IIM-B and HUL to Support Green Startups through Climate Incubation Hub

IIM-B and HUL to Support Green Startups through Climate Incubation Hub Initiative

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), in partnership with the Nadathur S Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) at IIM Bangalore, has launched the Climate Incubation Hub. This new initiative brings together industry and academia to support Indian startups focused on climate innovation.

The goal of the Climate Incubation Hub is to help startups develop scalable solutions that address important environmental challenges and create a lasting positive impact. The program will mainly focus on areas like:

• Climate-smart and regenerative agriculture

• Waste-to-value technologies that reduce emissions

• Clean and alternative energy solutions

• Bioenergy and biomass-based innovations

• Plastics circularity and nature conservation

BP Biddappa, Executive Director and Chief People, Transformation and Sustainability Officer at HUL, said, “We believe that what benefits India also benefits HUL. This hub brings together business experience and academic insight to drive innovation in key sustainability areas. Our partnership with NSRCEL shows our strong commitment to tackling climate change and supporting India’s vision for a developed future.”

Anand Sri Ganesh, CEO of NSRCEL, added, “We are committed to supporting startups that focus on sustainability. This collaboration with HUL helps us find and nurture climate-focused entrepreneurs. We aim to build a strong network of startups working on real environmental solutions.”

The Climate Incubation Hub provides full support to help startups grow their sustainable ideas. Participants will get mentorship from IIM faculty and industry experts. The program focuses on helping startups find the right product-market fit, refine their solutions, and build strong, long-term business models.

Selected startups may also receive grant funding — up to 15 will be supported — to help them scale. The program will also help them build good governance systems and connect with investors and key stakeholders through networking events.

The hub is open to Indian startups that are at least one year old and already have early revenues and a customer base. Also Read | IIMB’s innovation, NSRCEL, launch rural entrepreneurship incubation program

This initiative aims to change the startup ecosystem and make India a leader in climate-positive solutions that bring meaningful environmental change.