India Unveils AI-Powered Monsoon & Rainfall Forecasts for Hyper-Local, Impact-Based Weather Services

• AI-enabled Systems Introduced by IMD to Provide Hyper-local Weather Forecasts. 
• Advanced Forecast Systems to Provide Localised Weather Information Up to 10 Days in Advance. 
• Government Introduces AI-enabled Monsoon Forecasting Platform for 16 States and Over 3,000 Sub-districts
• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh Launches AI-based Monsoon Advance Forecast System and 1-km Resolution Rainfall Forecast for Uttar Pradesh
• Dr Jitendra Singh Says IMD Has Become an Essential Part of India’s Everyday Governance and Public Decision-making

India has launched two landmark AI-enabled weather forecasting systems—an AI-driven monsoon advance forecast and a high-resolution rainfall model for Uttar Pradesh—marking a decisive shift towards hyper-local, impact-based climate services designed to aid farmers, disaster managers, and policymakers.

The systems have been developed jointly by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). 

1. AI-enabled Monsoon Advance Forecast
   • Provides probabilistic forecasts every Wednesday up to 4 weeks in advance.
   • Covers 16 states and 3,000+ sub-districts.
   • Designed to support farmers’ sowing, irrigation, crop planning decisions.
2. High Spatial Resolution Rainfall Forecast (Pilot in Uttar Pradesh)
   • Generates 1-km resolution rainfall forecasts up to 10 days ahead.
   • Uses AI-driven downscaling techniques integrating data from Doppler radars, AWS, ARGs, and satellites.
   • Expected to expand to other states as infrastructure grows.

Benefits Across Sectors

• Agriculture: Farmers gain precise, localized forecasts for sowing, irrigation, crop protection, and harvest planning.
• Disaster Management: Improved early warnings for floods, cyclones, and extreme rainfall events.
• Urban Planning: Helps cities prepare for drainage, infrastructure resilience, and water resource management.
• Renewable Energy: Supports solar and wind energy forecasting, stabilizing grid operations.

Technological Advancements

• Expansion of Doppler Radars: From 16–17 a decade ago to ~50 today, with another 50 planned under Mission Mausam.
• Forecast Accuracy Gains: Severe weather forecast accuracy improved by 40% in the past decade; cyclone track predictions improved by 30–35% in the last five years.
• Digital Dissemination: Forecasts shared via mobile apps, SMS, WhatsApp, Kisan portals, TV, and radio for last-mile connectivity.

Comparison of New Systems

System	Coverage	Forecast Horizon	Resolution	Primary Use
AI Monsoon Advance Forecast	16 states, 3,000+ sub-districts	Up to 4 weeks	District/block level	Agriculture planning, disaster preparedness
Rainfall Forecast (UP Pilot)	Uttar Pradesh (pilot)	Up to 10 days	1 km	Hyper-local rainfall prediction, urban planning

Strategic Importance

• Strengthens climate resilience and citizen-centric governance.
• Aligns with PM Modi’s modernization drive under Mission Mausam.
• Positions IMD as a decision-support system for governance, agriculture, and infrastructure.

The monsoon advance forecasting system would now provide granular forecasts on monsoon progression at district-level scales, while the Uttar Pradesh pilot project demonstrates the capability of generating operational rainfall forecasts at 1-km resolution using dense observational networks and AI techniques.

Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. M. Ravichandran said that similar services would gradually be expanded to other parts of the country as observational infrastructure continues to grow.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said the newly launched forecasting products represent another important step towards building a climate-resilient, digitally empowered and citizen-centric weather service system for the country, where scientific advancements directly contribute to societal and economic benefits.

India’s New Weather System Warns Faster, Saves Lives

India, with its vast coastline, diverse geography, and monsoon-dependent climate, faces hundreds of extreme weather events every year — from cyclones and floods to heatwaves and droughts. Over 75% of districts are exposed to multiple climate hazards, making disaster preparedness not just important, but essential.

In January 2024, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) launched the Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (MHEW-DSS) — a landmark digital transformation under Mission Mausam. This system marks a decisive shift from fragmented forecasting to an integrated, automated, and impact-based approach that protects lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

What Makes MHEW-DSS Different?

• Impact-Based Forecasting: Explains how weather will affect people, sectors, and communities.
• Real-Time Alerts: Forecast preparation time cut by 50%, accuracy improved by 30%.
• Wider Reach: Location-specific warnings now cover nearly 80% of India’s population.
• Cost Savings: Evacuation costs reduced to one-third compared to 1999.
• Self-Reliance: Built in-house, saving ₹250 crore and reducing dependence on foreign vendors.

Success Stories

During Cyclone Biparjoy and Cyclone Dana, MHEW-DSS enabled timely evacuations in Gujarat and Odisha — resulting in zero casualties.

Farmers using IMD’s agromet advisories reported 52.5% higher annual income compared to those who did not. If extended across rain-fed districts, the economic benefit could reach ₹13,331 crore annually.

How It Works

• Satellite, radar, and ocean buoy data integration
• GIS-based maps for visualization
• Multi-model forecasting with bias correction
• Colour-coded warnings for easy public understanding

Forecasts are disseminated through SMS, mobile apps (Mausam), WhatsApp, APIs, TV, radio, and official websites, ensuring last-mile connectivity even in rural areas.

National and Global Impact

• National Reach: Over 200 organizations, including NDMA and NITI Aayog, rely on MHEW-DSS.
• Global Role: IMD provides cyclone and severe weather advisories to countries across the North Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific.
• Recognition: Awards include the National Award for e-Governance (2025), UN Sasakawa Award (2025), and ET GovTech Award (2026).

A Weather-Ready India

• Protects coastal communities from cyclones
• Helps farmers plan sowing and irrigation
• Supports renewable energy management
• Strengthens public health during heatwaves
• Saves resources and reduces environmental impact

Key Highlights Table

Feature	Impact
Forecast Accuracy	Improved by 30%
Preparation Time	Reduced by 50%
Population Coverage	80% of India
Evacuation Costs	Down to one-third

In short: India’s MHEW-DSS is not just about predicting the weather. It’s about protecting people, empowering communities, and building a safer future.

Climate Entrepreneurship Moves Beyond Metros: Greenr Data Maps Rise of Green Startups in India’s Tier 2/3 Cities

• The data maps 300+ climate startups across 106 cities in 28 states
• Waste management, agroforestry, textiles, and energy emerge as the top four key sectors, with 60% of green enterprises focused on addressing India’s critical waste challenges
• Small-town founders, majority with under five years’ experience, lead the shift; solutions span households, RWAs, schools, corporates and municipalities. 
• Complements national priorities including Swachh Bharat (Urban) 2.0, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastics, and Mission LiFE’s circularity goals, reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainable growth

Data from the Greenr Sustainability Accelerator by TechnoServe, supported by the IKEA Foundation and Visa Foundation, indicates an interesting perspective wherein India's climate entrepreneurship landscape or India's climate innovation is not restricted to Tier-1 cities. Across three cohorts, the program has supported 300+ small and growing green businesses (SGBs) spanning 106 cities in 28 states. Of this, nearly 45% of the startups come from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, signalling the growing decentralisation of climate innovation in the country.

