How the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge Is Set to Transform India’s Nutrition Startup Landscape

India’s start-up story has often been told through the lens of fintech unicorns, SaaS breakthroughs, and consumer internet success stories. But quietly, another powerful wave has been building—one that sits at the intersection of public health, science, and entrepreneurship. As India continues to grapple with long-standing nutrition challenges while witnessing a surge in demand for preventive healthcare and wellness products, the opportunity for impact-driven innovation in nutrition has never been greater.

Recognising this critical moment, Start-up India under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has launched the Bharat Start-up Grand Challenge – Fortify to Scale, a national initiative designed to accelerate and strengthen India’s nutrition-focused start-up ecosystem. The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Jubilant Bhartia Foundation through the BHARAT IMPACT Incubation Centre, powered by Jubilant Ingrevia Limited, with strategic support from IIMA Ventures. Applications for the challenge are open until December 30.

At its core, Fortify to Scale is not just another start-up competition—it is a carefully designed growth platform aimed at helping promising nutrition ventures scale responsibly, compliantly, and sustainably.

A Sector at the Crossroads of Challenge and Opportunity

India faces a dual nutrition reality. On one hand, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies continue to impact millions across age groups and geographies. On the other, urban and semi-urban consumers are becoming increasingly conscious about what they eat, actively seeking safe, science-backed nutrition products that support long-term health.

This shift is being reinforced by strong policy intent. Government-led initiatives promoting food fortification, preventive healthcare, and improved nutritional outcomes have created a supportive environment for innovation. Together, these forces are opening up a massive opportunity for start-ups working in nutraceuticals, fortified foods, functional foods, and dietary supplements.

The Bharat Start-up Grand Challenge aims to tap directly into this momentum—by identifying start-ups that are not only building viable businesses, but are also delivering measurable public health impact.

Why Scaling Nutrition Start-ups Is Especially Hard

While the opportunity is large, scaling a nutrition start-up in India is far from straightforward. Entrepreneurs in this space must navigate a complex maze of scientific validation, regulatory approvals, FSSAI compliance, quality assurance, and supply chain reliability. Unlike many digital-first ventures, nutrition start-ups require deep technical expertise, access to sophisticated infrastructure, and credibility across multiple stakeholders—from regulators to consumers.

Fortify to Scale has been structured with these realities in mind. The programme focuses on market-ready, revenue-generating start-ups that are aligned with FSSAI fortification standards and demonstrate a strong commitment to public health outcomes alongside sustainable business growth. Rather than supporting ideas at the ideation stage, the challenge is geared towards ventures that are ready to move from local or regional markets to national—and eventually global—scale.

An Integrated Support System Built for Growth

Selected start-ups under the Bharat Start-up Grand Challenge will gain access to a comprehensive support framework that goes well beyond conventional incubation. This includes technical and scientific guidance, access to laboratories and manufacturing facilities, mentorship from industry leaders and domain experts, and market linkages that can open doors to new partnerships and distribution channels.

Crucially, start-ups will also get opportunities to connect with grant programmes and investment capital, helping them strengthen both their balance sheets and their long-term growth strategies. Ecosystem stakeholders believe that this integrated, hands-on support can significantly shorten innovation cycles, improve product quality and compliance, and enhance the global competitiveness of Indian nutrition brands.

The Role of BHARAT IMPACT and a Collaborative Ecosystem

The challenge is anchored by BHARAT IMPACT, an initiative of the Jubilant Bhartia Foundation that focuses on fostering start-ups aligned with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BHARAT IMPACT’s approach combines sector intelligence, corporate-grade infrastructure, and a wide network of mentors, investors, academic institutions, and industry experts.

Its larger vision is to build India’s leading platform for social entrepreneurship—one that enables start-ups to address critical societal challenges while achieving commercial success. A key focus area is supporting ventures emerging from underserved regions, including Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, ensuring that innovation and opportunity are not limited to metropolitan hubs.

By leveraging Jubilant Ingrevia’s global leadership in nutrition science and ingredients, along with IIMA Ventures’ academic and venture-building expertise, the programme brings together capabilities that few individual start-ups could access on their own.

A New Model for Impact-Driven Start-up Growth

For India’s broader start-up ecosystem, the Bharat Start-up Grand Challenge reflects a clear shift in priorities. Investors, policymakers, and consumers are increasingly looking beyond growth-at-all-costs models, placing greater value on health, sustainability, and long-term societal outcomes. Nutrition start-ups are emerging as a critical growth segment within food-tech and health-tech, offering solutions that directly improve quality of life.

By bringing together Start-up India, DPIIT, a leading philanthropic foundation, a global nutrition company, and a premier academic venture partner, Fortify to Scale signals a new model of public-private collaboration. It demonstrates how ecosystem players can work together to nurture start-ups that are resilient, scalable, and capable of delivering national—and global—impact.

As India looks to build a healthier future for its people while strengthening its innovation economy, initiatives like the Bharat Start-up Grand Challenge may well become a defining force in shaping the next chapter of the country’s start-up journey—one where impact and scale grow hand in hand.