Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, today announced the winners of the prestigious startup challenges – Avinya’25 and Vasudha – at a ceremony held at ONGC headquarters. The event marked the conclusion of Energize India: Catalyzing Growth Through Startup Innovation, a high-profile conclave that brought together energy sector leaders, investors, and innovators.
In Avinya’25, India’s premier energy startup competition, UrjanovaC Pvt Ltd emerged as the winner. The runners-up included Breathe ESG Private Limited, AgriVijay, Apeiro Energy, and UGreen Technology. The winners of the hackathon were also announced, with IIT (ISM) – Dhanbad securing the top position and IIT-Guwahati finishing as the runner-up.
Speaking at the event, Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized the crucial role of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas in fostering innovation. He highlighted the ministry’s ₹547.35 crore startup fund, which has already supported 303 startups with ₹286.36 crore, driving India’s startup ecosystem that boasts over 110 unicorns. He underscored the government’s commitment to transformative growth, job creation, and strengthening India’s position as a global innovation hub.