Notably, 60% of these enterprises are focused on addressing India’s waste management challenges, highlighting the critical role played by entrepreneurs from smaller cities in tackling some of the nation’s most pressing environmental issues. These startups are driving innovation across critical segments within each sector. For example, in waste management, key sub-sectors include e-waste, wastewater management, plastics recycling, upcycling, and the development of green construction materials from agricultural waste among others. The data specifically identifies waste management, agroforestry, textiles, and energy as the top four emerging sectors for climate innovation, showcasing a diverse entrepreneurial landscape across India. Their work complements national priorities including Swachh Bharat (Urban) 2.0, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastics, and Mission LiFE’s circularity goals, reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainable growth.

The strategic support provided by the Greenr Sustainability Accelerator is translating into tangible results. Over the past two cohorts, Greenr-backed startups have demonstrated an impressive 61% average revenue growth and contributed to a 24% increase in job creation. To further fuel this growth, the program has facilitated over $16 million in funding, structured across 55% equity, 35% debt, and 10% grants, enabling these green businesses to scale their solutions and maximize their impact.

This entrepreneurial surge is largely driven by a new cohort of founders, with a majority having less than five years of business experience, underscoring the rise of fresh entrepreneurial ecosystems beyond traditional startup hubs. Reinforcing this shift, 60% of the Greenr-supported businesses are women-led, showcasing significant female leadership in India's climate action. This vibrant ecosystem is particularly prominent in a diverse set of Tier 2 and 3 cities including Jaipur, Bhubaneshwar, Surat, Indore, Coimbatore, Kochi, Guwahati, Madurai, Dehradun, and Bhopal, which collectively represent the top 10 cities for Greenr-backed innovation.

Ajay Menon, Senior Practice Lead at TechnoServe India and Program Director, Greenr Sustainability Accelerator, says: “India’s climate transition will be won in Tier-2 and Tier-3 India. The entrepreneurs we work with are building practical solutions where the need is greatest - converting waste to value, renewable energy, and circularity at the last mile, rather than chasing unicorn valuations. When we combine hands-on, bespoke advisory with access to fairly priced financing (equity, debt or grant funding) and market linkages, these founders grow revenues, create jobs, and deliver measurable environmental outcomes. The data is clear: climate innovation is no longer a metro story; it’s a small-town movement. And it requires continued momentum, powered by systemic change from a convening of the right stakeholders to provide the needed support in terms of business building, financing, access to markets, support for pilots and changes to policy in favour of circular economic business models.”

A prime example of this success is Plastroots from Nagpur, Maharashtra. This zero-landfill waste management company provides end-to-end dry waste solutions and circular economy models for communities, governments, and industries. Founded in 2019, Plastroots directly addresses the challenge of unsegregated rural waste, where nearly 75% often goes unmanaged by structured systems. With Greenr's support, Plastroots successfully scaled its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance vertical, generating over ₹3 crore in revenue within 12 months, achieved 5x business growth, and expanded operations across Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan.

About Greenr Sustainability Accelerator

The Greenr Sustainability Accelerator by TechnoServe, supported by the IKEA Foundation and Visa Foundation, is one of the largest not-for-profit accelerators dedicated to green small and growing businesses (Green SGBs). Launched in 2023, the program supports startups in sectors such as waste management, textiles, agroforestry, cleantech, renewable energy, green construction, food & agriculture, and feminine hygiene. Over the past two years, Greenr has enabled 200+ green startups to achieve 61% average revenue growth, unlock $16M in funding, and create 24% more jobs. The accelerator provides 12–15 months of hands-on support, including a dedicated business advisor, access to market and corporate linkages, green financing opportunities, and impact measurement through Environmental Impact Assessments. By combining TechnoServe’s five decades of global expertise with deep local networks, Greenr empowers entrepreneurs to build scalable businesses that generate environmental impact, and help India gradually transition from a linear to a circular economy.

Learn more: www.getgreenr.org

Ex-Pixis CEO Neel Pandya’s Climaty AI Raises $2M to Fuse Climate and Marketing Tech

• Neel Pandya–led startup will leverage the funding to accelerate its Agentic AI ecosystem and expand globally, delivering carbon-conscious marketing solutions to brands and agencies.

Climaty AI, the world’s first CliMarTech (Climate + Marketing Technology) company founded by former AI startup CEO Neel Pandya,has raised $2 million in early-stage funding to accelerate its vision of building carbon-conscious marketing solutions powered by Agentic AI. With over two decades of experience across L’Oréal, Vodafone, GroupM, and as the former CEO of Pixis, where he helped scale the company to a $225M-funded global brand, Neel brings deep expertise at the intersection of marketing, AI, and technology. The round was led by Turbostart, a global venture capital and accelerator fund, along with participation from leading AI experts and angel investors.

Global advertising spend has crossed $1 trillion. However, nearly 37% is lost to ineffective targeting, weak creative, and duplication. Climaty AI addresses these inefficiencies with their Agentic AI ecosystem, a self-optimizing marketing infrastructure that learns continuously, adapts to goals in real time, and orchestrates campaigns end-to-end with human oversight built in.

Climaty’s four Agentic AI-powered media agents — Campaign Builder, Creator, Optimizer, and Analytics — are designed to transform the way the industry works by removing manual inefficiencies, giving back media planners their valuable time to focus on strategy, and enabling agencies to deliver faster, more precise outcomes. This means greater transparency, smarter campaigns, and measurable results with sustainability built in — creating a win-win future where performance and responsibility go hand in hand.

With this early-stage funding, Climaty AI will advance its proprietary Agentic AI tech stack and expand its footprint across APAC, EMEA, the UK, and North America, where demand for sustainable and high-performance marketing is surging.

Ganesh Raju, Founder, Turbostart, said, “Marketing platforms of the future will combine performance with accountability. Climaty AI is shaping this new standard with CliMarTech and Agentic AI. We’re excited to support this journey from India to the world.”

Neel Pandya, Founder & Global CEO, Climaty AI

Neel Pandya, Founder & Global CEO, Climaty AI, added, “The most successful brands will treat accountability as a driver of performance. Agentic AI and sustainability are at the core of everything we do at Climaty AI.”

Climaty AI has shown early traction with a pilot for Opella, enhancing marketing efficiency while minimizing carbon footprint. Its solutions have been tested successfully across EdTech, Consumer Healthcare, Automotive, and CPG sectors, highlighting relevance across diverse marketing environments.

Carbon Masters Raises Fresh Capital to Expand Biomethane and Organic Fertiliser Operations Across India

Carbon Masters India Pvt Ltd (CMIPL), a climate-tech venture pioneering circular economy solutions, has raised an undisclosed amount in a fresh round of equity funding led by Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia (SEEAA), Sangam Ventures, and IAN Group. The round also saw participation from Sriram Sankaran, Managing Director of Synchron Group, and Muthu Murugappan, CEO of Murugappa Group.

As part of this investment, Vikram Raman from SEEAA and Sriram Sankaran have joined Carbon Masters’ Board of Directors.

Carbon Masters, co-founded by Som Narayan and Kevin Houston, is committed to converting organic waste streams otherwise bound for landfill into renewable biomethane and bio-enriched organic manure, marketed under its flagship Carbonlites brand.

