Hyundai Motor India Foundation launches Rs 75 lakh assistive tech start-up programme

Gurugram: Hyundai Motor India Foundation is putting innovation in the driver’s seat with a new programme aimed at helping assistive technology start-ups go the extra mile.

The corporate social responsibility arm of Hyundai Motor India Limited has partnered with AssisTech Foundation to launch Samarth UnnATi, an assistive technology (AT) start-up scale-up programme under its Samarth by Hyundai initiative. The programme is designed to support high-potential start-ups developing solutions for persons with disabilities by providing funding, mentorship and access to markets.

As part of the initiative, Hyundai Motor India Foundation will provide grant support of Rs 75 lakh to help selected ventures scale their products, expand deployment and reach more beneficiaries across the country.

The programme seeks to bridge the gap between innovation and accessibility by supporting market-ready and revenue-generating start-ups. In addition to financial assistance, participants will receive capacity-building support, mentorship, access to knowledge networks, investor connections and ecosystem partnerships to accelerate growth.

Commenting on the launch, Hyundai Motor India Foundation trustee Gopalakrishnan C S said the initiative reflects Hyundai’s commitment to making accessibility a key pillar of inclusion.

“At Hyundai, we believe that accessibility and innovation are powerful enablers of inclusion and progress. Through ‘Samarth by Hyundai’, we are committed to creating opportunities that empower persons with disabilities to participate more independently and confidently in society. The Samarth UnnATi programme is an important step towards strengthening the assistive technology ecosystem by supporting innovators who are developing impactful solutions to address real-world accessibility challenges,” he said.

Highlighting the growing need for assistive technologies worldwide, AssisTech Foundation CEO and co-founder Prateek Madhav said demand for such products is expected to rise sharply over the coming decades. He added that innovation must be backed by collaboration and scale to ensure solutions reach the people who need them most.

Beyond funding, the programme will also focus on strengthening institutional capacity and deepening engagement with disability welfare institutions and government stakeholders. The aim is to create a sustainable ecosystem that supports long-term innovation and wider adoption of assistive technologies.

With Samarth UnnATi, Hyundai Motor India Foundation is expanding its efforts to promote accessibility and equal opportunities, while giving Indian assistive technology start-ups the resources to transform promising ideas into solutions with real social impact.