ONGC, BPCL and More Drive Energy Transition at Startup Mahakumbh 2025

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) is playing a prominent role at Startup Mahakumbh 2025, held from April 3–5 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. 

The ministry has actively promoted innovation and entrepreneurship through its oil and gas Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), which have developed frameworks to incubate, mentor, and fund startups driving technological advancement in the energy sector.

32 Oil & Gas Startups at the Forefront

A total of 32 PSU-backed startups are participating in the event. ONGC’s startup fund has seen a 450% increase in valuation over five years. Its first startup, WellRx, has expanded its oilfield solutions to over 120 countries. IndianOil, through its IndS_UP initiative, has supported 42 startups, generating 86 intellectual properties and over 635 jobs. Oil India has backed deeptech ventures such as Caliche Private Limited, working on biochemical sand influx control, and Carbonation India Private Limited, which focuses on sustainable waste management.

Leadership and Expert Participation

Startup Mahakumbh 2025 saw participation from 14 senior executives from top PSUs like ONGC, BPCL, and HPCL. These leaders shared their insights on critical themes, including research monetisation, EV innovation, and mobility solutions. The opening plenary featured the ONGC Chairman, while other sessions addressed investment strategies and policy support for the energy and mobility sectors. A key highlight was the incubation roundtable titled “From Lab to Market – Unlocking Research Monetisation”, which provided a deep dive into how startups can commercialise cutting-edge research.

Expanding the Innovation Ecosystem

Themed “Startup India @ 2047: Unfolding the Bharat Story,” this year’s Startup Mahakumbh has grown significantly, attracting over 3,000 startups across 11 sectors, along with more than 1,000 investors and incubators. MoPNG has previously demonstrated its commitment to innovation during India Energy Week 2025, with initiatives like Avinya’25 and Vasudha, which supported startups in carbon capture, ESG, and AI-driven upstream solutions.

PSU Startup Programs

Several other PSUs are actively fostering innovation. EIL’s EngSUI initiative has funded 31 startups with ₹35 crore. HPCL’s HP Udgam supported 29 startups, including drone tech innovator Maraal Aerospace. BPCL’s Ankur has helped 30 startups raise $132 million. GAIL’s Pankh supports innovations in pipeline repair, biogas, and sustainable materials.

Conclusion

Through collaborative platforms like Startup Mahakumbh and consistent startup programs, MoPNG and its PSUs are driving India’s energy transition by empowering homegrown innovation and entrepreneurship.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.