The company executes CBG (Compressed Biogas) and Organic manure projects through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and joint ventures (JVs) with strong waste management partners. Its flagship JV, Sustainable Impacts with Hasiru Dala Innovations, operates one of the few authorized wet waste processing facilities in Bangalore designated to handle the city’s bulk generators’ organic waste. The project has also secured pipeline injection clearance from GAIL, with pipeline laying now completed. This positions the plant uniquely to process waste at scale, and injecting biomethane into India’s gas grid to decarbonise households. It will also supply Carbonlites gas to hotels, restaurants, and industries as a substitute for LPG and CNG

Through this replicable SPV model, Carbon Masters is building a robust business framework to partner with municipalities and private operators across India to help it in its transition to net zero. 

With this fresh equity infusion, Carbon Masters will:

• Expand production capacity of Carbonlites Biomethane (CBG),
• Scale its Carbonlites bio-enriched organic fertiliser portfolio,
• Enhance efficiency across existing operations.
• Team building across sales marketing and R&D .

The company is now preparing for its next equity round to finance five upcoming SPVs, with Ostara Advisors, India’s first climate-tech-focused Transaction Advisory firm, appointed as investment bankers.

CMIPL currently operates five CBG plants across Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, collectively processing over 36,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste annually through anaerobic digestion. Its 80+ member team supplies Carbonlites CBG to commercial kitchens, industries, transport fleets, and city gas networks, while Carbonlites Bio-Enriched Organic Manure supports regenerative agriculture by improving soil health and farm productivity.

“We are proud to support Carbon Masters in its mission to decarbonize critical sectors of the Indian economy. Investing in scalable clean energy infrastructure and sustainable agriculture solutions is vital to building a resilient and inclusive low-carbon future.”, Gilles Vermot Desroches, SVP, Corporate Citizenship, Schneider Electric & President, SEEAA. 

“Carbon Masters’ innovative circular economy business model aligns with our vision of financing deep decarbonization pathways. The company’s potential to displace fossil fuels while improving soil health makes it a compelling climate-tech investment.” Karthik Chandrasekar, CEO, Sangam Ventures

“IAN has topped up its investment in Carbon Masters. This is a strong endorsement of the team’s execution and their ability to keep evolving. Carbon Masters reflects IAN’s thesis of solving real problems through innovation.”, Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder, IAN Group. 

“We are grateful for the continued trust of our investors, which reflects confidence in our business and growth plans. This investment will help us further strengthen operations and scale sustainably, as we continue to support India’s transition to a low-carbon future and help our customers meet their net zero goals.” Som Narayan, CEO & Co-founder, Carbon Masters

About Carbon Masters

Carbon Masters India Pvt Ltd (CMIPL) is a climate-tech company focused on building a circular economy. Through its Carbonlites brand, the company converts wet municipal waste into Compressed Bio-Methane Gas (CBG) to replace fossil fuels, and Bio-Enriched Organic Manure to improve soil health. Its core value proposition lies in reducing carbon emissions while lowering operational costs for customers.

Website: https://www.carbonlites.com/

About the Investors

Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia (SEEAA)
Founded in 2019, SEEAA is an impact investment fund initiated and managed by Schneider Electric in collaboration with Norfund, EDFI, and Amundi. Its mission is to support 350 million people in Asia who lack access to clean energy.

Sangam Ventures
Sangam Ventures is an early-stage venture fund investing in climate-tech companies that drive decarbonization, resilience, and sustainable development in India.

IAN Group
India’s largest platform for seed and early-stage investments, IAN combines capital, mentoring, and global market access to support entrepreneurs. Its network spans 19 sectors across India and 7 other countries.

Trane Technologies Launches BrainBox AI Lab to Drive Sustainable HVAC and Building Intelligence

Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT), a global climate innovator, announced the launch of the BrainBox AI Lab – igniting a new era in energy optimization for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions in the built environment and refrigerated transport.

The Trane Technologies BrainBox AI Lab is dedicated to advancing technologies designed to support more intelligent, efficient, and sustainable building operations across the industry. With the infusion of AI through Trane Technologies’ products, solutions, and operations, the organization is poised to lead the market transition towards fully digitized building operations in alignment with its sustainability principles.

“Through the BrainBox AI Lab, we are bringing together world-class talent and industry-leading technology to shape the next generation of climate innovation,” said Riaz Raihan, Chief Digital Officer, Trane Technologies. “Demand continues to grow for solutions that reduce energy, emissions and operational costs. This premier lab is an important element in our strategy to remain at the forefront of digital and AI solutions that create positive impact for our customers and the world.”

The new BrainBox AI Lab serves as a hub for rigorous research, collaboration, and real-world testing to set new standards within the industry and beyond. This network of AI experts within Trane Technologies will continue to advance autonomous control systems, predictive models, and algorithms aimed at reducing emissions through smarter energy use. The BrainBox AI Lab will also focus on evolving fields of study, including agentic AI and the application of physics-informed neural networks, enabling total digital transformation for the built environment.

“AI is accelerating at a pace few could have imagined, unlocking extraordinary opportunities to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges,” said Jean-Simon Venne, President at BrainBox AI and Head of the AI Lab. “Our responsibility is not just to innovate quickly, but to also ensure that it is being done wisely and sustainably. The BrainBox AI Lab will define what is next for AI within the industry.”

Leveraging a multidisciplinary team of technical experts including software engineers, data scientists, AI researchers, machine learning developers and AI engineers, this AI Lab will be guided by the following principles:Product Creation: Turning breakthrough ideas and discoveries into ready-to-use products and applications – moving past the concept phase and into real-world impact.

• Research & Development: Teaming up with world-class researchers and universities to push scientific discovery and shape the future of AI in energy management.
• Ethics & Guardrails: Embedding ethical and responsible AI principles and safeguards into how we design, develop, and deploy our solutions.
• Sustainability: Creating AI technologies that support energy optimization and reduction of global carbon emissions in support of Trane Technologies’ ambitious 2030 Sustainability Commitments.

Trane Technologies acquired BrainBox AI in January 2025 amid fast-growing demand for sustainable, autonomous building solutions, bringing industry-leading autonomous HVAC controls and generative AI building technologies to more customers. The companies previously teamed up for more than two years, combining BrainBox AI’s leading artificial intelligence technology with Trane Technologies’ advanced building management and digital capabilities.

For more information, visit Trane Technologies BrainBox AI Lab.

TraceX Launches AI Tool to Streamline EU Deforestation Regulation Compliance for AgriFood Exporters

TraceX Technologies, an AgriFood and ClimateTech startup, has launched an Agentic AI Tool to automate and simplify end-to-end compliance with EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) that comes into effect from December 2025.

EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) mandates that any product exported to the EU should be legally sourced and deforestation-free. Non EU Exporters and EU Importers of commodities such as coffee, cocoa, palm oil, soy, wood and wood based products, rubber and cattle products, have to submit traceability proofs, verified plot-level geolocation data, Due Diligence Statement (DDS), and digital records for audits. Failing to do so can lead to shipment rejections, financial penalties of up to 4% of annual turnover in the EU and reputational damage.

A report by Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) indicates that Indian exports worth USD 1.3 billion are likely to be impacted due to the new regulations. Among the most affected are agriculture products such as coffee, oil cake, and forest-derived products that include paper, wood furniture, leather hides, etc. Many exporters, particularly small and medium sized companies, are struggling with high compliance costs, challenges in providing traceability proofs, and supply chain complexities.

