Bengaluru Becomes Second City Globally to Host UpLink’s Radical Urban Challenge
Following its debut in San Francisco, Yes/Bengaluru Urban Innovation Challenge unveiled the inaugural cohort of 14 innovators set to help transform India’s tech capital. This inaugural cohort marks the transition from policy vision to active urban deployment.
The Yes/Bengaluru Urban Innovation Challenge is led by UpLink alongside the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Urban Transformation, and supported by a strong collaboration including Anthill, AWS, Cisco, Deloitte, Salesforce, SAP, the Government of Karnataka, the Greater Bengaluru Authority, with more than 15 additional organisations.
The announcement follows the initiative’s launch in July 2025, a move designed to empower emerging start-ups to co-create a more liveable and climate-resilient city.
Bengaluru is only the second city globally to host this initiative, signaling a shift toward engineering more sustainable urban cores in emerging economies. By delivering a targeted cohort of innovators and providing mentorship, Yes/Bengaluru is moving towards real-world deployment at city scale. Its goal is to build a self-sustaining ecosystem that positions Bengaluru as a scalable model for urban transformation.
The sustainability landscape today offers a strong opportunity for new thinking and collaboration. In response, Salesforce, alongside the World Economic Forum and Deloitte, co-founded UpLink, a global initiative to identify and scale innovative solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“As India moves towards a knowledge-driven economy, our cities must lead the charge in sustainable transformation towards Viksit Bharat (Developed India),” said Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO, South Asia, Salesforce. “The innovations in this cohort, from AI-driven climate data to biodegradable batteries, show that Indian entrepreneurs are not just job-seekers, but global problem-solvers. Supporting these ventures is a critical investment in India’s long-term competitiveness and its net zero future.”
Bridging the Gap in Urban Transformation
Yes/Bengaluru is a strategic three-year initiative designed to bridge the gap between high-tech entrepreneurship and sustainable urban development in India’s “Silicon Valley.” Convened by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with all co sponsors, the programme brings together public and private stakeholders to tackle critical challenges in mobility, utilities, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
“The launch of this cohort marks a pivotal shift in our urban mission. Innovation alone is no longer enough; we must secure the procurement pathways that allow breakthroughs to scale,” said John Dutton, Head of UpLink at the World Economic Forum. “As a hot-bed for innovation in India, Bengaluru is uniquely positioned to channel its tech talent into the systems that shape daily life. By bridging the gap between startups and global corporations, we are building the integrated systems that define the net-zero cities of the future.
The Journey from San Francisco to Bengaluru
Yes/Bengaluru adapts the methodology of Yes/SF, the first location-based UpLink challenge launched in San Francisco. While the San Francisco initiative focused on downtown revitalization through sustainable architecture and workforce development, Yes/Bengaluru targets the systemic pressures of a high-growth IT hub: mobility, utilities, and climate resilience.
“The path to a nature-positive, net-zero future runs through fast-growing cities,” said Sunya Norman, Senior Vice President, Impact at Salesforce. “By anchoring the UpLink challenge in India, we are activating Bengaluru as a living laboratory for innovation that can be deployed at city scale. The breakthroughs developed here transcend regional borders; they establish the definitive blueprint for re-engineering urban systems into resilient, sustainable engines of growth.”
The Winning Cohort at a Glance
The inaugural cohort comprises 14 ventures selected from 205 submissions. Nine are in Pilot or Seed stage and five are in Growth stage, with an average funding of $2.48 million per venture.
The cohort leveraged Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (7), Internet of Things (6), Cloud or Edge computing (4), and Greentech (3). Four ventures also featured female co-founders or C-suite leaders.
Innovation Spotlight: The 14 Breakthrough Ventures
Resilient & Sustainable Cities
Aurassure: Hyperlocal climate data via IoT sensors to manage floods and air quality.
ECOSTP Technologies: A net zero sewage treatment system using biomimicry.
Plastics For Change: Fair-trade recycled plastic supply chains that empower waste collectors.
Scrapify Ecotech: Autonomous water-cleaning drones (Ecofloater) and a circular-economy marketplace.
Urdhvam Environmental: Patented “BoreCharger” technology to revive low-yielding or failed borewells. –
unWOOD: A sustainable wood alternative made from recycled plastic and earth minerals.
Zerocircle: Seaweed-based, fully biodegradable materials for packaging and paper.
Efficient Utilities & Infrastructure
Dextra Square Pvt Ltd: Corrosion-proof fiberglass composites for sustainable construction and fencing.
Lambert Water: Modular, chemical-free electrochemical reactors for wastewater treatment.
Neo San: Decentralised incinerators that emit 98% fewer pollutants than regulatory limits.
Solinas Integrity: Robotics for pipeline inspection and “Homosep” for mechanised septic cleaning.
Reliable Mobility
Nexus Power: Lithium-free, biodegradable batteries made from crop residue for e-mobility.
Namma Yatri: An open-source, zero-commission mobility app and aggregator for auto-rickshaws.
Pulse Energy: India’s largest virtual EV charging network connecting over 50,000 chargers.
Scaling the Future of Bengaluru
The announcement marks the transition from vision to execution. The solutions needed to bridge the “pre-commercial gap” and decarbonise cities are already emerging and ready to scale. As these innovators move towards city-wide implementation, the focus shifts to partnerships that can turn these solutions into everyday urban systems.
Bengaluru is no longer piloting the future. The city is building it at scale.
Know more:
- About Yes/Bengaluru Challenge
- About launch of Yes/SF cohort here
- Watch the Challenge launch video
- Refer to cohort announcement video, with a short description of all the winners
- About Yes/Cities
- About UpLink
