January 16 2016: Shell is calling all energy start-ups to enter a national competition that will help develop their bright energy business ideas. The Shell #makethefuture Accelerator India 2017, launched in India for the first time, aims to encourage and accelerate the development of ideas that can help provide more and cleaner energy solutions.

Globally, we are using more energy than ever before. At the same time, the significance of climate change means the world must reduce CO2 emissions. We need innovative thinking to make today's energy go further and to find cleaner energy to take us towards a lower carbon world. Great ideas come from conversation, collaboration, partnerships; great minds coming together. The aim of the Shell #makethefuture Accelerator India programme is to seek out and support solutions for our energy future.

Commenting on the launch of the programme, Nitin Prasad, Chairman, Shell Companies in India said, “At Shell, we believe that collaboration is vital to our purpose of 'powering progress together for more and cleaner energy' and to solve the complex global energy challenges. The #makethefuture Accelerator programme provides a platform for innovation, collaboration and conversation around the energy transitions and global energy future while offering a chance for energy start-ups with bright ideas to demonstrate their ability in bringing those ideas to life”

Shell #makethefuture currently supports seven bright energy ideas globally including GravityLight, a UK start-up that, with Shell’s support, recently launched their clean energy solution to communities in Kenya.

Now, Shell is bringing the #makethefuture Accelerator programme to India to give start-ups across the country the opportunity to collaborate showcasing and developing their bright energy ideas.

Who can apply

The competition is open to start-ups with products, technologies, services, or initiatives that fulfil one or more of the following criteria:

<< Improves energy efficiency
<< Reduces energy waste
<< Reduces CO2 emissions
<< Generates energy from a new source, and
<< Broadens access to energy.

<< Operate in an Indian city
<< Have an India registered entity, and
<< Be in post-pilot or prototype stage.

Interested energy start-ups will need to apply through an application form available on Shell’s India website (www.shell.in). Registration opens on 16th January and will close by midnight 3rd February.

The top 3 finalists will get the opportunity to participate in an Accelerator Event, gather useful insights for their final pitch presentation and connect with like-minded energy start-ups from across the world at Make the Future Singapore, a festival of ideas and innovation for Asia being held in March 2017. During the Accelerator event, the finalists will receive coaching from experts, network, and exchange tips with other Asian start-ups on how to grow their ideas into a reality.

These top 3 finalists will then pitch their ideas to an esteemed jury including senior leaders from Shell and Nitin Prasad, Chairman of Shell India at the launch of the Shell Technology Centre Bangalore by March end 2017. Seven semi-finalists will be invited to also showcase their ideas to leaders from business, government, and media at the launch event.

The winning start-up will be awarded prize money of Rs 10 lakh along with mentorship by senior Shell and industry leaders that will help build a strong value proposition and enable them to access funding to scale.