The existing process for the submission of the Due Diligence Statement (DDS) is done through manual procedures that require field agents, spreadsheet entries and time-intensive workflows that are prone to errors. TraceX’s agentic AI tool automates these processes through interventions such as auto-parsing of supplier emails and documents for KYC, AI-validated geolocation, risk assessment via global earth observation data sets flagging high-risk suppliers or non-compliant plots before shipment, integration with the existing legacy applications, auto-generated Due Diligence Statements (DDS) that match EU TRACES formats, and Real time EU regulatory and technical updates. It cuts down DDS preparation time by up to 80%.

Commenting on the new tool, Srivatsa Sreenivasarao, Founder and CEO, TraceX, said, “While some of this functionality existed in our legacy platform, we have further added more capabilities to it by integrating advanced AI technologies to make the experience more seamless and efficient for non-EU exporters and EU Importers. The EU Deforestation Regulation presents significant economic implications for Indian exporters due to complex compliance requirements that currently need manual intervention. Managing this across fragmented, smallholder-heavy supply chains often results in data silos, manual bottlenecks, inconsistent assessments, and missed regulatory updates. Our Agentic AI Tool automates all the processes, cuts down on turnaround time, improves accuracy and reduces compliance costs”

For more information about the tool, visit https://tracextech.com/eudr-compliance-platform/

About TraceX

TraceX Technologies is a global AgriFood and ClimateTech providing comprehensive solutions to address critical challenges in supply chain traceability, sustainability, carbon management, and regulatory compliance( EUDR, CSRD,CS3D) Their innovative platform combines AI and blockchain technology with satellite monitoring and advanced reporting tools, enabling businesses to improve operational efficiency, build trust with stakeholders, and meet global sustainability standards.

Website: https://tracextech.com/

India’s Next-Gen Weather Model Uses Supercomputer for High-Resolution Forecasting Like Never Before

India has unveiled the Bharat Forecast System (BFS), the world's highest-resolution weather model, operating on a 6-kilometre grid. Developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), BFS aims to provide highly localized forecasts, improving predictions for disaster risk reduction, agriculture, and public safety.

The system is powered by Arka, a supercomputer with 11.77 petaflops of computational capacity and 33 petabytes of storage, significantly reducing forecast processing time from 10 hours to just 4 hours.

This development comes within a few months after Indian Space agency ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) made a major breakthrough in now-casting lightning events over India using data from geostationary satellites. This enhanced predictive accuracy with a 2.5-hour lead time.

BFS integrates data from 40 Doppler Weather Radars, which will expand to 100, improving real-time monitoring. These radars provide nowcasts—short-term forecasts for the next two hours, crucial for disaster preparedness.

Unlike traditional square grids, BFS uses a triangular cubic octahedral grid, which enhances spatial accuracy and ensures better data distribution. This allows BFS to predict extreme weather events with 30% more accuracy, including cyclones and heavy rainfall.

BFS leverages satellite imagery and AI-driven climate models to refine predictions.
AI helps in pattern recognition, improving forecasts for monsoons, heatwaves, and localized storms.

To recall, in October 2023 researchers fom the US had introduce the Recurrent Earthquake foreCAST (RECAST), a deep learning model for earthquake forecasting.

Compared to global models from the US, UK, and EU, which operate at 9–14 km resolution, BFS offers unmatched precision, covering the tropical region between 30° South and 30° North latitudes. BFS operates at 6-km resolution, surpassing global models from the US, UK, and EU. 

This breakthrough comes at a crucial time, as extreme weather events increasingly impact India's economy, particularly food inflation and crop damage.

BFS provides hyperlocal forecasts down to the panchayat level, making it one of the most precise weather models in the world.

This breakthrough positions India as a global leader in meteorology, enhancing agriculture, disaster management, and climate resilience.

A major leap for India's meteorological capabilities! What do you think—could this reshape climate resilience strategies? Do comment your opinion...

Disclaimer : All images are representational

Govt Collab with Bezos & Rockefeller Backed GEAPP To Accelerate Climate-Tech Entrepreneurship In India

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), a central government department under India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) to accelerate climate-tech entrepreneurship in India.

The GEAPP was founded through a collaboration of The Rockefeller Foundation, the IKEA Foundation, a Dutch charitable organization founded in 1982 by Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, and the Bezos Earth Fund, a $10 billion philanthropic commitment by Jeff Bezos to combat climate change. GEAPP was launched at COP26 in 2021 to accelerate clean energy access and drive sustainable economic growth.

The two-year DPIIT-GEAPP partnership, with a provision for extension, will support early-stage climate-tech startups through funding access, mentorship, pilot opportunities, and market linkages. The initiative seeks to build a strong pipeline of scalable, investable ventures aligned with India’s net-zero ambitions.

Key Highlights of the Collaboration

• ENTICE Challenge: A competitive platform offering up to USD 500,000 in rewards for startups developing impactful clean energy solutions.
• Funding & Mentorship: Early-stage climate-tech startups will receive investment support through partners like Spectrum Impact and Avana Capital.
• Integration with Startup India: DPIIT will connect the initiative to Startup India’s network, ensuring outreach through major government schemes.
• Net-Zero Vision: The partnership aligns with India’s long-term climate goals, fostering scalable and investable ventures.

Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, emphasized that India’s climate leadership depends on a strong entrepreneurial base.

Saurabh Kumar, Vice President – India at GEAPP, described the MoU as a pivotal step toward systemic change through government-private sector collaboration.

ISRO Achieves Breakthrough in Now-Casting Lightning Events Over India Using Data From Geo Satellites

ISRO has made a major breakthrough in now-casting lightning events over India using data from geostationary satellites. This advancement, led by ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), enhances predictive accuracy with a 2.5-hour lead time.

Now-casting is the process of predicting imminent weather events with a short lead time, usually within the next 0 to 6 hours. It’s different from traditional weather forecasting, which predicts conditions over days or weeks.

The method relies on detecting lightning signatures in Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) data from the INSAT-3D satellite. A reduction in OLR strength serves as an indicator of potential lightning occurrences. To refine predictions, ISRO incorporated additional meteorological parameters like Land Surface Temperature (LST) and wind, creating a composite variable that improves forecasting accuracy.

 

The dome-shaped enclosure, or radome, for antennae at an NRSC facility

This breakthrough is crucial for disaster management and public safety, as lightning is a dominant natural hazard in tropical regions.

How It Works

• Satellite Observations: ISRO researchers detected lightning signatures in Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) data from the INSAT-3D satellite. A reduction in OLR strength serves as an indicator of potential lightning occurrences.
• Additional Meteorological Parameters: To refine predictions, ISRO incorporated Land Surface Temperature (LST) and wind data, creating a composite variable that improves forecasting accuracy.
• Real-Time Monitoring: The developed composite variable effectively captures variations in lightning activity observed by ground-based measurements, allowing for improved prediction of lightning occurrence and intensity.

Why This Matters:

Lightning is a dominant natural hazard in tropical regions, causing significant damage and loss of life. This breakthrough enables early warnings, helping authorities take preventive measures to reduce risks.

Siemens and London Varsity's Innovative Use of River Thames to Save 258 Tons of Carbon Emissions Annually

The River Thames is one of the most iconic rivers in the world, flowing through southern England, including the heart of London. Stretching approximately 346 kilometers (215 miles), it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom after the River Severn.

