024, has highlighted the urgent need for systemic change and mobilizing private sector investment to address these unique challenges. Our discussions at the festival are just the beginning."

The Independent Media