Bharat Startup Grand Challenge 2025: DPIIT and Stride Ventures Honour Plastics for Change with Potential ₹10 Crore Support

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), in collaboration with Startup India and Stride Ventures, has officially announced the winner of the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge 2025. This initiative is designed to recognise and empower high-impact startups rooted in the Indian ecosystem.

After receiving over 120 applications from 22 states in just 30 days, the organisers selected Buoyancy Plastics for Change Recycling Private Limited as the standout winner. The contest featured entries from startups operating in vital sectors such as sustainability, fintech, and e-mobility.

Spotlight on the Winner: Plastics for Change

Founded in 2015, Plastics for Change is on a mission to transform how India recycles plastic. The company has built a Fair Trade verified recycled plastics supply chain, focusing on ethical sourcing and aggregation of plastic waste.

Its key products include rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate), rHDPE (recycled high-density polyethylene), and rPP (recycled polypropylene)—materials in high demand by recycling units across India. The startup stands out for integrating informal waste collectors into the formal economy, thereby creating both environmental and social impact.

With a current plastic collection capacity of over 20,000 tonnes, Plastics for Change is now well-positioned to deepen its role in India’s growing circular economy.

Stride Ventures Steps In with Capital and Mentorship

Stride Ventures, India’s largest venture debt fund, announced that it would invest up to ₹10 crore in the winning startup, subject to due diligence. In addition to capital, the startup will benefit from mentorship, market access, and global networking opportunities through Stride’s extended ecosystem.

Stride Ventures has a notable track record, having committed over $1 billion to more than 170 startups in the past five years. With operations now extended to Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and London, Stride’s support gives Indian startups a gateway to global expansion.

Earlier this year, Stride formalised its collaboration with DPIIT via a memorandum of understanding (MoU), underlining its commitment to scale Indian innovation both domestically and internationally.

Read More: Stages of Funding a Startup. 

Conclusion: A Landmark First Edition with Promising Impact

This marks the first edition of the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge by Stride Ventures, showcasing a growing interest in supporting ventures aligned with sustainability and circularity. Through initiatives like these, DPIIT and its partners aim to foster a robust startup ecosystem that addresses critical environmental challenges while creating inclusive growth opportunities.

The outcome of this challenge reaffirms the potential of Indian startups to deliver innovative, scalable, and socially impactful solutions with the right institutional support.

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