Honda Innovation Challenge 2.0

• Up to ₹40 lakh in co-development grant support per selected startup.
• ₹1.6 crore total prize pool across the cohort.
• Direct co-development with Honda's digital, engineering, strategy and customer-experience teams.
• Technical mentorship from Honda.
• Business support from T-Hub, including go-to-market strategy, solution scoping, execution planning and PoC readiness.
• Real customer validation in Honda's operating environment.
• Access to T-Hub's mentors, network, investors and startup ecosystem.
• Structured pathway to pilot with Honda for the strongest solutions after the PoC phase.

About this scheme

Honda Innovation Challenge 2.0 is a structured co-development program run in partnership with T-Hub to help Indian startups build technologies that improve the Honda ownership and mobility experience.

Selected startups work directly with Honda's digital, strategy, engineering and customer-experience teams to co-develop solutions and validate them through a structured proof-of-concept process. The program focuses on digital solutions that support two-wheeler and four-wheeler customers before, during and after their journeys.

The program offers a total co-development grant pool of ₹1.6 crore, with selected startups eligible for up to ₹40 lakh each to support the build. Participants also receive technical mentorship from Honda, business support from T-Hub, access to T-Hub's startup ecosystem and opportunities for real customer validation.

Following the PoC phase, the strongest solutions receive a structured pathway to pilot with Honda. The program is looking for startups with working products that are relevant to the focus areas, capable of building and deploying within the PoC timeline, integration-ready and able to scale with feasible economics.

Who can apply

• Applicants should have a working product ready to prove itself in the real world.
• The solution should have clear relevance to one or more of the program's focus areas.
• The startup should have a team capable of building and deploying within the PoC timeline.
• The solution should have the potential to scale with feasible economics.
• The solution should be ready for integration with real systems and environments.
• The solution should have genuine potential to improve the customer experience.
• Early customer traction is a plus but is not stated as mandatory.
• The program is particularly relevant for startups building at the frontier of AI, digital experience, safety or personalisation.

Eligible entity types: Private Limited, Individual Innovator

Benefits & funding

• Up to ₹40 lakh per selected startup from the ₹1.6 crore total co-development grant pool.
• Hands-on collaboration with Honda's digital, engineering, strategy and customer-experience teams.
• Technical mentorship from Honda.
• Business mentorship and support from T-Hub.
• Go-to-market strategy and solution scoping support.
• Execution planning and PoC readiness support.
• Real customer and operating-environment validation opportunities.
• Access to T-Hub's mentors, network, investors and resources.
• Investor and partnership connections through the T-Hub ecosystem.
• Potential pilot pathway with Honda after the PoC phase for the strongest solutions.

How the application process works

The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with T-Hub, in your own name.

1. 1

   Visit the official Honda Innovation Challenge 2.0 program page.

2. 2

   Review the program focus areas and eligibility criteria.

3. 3

   Assess how your working product aligns with one or more focus areas.

4. 4

   Prepare details about your product, team, technology and ability to build within the PoC timeline.

5. 5

   Apply through the official application process before the deadline.

6. 6

   Applications are jointly evaluated by Honda and T-Hub.

7. 7

   Shortlisted startups pitch directly to Honda.

8. 8

   Selected startups are onboarded and matched to relevant focus areas.

9. 9

   Participate in the co-development and PoC phase.

Documents checklist 3

• The specific list of mandatory documents is not provided in the source content.
• Applicants should have information about their working product, team and solution ready for the application and evaluation process.
• Shortlisted startups should be prepared to demonstrate their solution's relevance, scalability, integration readiness and ability to deploy within the PoC timeline.

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Frequently asked questions