National, 30th Jan, 2024: PhonePe’s Indus Appstore, in collaboration with Startup India, today announced the launch of the Indus Appstore Emerging Startup Awards. This initiative, set to run from January 16th to March 30th, 2024, will identify and celebrate the most innovative and impactful startups across various key sectors, including Fintech, e-commerce, social impact, HealthTech, AgriTech, and gaming.

The Indus Appstore Emerging Startup Awards, are designed to provide a level playing field for emerging startups in India, thereby positioning them to compete with global players. This aligns with the overarching goal of bringing Indian entrepreneurship to the forefront of the global stage. The awards are aimed at identifying and applauding startups that demonstrate exceptional innovation, potential for growth, and a positive impact on the market. Startups registered under the Startup India initiative, operational for at least one year, and having their applications listed on the Indus Appstore Developer Platform, are eligible to participate.

This initiative features a prize pool of Rs 12 lakhs INR, with Rs 2 lakhs INR allocated to the winner in each category. Beyond the financial rewards, winners will secure direct entry into the Indus Accelerate Program – whichbrings an opportunity for Developers to cut the clutter and make their Apps standout amongst the crowded App markets, by providing them higher visibility, optimized user acquisition avenues within the store and ability to market and build their identity within the entrepreneurial community.

The awards are a testament to Indus Appstore’s commitment to encouraging Indian startups to build applications and solutions that cater to both local needs and global aspirations.

Speaking on the initiative Akash Dongre, Co-founder/CPO of Indus Appstore, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Startup India for the Indus Appstore Emerging Startup Awards. Our goal is to foster a vibrant ecosystem where Indian entrepreneurs can thrive and create solutions that cater to our unique market. The awards are not just about recognizing talent; they are a testament to our commitment to empowering startups to build for India. We believe that these awards will ignite the spirit of innovation and contribute significantly to the Indian startup landscape.”

Speaking on the latest season of Indus Appstore Emerging Startup Awards, Aastha Grover, Head-  Startup India, said, ‘Startups that embrace innovation are better equipped to adapt to market volatility, identify new trends, and seize emerging business opportunities. They are agile, flexible, and quick to respond to market needs, giving them a significant advantage over their counterparts. Through this program, Phone Pe is recognizing some of the finest and most talented innovators who hold the potential to transform the startup landscape.

How to Apply

Interested startups can apply by uploading their app on the Indus Appstore and completing the required questionnaire on the Startup India website. The winners will be announced on 30th March.

For more information about the Indus Appstore Startup Awards, visit [website link].

About Indus Appstore:

Indus Appstore is a native Android-based mobile app store, designed to fulfill the localized and cultural needs of Indian consumers. With an extensive array of categories it seeks to provide users a localized, contextual and a personalized experience. Indus Appstore is available in English and 12 Indian languages, which allows users to explore the Appstore in their preferred language.

For developers, Indus Appstore provides a fair and level playing field to list, distribute & promote their products in the Indian app ecosystem. It provides a self-publishing platform, localization services, multiple tools to monitor and grow their apps along with a dedicated 24×7 customer support.

For more details: [email protected]