The Atal Incubation Centre at Goa Institute of Management has selected seven startups to run the pilot round of the Single-Use Plastic Challenge.
Seven startups have been selected as a result of the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Challenge organised by the Atal Incubation Center Foundation at Goa Institute of Management (AIC-GIM) in collaboration with Climate Collective Foundation and IHCL brand, with the goal of reducing the use of plastics in the Food and Beverage industry.
BioReform Pvt Ltd, a Hyderabad-based firm, was chosen and will get money and coaching from AIC-GIM throughout the trial period.
SUP Challenge – Goa is an international acceleration initiative designed to address SUP demand and waste in the food and beverage industry.
The challenge aims to help innovators build capacity and pilot innovative solutions with food and beverage partners in Goa.
The challenge evaluates the amount of single-use plastic garbage and looks for strategies to limit its deposition in our environment.
The Hyderabad-based startup, Bioreform, produces entirely eco-friendly, compostable, and biodegradable bags that, in contrast to conventional plastic, biodegrade completely in less than 180 days, thus protecting both land and marine life.
They create specialized biodegradable bags based on the customer’s specifications, including printings and unique brandings.
“Getting selected from among 78 other driven startups is a big deal to us. The cohort programs were the most helpful in providing us with a first-hand experience as a supplier. The sessions organized by AIC-GIM were the highlight for me as an entrepreneur. They were deeply educational and enlightening as they gave us industry insights and informed us more about how we can contribute more towards sustainability through our business. Besides the funding, AIC-GIM also helped us gain easy access to the market.”
Mohammed Azhar Mohiuddin, Founder & CEO of BioReform, shares,
Seventy-eight applications were received from the country, of which 17 innovative ideas were selected. After an evaluation, seven promising startup ideas have been selected to run pilot projects at the Taj Hotel and Convention Centre in Goa.
Shortlisted companies include Bare Necessities Zero Waste Solutions, Ibanss, BioReform, Ecopak, Kagzi Bottles, Kasoi India, and Srishti Lifescience.
Each firm has developed novel, previously unseen ideas to contribute considerably to the ongoing struggle to reduce excessive plastic deposition in the environment.
“The SUP Challenge is a challenge currently taking place all over the globe as people slowly realize the importance of avoiding this climate catastrophe. AIC-GIM will provide the selected startups with access to the market, funding, and mentorship. We also have a pool of mentors selected by the Atal Innovation Mission who the incubatees can approach whenever they need advice.”
Rajesh Joshi, CEO AIC-GIM, says,