A new innovative initiative by University of East London (UEL) in partnership with Siemens Smart Infrastructure is using the river Thames' heat for projects for the University of East London's net-zero campus highlight its role in combating climate change.

The River Thames serves as a heat source due to its stable water temperature, which remains relatively constant throughout the year. This stability makes it an excellent candidate for heat exchange systems like Water Source Heat Pumps (WSHPs), which extracts energy from the water and turns it into heat, even when the water temperature is lower than the air temperature

Even at low temperatures, water contains thermal energy. The River Thames, being a large body of water, stores significant amounts of this energy.

Taking a significant step toward sustainability, the University of East London (UEL) is harnessing the River Thames to power its net-zero campus. In collaboration with Siemens, UEL is installing a state-of-the-art Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) at its Docklands Campus.

This innovative system will replace traditional gas boilers, significantly reducing carbon emissions by 258 tons annually.

The Innovative System

The WSHP system uses submerged pipes in a closed-loop system to extract the natural heat from the river. The heat is then transferred to a refrigerant, which amplifies it through a compression cycle.

The amplified heat is used to warm buildings, while the cooled water is returned to the river without disrupting its ecosystem.

The WSHP uses a closed-loop system to extract natural heat from the River Thames without disrupting the river's ecosystem. This project aligns with UEL's goal of achieving the lowest carbon emissions per student in the UK by 2026 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2030.

Beyond environmental benefits, the initiative is expected to save the university over £500,000 annually (approximately US $645,000 and  ~ INR ₹ 5.62 crore) in utility costs and has already inspired green employability programs, internships, and research opportunities. It also supports the Mayor of London's vision for a sustainable and greener city.

The new WSHP is set to be the largest fitted at any university in the UK and will power the university’s Docklands Campus Library and Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability buildings, replacing existing gas boilers.

This innovative use of the river Thames not only reduces reliance on fossil fuels but also supports sustainability goals, as seen in projects like the University of East London's net-zero campus initiative

What technology does the Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) use?

Water Source Heat Pumps (WSHPs) utilize advanced heat exchange technology to provide efficient heating and cooling. Here's how they work:

1. Heat Exchange Process: WSHPs extract heat from a water source, such as a river, lake, or well, using a closed-loop system. This system circulates water through a heat exchanger, where heat is absorbed or released depending on the heating or cooling needs.
2. Refrigeration Cycle: The pump uses a refrigerant to amplify the heat transfer process. This cycle allows the system to efficiently move heat from the water source to the building or vice versa.
3. Energy Efficiency: By leveraging the stable thermal properties of water, WSHPs achieve higher energy efficiency compared to air-source systems, especially in colder climates.
4. Environmental Benefits: These systems reduce reliance on fossil fuels, significantly lowering carbon emissions and contributing to sustainability.

This innovative technology is not only eco-friendly but also cost-effective, making it a popular choice for modern heating and cooling solutions.

Climate Tech Leader Ecozen Raises Over $23 Million

• Ecozen was founded in 2010 by three IIT Kharagpur alumni – Devendra Gupta, Prateek Singhal and Vivek Pandey. It develops climate-smart solutions and has expertise in advanced motor and control technology, and cooling technology.
• Ecozen has achieved an impressive CAGR of over 83% in revenue growth over the last three years.
• This round of investment will be directed toward scaling Ecozen's flagship solutions, including Ecotron, Ecofrost, and advanced motor control systems.

Ecozen, a leading climate-smart technology solutions provider, has raised over $23 million in debt funding from responsAbility Investments AG, Northern Arc Capital Limited, Maanaveeya Development & Finance Private Limited, and others. This funding will help Ecozen drive scale in its current businesses while furthering its position as a leader in sustainable technologies.

Ecozen has recorded an outstanding CAGR of over 83% in revenue growth over the past three years, underscoring its rapid and sustained success. The company has manufactured over 300,000 Ecotron solar pump controllers to date, with an impressive 100,000 units produced between March and December 2024 alone. These innovations have contributed to the abatement of more than 2 million metric tons of greenhouse gases (GHG), including a remarkable 660,000 metric tons in 2024 alone. In addition, Ecozen’s Omni controller is enabling existing customers to utilize solar energy across a broader range of applications, while also positioning Ecozen to foray into new market opportunities.

In 2025, Ecozen is expanding its portfolio with innovative products tailored to the evolving needs of communities and businesses. With a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation, the company will continue to pave the way for a future where growth and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.

Devendra Gupta, CEO and Co-Founder of Ecozen, said, "This funding reaffirms the confidence our partners have in Ecozen’s ability to drive impactful change through innovation. We are excited to be on a rapid growth path, driven by the increasing need for sustainable, climate-smart solutions. This funding will help us reach more people, expand our operations, and strengthen our impact in India and beyond. Our focus has always been on empowering our customers and providing them with the tools they need to thrive in a changing world. I’m truly grateful for the trust and support from our investors—responsAbility, Northern Arc, Maanaveeya and others, including our existing partners, who share our vision and are helping us create lasting positive change.”

Neha Baid, Team Head, Sustainable Food Debt, APAC, at responsAbility Investments AG, added,"Ecozen’s innovative solutions resonate deeply with our commitment to support sustainable and impactful ventures that are focused on climate mitigation, food loss and waste reduction and fostering overall climate resilience. We are proud to contribute to their journey of empowering rural and industrial stakeholders with advanced climate-smart technologies.

Mr. Ashish Mehrotra, MD & CEO, Northern Arc Capital said, “Northern Arc is delighted to support Ecozen in their journey of creating a sustainable impact through innovative technologies. This partnership underscores our unwavering commitment to addressing climate change and fostering climate-first businesses. With the launch of our USD 125 million climate fund dedicated to supporting businesses that control and mitigate climate change, we aim to empower enterprises like Ecozen to grow and prosper. Together, we strive to advance climate-sustainable solutions and contribute meaningfully to a greener, more resilient future for all."

"Over the past four decades, Maanaveeya has supported businesses that drive social change and economic empowerment. Ecozen exemplifies the potential of innovative technology to solve real-world problems. We look forward to seeing them expand their footprint and impact even further." highlighted Dr. Gouri Sankar, the Managing Director of Maanaveeya Development & Finance Private Limited.

Ecozen Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is a climate-smart technology solutions company that creates a positive impact on millions of lives. Our diverse product portfolio includes Ecotron, Ecofrost, Eco-Freeze, Ecozen Atta Chakki, Ecotron Omni, and E-Bike Controllers, catering to a range of industries and needs. Committed to sustainability and innovation, Ecozen continues to lead the way in advancing technologies that drive environmental and economic benefits. For more information about Ecozen Solutions, please visit www.ecozensolutions.com

3 Non-profits from Brazil, Canada and U.S Win $1 Mn in Grants From HCLTech for Climate Action Projects

Selected NPOs use innovative themes including youth-led environmental activism, art and forest restoration to raise awareness and combat climate change

HCLTech, a leading global technology company, has announced Brazil-based Argilando, Canada-based No. 9 Contemporary Art and the Environment and US-based The Longleaf Alliance as the winners of the first edition of the HCLTech Grant Americas.

