Startupbootcamp India (SBC India) has been set up as a joint venture between Startupbootcamp Australia, a global network of industry-focused accelerators, and BRK Ventures, an organization focused on supporting early-stage startups. SBC India is opening a highly specialised pre-accelerator programme for very early stage clean energy focused business ideas.
The programme aims to catalyse breakthrough solutions for India’s clean energy future by supporting early-stage startups with mentoring, funding, and growth support. The pre-accelerator programme will support climate-aligned innovation in 6 high impact domains that include:
AI-Driven Energy Systems and Smart Grids: Making energy systems smarter, more efficient, and reliable using AI.
Renewable integration and smart energy infra: Tools for seamless renewable integration while maintaining grid stability.
Next-Generation Energy Storage & Grid Flexibility: Advanced battery systems, storage methods, and orchestration software
Green Hydrogen: Driving decarbonization in manufacturing and heavy industries through hydrogen innovation
Net Zero & Decarbonisation: Enabling individuals, businesses, and communities to drive systemic climate action
Blockchain-Enabled Decentralized Energy Markets: Leveraging blockchain for automation, trust, and decentralization in energy.
SBC Australia has worked with global corporations like Shell, Mitsubishi Corporation, Bosch, EnergyAustralia, China Light and Power, Alliander, AusNet, BP, GE, Schneider Electric and tech partners like Google, Microsoft, AWS. Their entry into India in partnership with BRK is designed to identify groundbreaking opportunities in the clean tech startup ecosystem.
Commenting on the launch of the programme, Trevor Townsend, CEO, Startupbootcamp Australia, said, “We’re excited to partner with BRK Ventures to launch Startupbootcamp India and support the next wave of climate tech innovation. India has the talent, urgency, and scale to drive impactful climate solutions that resonate both locally and globally. By backing early-stage founders in energy transition sectors, we aim to foster commercially viable ventures that accelerate decarbonisation and create meaningful international collaboration opportunities.”
Kamal Bansal, Managing Partner, BRK Ventures, added, “India’s energy transition needs a 360 degrees approach to battle several problems like increasing pollution in large cities, flooding, climate change affecting agricultural produce and much more. We are keen to be a partner in finding solutions that can help India emerge as a powerful $35 trillion economy by 2047. Our belief is to support climate tech focused startups in their very early days with strategic partnerships like SBC Australia to position Indian startups solving India and global climate change problems.”
SBC India, which is launching its first programme in India, is expecting over 300 applications as they hit the last date of receiving them by July 31st. The programme goes live in August for a duration of 3 months. There will be a showcase day organised in Nov 2025 with marquee VCs and early stage investors to evaluate the businesses for funding and further growth support.
The pre-accelerator program has been designed to help the entrepreneurs at idea and seed-stage, in creating a roadmap to roll out their ventures through access to resources, community and funding. The programme will also help the selected founders by connecting them into a network of industry experts who mentor on Startupbootcamp programs globally with an aim to provide both an international and local perspective of business challenges in the clean-tech sector and specific help and assistance in the challenges of starting and scaling a clean tech company.
BRK Ventures brings local knowledge and capital to fill the early-stage funding and support gap, especially for pre-revenue and climate-focused startups, by building a bridge to global accelerators and markets. The partnership will accelerate innovations across the most pressing climate and energy challenges, enabling startups working in areas like AI, blockchain, hydrogen, and renewable systems to commercialize their technologies and drive measurable impact in India’s net-zero journey.
About Startupbootcamp Australia
Startupbootcamp Australia designs and runs innovation programs that bring together startups, corporates, and investors to tackle some of the world’s toughest challenges. Focused on impact-driven solutions across Energy, Fintech, Sports, and Food, we empower founders and forward-thinking partners to drive real change.
Part of the global Startupbootcamp network—one of the world’s leading industry-focused startup accelerators—we connect startups with a powerful ecosystem of mentors, investors, and corporate partners. Since launching our first Melbourne-based accelerator in 2017, we’ve helped startups scale faster by opening doors to global opportunities and deep industry expertise.
BRK Ventures is an investment management firm focused on empowering startups and investors alike. We provide strategic advisory services to early-stage companies, helping founders grow, scale, and navigate critical business challenges. At the same time, we support investors by identifying high-potential opportunities across all asset classes—ranging from private equity and venture capital to public markets and alternative investments. With deep expertise and a results-driven approach, BRK Ventures bridges innovation and capital to create long-term value
