The challenge zeroes in on Variable Speed Drives (VSDs)—core components used in manufacturing, HVAC, and critical infrastructure to improve energy efficiency. Despite their importance, VSDs often present challenges in terms of complex commissioning, manual parameterization, and difficult fault diagnosis.
To address these gaps, ABB is inviting startups to develop AI-powered solutions that can:
- Simulate real-world drive performance
- Enable self-commissioning without manual setup
- Detect and troubleshoot issues autonomously
The Theme: Advancing Smart Drive Technology with AI Innovation
The 2025 edition of the Startup Challenge is built around the theme of “Advancing Smart Drive Technology with AI Innovation.” Selected startups will co-develop solutions with ABB experts and receive mentoring, with the opportunity to showcase their work globally via ABB’s innovation ecosystem.
“We want to empower startups to build practical, scalable innovations that make smart drive technology more accessible, intelligent, and efficient. This challenge is a call to India’s deep-tech ecosystem to join us in shaping the factories and infrastructure of tomorrow,” said a spokesperson from ABB India.
Prize & Partnership Opportunities
- Winner Prize: $30,000 project collaboration
- Mentorship: Dedicated guidance from ABB engineers and AI specialists
- Exposure: Opportunity to scale and showcase on ABB’s global platform via SynerLeap
- Eligibility: Open to early-stage and growth-stage startups with AI/ML expertise, especially in the areas of industrial IoT, automation, and predictive analytics
Timeline & Application
- Last Date to Apply: April 29, 2025
- Application Portal: ABB Startup Challenge India 2025
This year’s challenge also coincides with ABB India’s 75th anniversary, adding symbolic weight to its push toward future-ready, AI-integrated industrial solutions built in and for India.
Why This Matters
This initiative represents more than a one-time competition. It’s part of ABB India’s broader commitment to:
- Open innovation
- Startup collaboration
- Local-to-global scaling of industrial deeptech
- Supporting India's AI and sustainability goals
As Indian startups continue to rise on the global tech stage, the ABB Startup Challenge aims to accelerate this momentum by bridging industrial needs with innovative, AI-powered answers.
Startups ready to disrupt the automation and industrial intelligence space can apply now and become a part of the next leap in smart manufacturing made in India.