Launched in September 2023, the HCLTech Grant Americas program has committed $5 million in grants over five years to support Not-For-Profit organizations (NPOs) with innovative projects focused on combating climate change, restoring ecosystems and biodiversity across Americas.

Every year, three NPOs will be selected through a rigorous screening process to receive grants totaling $1 million. One NPO will receive $500,000, while two others will receive $250,000 each.

Among the inaugural edition winners, Brazil-based Argilando will receive the grant of $500,000 for their project Atitude Jovem. The project ignites youth-led environmental activism across Brazil's diverse biomes. Through comprehensive mobilization efforts, educational workshops and strategic planting of native trees, Argilando confronts climate challenges and promotes awareness about sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Canada-based No. 9 Contemporary Art and the Environment will receive $250,000 for using art and design to bring awareness to environmental concerns. Its project "Imagining My Sustainable Community" aims to increase awareness of sustainable design solutions in schools across Canada.

The Longleaf Alliance will receive $250,000 for their project, "Restoring America's Great Southern Forest through Climate Action by Empowering and Enabling Landowners" aims to restore 8 million acres of longleaf pine forests, in the US Southeast.

“Congratulations to the winners of the first HCLTech Grant Americas. Whether it is fostering sustainable design literacy or spearheading vast ecosystem restoration projects, these endeavors showcase a collective resolve to address environmental challenges with innovative solutions. We are delighted to support these projects as part of the collective effort needed to combat climate change,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR, HCLTech.

Since its launch, HCLTech Grant Americas has received a positive response from NPOs in Americas. Within 19 weeks of its launch, the program received 238 registrations and 91 eligible applications from all 10 target countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and the US. Through rigorous vetting, the top 10 applications were selected, followed by the HCLTech Grant Jury nominating the top three finalists.

HCLTech has a sharp focus on Sustainability. The company is committed to becoming net zero by 2040 and reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030. Since the baseline year of FY20, the company has reduced per capita scope 1 and 2 emissions by 22%. It is the first India-headquartered IT services company to join the Water Resilience Coalition and endorse the CEO Water Mandate.

With a total of investment of over $ 175 million in CSR globally so far, HCLTech has helped transform over 6.5 million lives, brought 72,000 acres of land under green governance, harvested 76 billion liters of water and had a positive impact on 92,000 animals.

HCLTech has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies 2024 and has been included in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024 for the second year in a row. Global environment non-profit CDP has recognized HCLTech with A- leadership rating for its climate change initiatives.

In India, HCLTech Grant, a flagship program of HCLFoundation, has touched over 2 million lives across 27,000+ villages through the grant recipient NPOs.

75% Organizations Say They Need Climate Tech to Achieve Net Zero Goals but Lower Costs Essential for Widespread Adoption

High green premiums mean that further investment and regulation are required to ensure cleaner products and services are commercially viable

Many of the technologies able to address climate change are already available and will play a critical role in helping businesses reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That is according to the Capgemini Research Institute’s latest report “Climate Tech: Harnessing the power of technology for a sustainable future”, which found that three quarters of organizations say they will not achieve their sustainability goals without climate tech. However, close to eight in ten (77%) executives suggest that product costs are likely to increase due to the green premium attached to these technologies and they are unwilling to pay this markup.

Expectations are high for climate technology to contribute to decarbonization

Growth in key climate technologies, including renewable power and electric vehicles (EVs), has helped accelerate decarbonization efforts around the world. Other climate technologies such as low-carbon hydrogen, carbon capture and alternative fuels are becoming available and, if scaled, could help businesses achieve their sustainability goals. According to the report, executives expect climate tech to contribute to 37% (on average) of their organization’s decarbonization or net zero goals, and 65% of organizations plan to increase investment in climate technology in the next two years. For example, two thirds of steel companies view low-carbon hydrogen and carbon capture as a priority. The top drivers for this increased investment are awareness of the worsening climate crisis, stricter regulation, and increased maturity of climate technologies.

The green premium is a major barrier to adoption

While climate tech is critical for decarbonization, it comes at a price. Close to eight in ten (77%) executives suggest that their product costs are likely to increase due to investment in climate technologies. This increase in costs can be attributed to a number of factors including higher R&D, capital, and operating costs, as well as the cost of adapting manufacturing processes. The research reveals that organizations are willing to accept an average increase in product cost due to climate tech adoption (the “green premium”) of around 9%. However, the existing green premium for many clean products is typically significantly higher than this. For example, cost of low-carbon cement produced using carbon capture is estimated to be 75–140% higher than conventional cement, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is estimated to cost 123% more than conventional jet fuel. As a result, climate technologies cannot currently help create cleaner products and services in commercially viable way.

Pockets of rapid progress

Despite the challenges, there are pockets of rapid scale up in climate tech adoption. These include technologies where green premiums have fallen significantly, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and electric vehicles (EVs), as well as technologies where green premiums are still high, such as carbon capture for cement, green hydrogen for steel, and SAF for aviation. Executives in these industries expect adoption of the technology to spread rapidly: within three years for EVs in the automotive industry, within four years for solar PV in the energy and utilities sector; within three years for SAF in the aviation industry; and within two 
years for carbon capture in the cement industry.

“As the world races to find solutions to address climate change, we can see there is an extraordinary appetite for these technologies, supported by an increased awareness on the urgency to act”, said Florent Andrillon, Global Head of Climate Tech at Capgemini. “We are in the beginning of a “Clean Industrial Revolution”. Public support and private funding have started to ignite the green investment wave, but accelerating the scale up of these solutions will require further capex investments, cost reductions and business model innovation. Before climate technologies reach cost parity with their traditional counterparts, businesses or consumers can’t be expected to handle large green premiums alone. Public policies need to level the playing field and adequately support the scaling up. For example, the spectacular uptick in electric vehicle adoption has a lot to do with public subsidies and various local incentives and regulations. Consumers and organizations alike understand the need to quickly adapt their behaviors, and that solutions exist. It will take increased intervention from governments to support and speed up that paradigm shift for industry and end-users alike.”

Addressing the investment gap

The research also found that on average, organizations plan to increase investment in climate tech by 7.7% in the next two years. However, average annual investment in environmental sustainability initiatives and practices across industries represented only 0.92% of total revenue in 2023, a proposition which stayed flat since last year[1]. In absolute terms, it means that the current investment in environmental sustainability of the top 2,000 largest companies globally represents less than $500 bn per year overall. This is a small portion of the $1.8 trillion of estimated global investment in clean energy in 2023, and far below the $4.5 trillion a year required in the early 2030s, for the energy sector to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, according to the IEA.[2]

Venture capital funding and financial institutions are already filling some of the gap, and should play a critical role in scaling climate tech. The report finds that 37% of surveyed VCs plan to increase investment in climate tech in 2023, with this proportion rising to 48% for 2024 and 56% for 2025. In addition, close to half (47%) of asset-management firms and banks planned to increase climate tech financing in 2023, with nearly as many (46%) planning to do so in 2024, growing to 53% in 2025. This increased investment will be focused on EVs (for 55% of them) as well as decarbonization software (45%), biofuels (36%) or nuclear (33%).

Full report: https://www.capgemini.com/in-en/insights/research-library/climate-tech-research

Methodology

For this report, the Capgemini Research Institute surveyed 1,350 senior executives (director-level and above) from large organizations (~90% of which had annual revenue above USD 1 billion) that have plans to decarbonize or reach net zero, and a survey of 500 large VCs and financial services organizations on their climate tech financing plans. In addition, the research team interviewed more than 15 experts across industries, including VCs. The global survey took place in August and September 2023 and covered 13 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific (US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, India, Singapore, Australia, Japan and China) across 16 industries.

[1] Capgemini Research Institute, “A World in Balance 2023: Heightened Sustainability Awareness Yet Lagging Actions,” November 2023

[2] International Energy Agency, “Executive summary – Net Zero Roadmap,” 2023 update

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Climate Tech Startup Aurassure Raises ₹4 Crore in Seed Round from Unicorn India Ventures

• Aurassure becomes the first investment from Unicorn’s recently announced Fund III
• Aurassure is an IoT enabled climate tech startup, a pioneering environmental technology company committed to revolutionising sustainability efforts through hyperlocal data insights
• Funds to be primarily used for team building, expanding data analytics and sales & marketing
• Unicorn India ventures has recently announced its first close of Rs 1000 crore Fund III at Rs 225 Crore

Bhubaneswar-based IoT enabled climate tech startup Aurassure has raised INR 4 Crore in a seed round led by Unicorn India Ventures.

The funds raised will be deployed to strengthen product capabilities by creating a data analytics team, acquiring product certifications for international scaling, and sales team expansion for growing reach to multiple cities.

Aurassure using its powerful IoT enabled intelligent systems has the capabilities to collect real time data and analyse it to provide accurate forecasts and updates on disasters and frequently changing weather patterns like floods, air pollution, and rainfall along with other climate data which can empower governments and citizens in making decisions for a healthy and safe lifestyle. The Company has successfully onboarded prestigious clients including Tata Realty, L&T Realty, P&G, Honeywell, IIT Bombay and Google. Aurassure has witnessed a 40% QoQ growth and has expanded its operations to cities like Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Aurangabad, Rajkot and Delhi.

Aurassure aims to bring people together to fight against the rising issues of the environment, namely pollution, global warming, and climate change.

Akanksha 

Akanksha Priyadarshini, Co-founder & CEO, Aurassure, says, “Empowering communities with hyperlocal data to build resilience against climate change is not just a mission, it's a responsibility we wholeheartedly embrace. Together, we're not just innovating but driving a positive change for a healthier, more resilient, and sustainable future, one city at a time. Our vision goes beyond data collection. We aim to be instrumental in policy-level decision-making by providing vital insights to form responsible environmental practices. We also plan to offer robust decision support systems and environmental consultancy services, guiding governments and organisations in making sustainable choices.”

Aurassure’s mission is to improve the liveability of cities of the world, impacting billions of lives by enabling responsible climate actions through real-time data & AI. The company provides cutting-edge sensor-based devices and AI-powered analytics platforms that empower governments, corporations, researchers, and communities to make informed decisions and take meaningful action to protect our environment. The Company has recently launched Aurassure Care, a smart air quality monitoring device for indoor environment monitoring that can be integrated with BMS and air purification solutions. It can also enhance the green ratings of commercial spaces. The Company also has products like Aurassure Trust for flood monitoring designed to provide crucial and timely insights for flood-prone areas and Aurassure Infra for outdoor air quality weather and GHG monitoring.

Commenting on the investment, Bikram Mahajan, Partner, Unicorn India Ventures, says, “Although the global environment monitoring market is valued at over $12 billion, of the 1.4 million devices needed just for air quality monitoring, only 3% are operational, underscoring the urgent need for action and the vast market potential. In our quest for a scalable climate-tech venture, Aurassure stood out. In a world choked by data silos and the escalating threat of climate change and air pollution, the Aurassure platform leverages AI, machine learning, and data points from multiple devices to generate accurate insights and actionable intel. Driven by a powerhouse team, Aurassure resonated with our ethos of championing disruptors, and we're thrilled to partner with them as they redefine environmental monitoring to pave the way for a cleaner future. “

Aurassure's notable revenue growth in the last one year underscores the escalating demand for smart environment tech products and services, setting the stage for the company to potentially multiply its earnings by 6x in 2024. In the next 12 – 18 months, Aurassure aims to deploy over 1000 sensor devices in 8 cities across the country. It is also targeting to expand in Southeast Asia and Africa, and subsequently, into Europe and the United States. The company's growth plans for the next year are marked by geographical expansion, revenue diversification, team strengthening, and global readiness along with certifications for international scaling.

About Aurassure:

Aurassure, a Bhubaneswar-based climate tech startup, is a pioneering environmental technology company committed to revolutionizing sustainability efforts through hyperlocal data insights. Founded by NIT Rourkela alumni, including Akanksha Priyadarshini, Vamsi Krishna, Raviteja Cherukuri, and Omprakash Patra, with a combined experience of over 25 years in developing IoT-based products, with a mission to improve the liveability of cities around the world impacting billions of lives by enabling responsible climate actions through real-time data & AI. We specialize in providing comprehensive data on air quality, urban flood monitoring, weather patterns, and more. Our cutting-edge sensor-based devices and AI-powered analytics platform empower governments, corporations, researchers, and communities to make informed decisions and take meaningful action to protect our environment. With a visionary mission to transform our world, Aurassure strengthens resilience and environmental sustainability, fostering a greener and healthier future.

About Unicorn India Ventures:

Started in 2016 by Bhaskar Majumdar and Anil Joshi, Unicorn India Ventures is a technology focused early-stage venture fund that invests capital in emerging and visionary startups. Unicorn India Ventures launched its first fund with a corpus of Rs 100 crore From its first Fund, UIV has invested in 17 companies like SmartCoin, Open Bank, Sequretek, Pharmarack, Genrobotics, Clootrack, FutureCure to mention some. The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) was more than 60 percent year over year. The Fund has emerged as the best performing early stage fund in India with the stellar exits provided by the fund to its LPs.

Fund II is a Rs 300 crore fund launched in 2020 that has invested in 20 companies so far like Gamerji, ForeignAdmits, Probus, Daalchini, Esmito, Finin. Most of the portfolio is scaling up fast and has had several uprounds.

Unicorn India Ventures has recently announced its first close of Rs 1000 crore Fund III. The first close reached at Rs 225 crore. With this Fund, UIV aims to build a portfolio of 25 startups that are focused on global SaaS and digital platforms. From the sector's perspective, the Fund is looking at newer sectors of climate tech, agritech, spacetech and the semiconductor ecosystem. 

 

Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund Secures Ist Close of $70 Mn for India's 1st Early Stage Climate-focused Fund; SIDBI, SRI Fund, UKIDCF, among others Participate

Avaana Climate & Sustainability Fund will invest in technology-led global climate solutions built from India

Avaana Capital, India's leading climate-focused venture capital firm, has achieved a significant milestone in India's emerging climate-tech ecosystem by securing commitments of USD 70 million for their first close in Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund. The firm is targeting a total corpus of $100-125 million for the fund, which will focus investments in three sectors that are responsible for 90% of India's emissions: Energy Transition & Resource Management; Mobility & Supply Chains and; Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems. Since its launch the fund has garnered strong interest from global and domestic Limited Partners (LPs). It has attracted renowned institutional investors, including Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Self Reliant India (SRI) Fund, the UK India Development Cooperation Fund (UKIDCF) and marquee corporates such as Godrej Group, Murugappa, Torrent, Tsadik, and Bellerive Capital, among others.

Left to Right- Anjali Bansal, Swapna Gupta & Shruti Srivastava

Led by industry veterans Anjali Bansal, Swapna Gupta, and Shruti Srivastava, Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund will further invest in tech-driven and innovative climate solutions, looking to solve climate risk mitigation, adaptation and resilience building. Avaana Capital has made notable portfolio investments such as Eeki Foods, Aerem, Kazam, sentra.world, FarMart, Eggoz, Ninety One 91, Turno and Terra.do.

“With significant global capital flowing, supportive policies, corporate interest and wealth of entrepreneurial talent in the climate sector, India's climate-tech story is rapidly progressing. At Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund, we evaluate over 200 new climate opportunities every quarter,” said Anjali Bansal, Founding Partner, Avaana Capital.

“At Avaana Capital, we recognize that India is integral to global climate solutions and invest in climate solutions for India and the world. Our technology and innovation-first approach, deep sector expertise, and strong relationships across the ecosystem help us build large-scale outcomes in climate and sustainability. Avaana invests in thematic areas of Energy and Resource Management, Mobility and Supply Chains and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems,” said Swapna Gupta, Partner, Avaana Capital.

"India, with its responsibility to uplift the standards of living for over 400 million citizens, requires swift acceàleration in the adaptation and adoption of technology for climate action. Avaana is the leader in climate tech and the crucial mission of mitigating climate risk. SIDBI is delighted to support Avaana's remarkable progress and applauds their efforts in taking the pole position in this vital endeavour,” said Shri S Ramann, Chairman & Managing Director, SIDBI.

Christina Scott, Acting British High Commissioner to India, said, “The UK is proud to support development partnerships and investments that are helping to address some of the biggest global challenges. I am pleased our new investment in the Avaana Fund will support innovative businesses develop solutions to climate change and inclusion.”

Suresh Kohzikote, from Self Reliant India (SRI) Fund, shared, "The SRI Fund's investment objective is to support onward growth capital to boost the economy and create a self-reliant India. Our partnership with Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund — India's first tech-led climate fund — is to realise those objectives through climate solutions from India.”

As the world's second-largest population and sixth-largest economy, India plays a critical role in global climate solutions. Our transition to sustainability must prioritise people, planet, and profits. Technology-led disruption in sectors like energy, resources, mobility, supply chains, agriculture, and food systems holds immense potential. Climate-tech investments in India have surged, attracting $1.2 billion from 2016 to 2020, with a focus on renewable energy and electric mobility. To achieve India's net-zero emissions goal by 2070, approximately $2.5 trillion in investments is needed by 2030. Avaana Capital's Climate and Sustainability Fund aims to mobilise capital and support innovative climate solutions aligned with India's targets.

About Avaana Capital

Avaana Capital is an early-stage climate-tech investor in India. Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund invests in future market leaders who are leveraging technology-led innovation to build and scale solutions for climate and sustainability while delivering exponential returns. Avaana invests in thematic areas of Energy and Resource Management, Mobility and Supply Chains and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. Avaana integrates four ecosystems that drive successful outcomes for climate solutions and sustainability: Digital Innovation, Industry Linkages, Policy and Research, and Catalytic Capital.

Avaana’s Team has previously made investments in unicorns and category-leaders like Nykaa, Urban Company, Darwinbox, Delhivery, NinjaCart etc. Investments from Avaana include the likes of FarMart, Ninety One, Eeki Foods, Eggoz, Turno, Terra.do, Aerem, Kazam, sentra.world etc. The Company has offices in Mumbai and Bangalore.

India Releases National Climate Research Agenda 2030 and Beyond

India’s National Climate Research agenda was released at the inauguration of the two-day International Climate Research Conclave (ICRC-2023) at DST’s Centre of Excellence in Climate Studies at IIT Bombay on 26 May 2023, paving the way forward for coordinating national efforts towards understanding and addressing climate change 2030 and beyond.

Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Dr. S. Chandrasekhar, highlighted that the damage caused by climate change has already taken its toll, and our response has been delayed. He pointed out that valuable lessons to tackle the situation can be taken from our experiences of positive changes in the environment due to altered human behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said these serve as a reminder that if we act responsibly, there is a real possibility of passing on a sustainable planet to future generations.

Dr. Chandrasekhar emphasised that addressing climate change is not the responsibility of climate scientists alone. “It is a collective responsibility that extends to all individuals and sectors of society. Climate change is influenced by peripheral activities surrounding climate science, and it becomes the duty of scientists to identify the areas that have the most significant impact on the climate and work towards mitigating them,” he stressed at the conclave jointly organised by The Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Ministry of Earth Sciences and hosted by DST’s Centre of Excellence in Climate Studies at IIT Bombay.

“By acknowledging the collective responsibility and adopting sustainable practices across various sectors, we can make meaningful progress in mitigating climate change and preserving a healthy planet for future generations. It is a call to action for everyone to play their part in creating a more sustainable and resilient world,” he added while releasing the report on “India’s Climate Research Agenda: 2030 & Beyond’.

Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. M. Ravichandran, emphasised the importance of understanding the cryosphere and the implications of climate change. He highlighted the importance of formulating policy decisions to address various aspects such as water resources, extreme rainfall, heat waves, and marine waves. These complexities need to be quantified and communicated with reduced uncertainty to facilitate better policy decision-making.

Dr. Ravichandran underscored the interconnectedness between different regions and bodies, including the Arctic, Antarctic, and Himalayas, as they directly impact water bodies. Recognizing this, the conclave aims to generate a multitude of recommendations that will benefit the country as a whole.

“This conclave serves as a platform to discuss and propose recommendations that will contribute to effective policy formulation. By addressing these complex challenges and providing actionable insights, the conclave aims to enhance policy decision-making and benefit the nation as a whole in its quest for a more sustainable and resilient future,” he added.

Over 200 climate scientists, students, experts, and policymakers from different parts of the country and around the globe are participating in the International Climate Research Conclave (ICRC-2023) to discuss India’s recent progress in climate research and its agenda and vision for 2030. The conclave also discussed a long-term research agenda for the country in the priority areas of climate research and plans for creating a Climate Consortium of several departments and ministries of the Government of India for facilitating climate Research.

Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Senior Adviser, DST and Secretary, Science Engineering Research Board (SERB), highlighted the significance of the day, reflecting on the historic celebration of the 10th anniversary of the ICDP (International Centre for Development and Performance) Centre of Excellence at IIT Bombay. This center, established in 2012 as the first Center of Excellence by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has since paved the way for a broader climate change program.

Referring to the progress made over the years, Dr. Gupta said that today, there are not only 12 Centers of Excellence but also 20 major programs dedicated to climate change research. This extensive network encompasses a staggering 1,400 institutes where climate change studies and research take place, with recent expansions to private institutions.

“This event is, however, immensely significant as its purpose is to unveil the National Climate Research agenda -- a crucial step forward in guiding and coordinating National efforts towards understanding and addressing climate change,” Dr. Gupta explained.

“It is already evident that India is making significant strides in climate research and demonstrating its commitment to combat this global challenge. The conclave serves as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and setting the course for future research endeavors, all in pursuit of a more sustainable and resilient future,” Dr. Gupta added.