Meet The Startups That Won The Ericsson Innovation Challenge 2026

At the India Mobile Congress 2026, telecom and network infrastructure company Ericsson unveiled the winners of its flagship startup competition, Ericsson Innovation Challenge

Launched earlier this year, the startup focused competition aimed at finding solutions that can use 5G, AI and emerging connectivity technologies to address real-world challenges across sectors

Entries were evaluated on several parameters, including their potential societal impact, level of innovation, scalability and sustainability

At the India Mobile Congress 2026, telecom and network infrastructure company Ericsson unveiled the winners of its flagship startup competition, Ericsson Innovation Challenge.

Launched earlier this year, the startup focused competition aimed at finding solutions that can use 5G, AI and emerging connectivity technologies to address real-world challenges across sectors.

The challenge, which was organised in partnership with IAN Mentoring and Incubation Services and TiE Delhi NCR earlier in July, evaluated startup innovations that could develop 5G solutions capable of demonstrating measurable societal impact.

Entries were evaluated on several parameters, including their potential societal impact, level of innovation, scalability and sustainability. Participants were also assessed on how closely their solutions aligned with the problem area they had chosen to address.

“At IMC, the winning innovations sit alongside our demonstrations of AI, programmable networks, differentiated connectivity and mission-critical networks – showing how the networks we build today can serve as a platform for what India builds next,” Ericsson India managing director Nitin Bansal said.

The company also displayed the event to look beyond 5G towards 6G, including applications involving edge intelligence, sensing and collaborative robots. The broader ambition is to turn connectivity into an underlying technology layer for new services.

Here is a look at the startups that won the Ericsson Innovation Challenge

Torchit

• Founded In : 2016
• Founders : Hunny Bhagchandani, Mohit N Chelani
• Headquarters : Ahmedabad

The Ahmedabad-based startup is developing affordable devices and AI-powered solutions for people with disabilities. Its products primarily address visual impairment, including Saarthi, a smart mobility aid that helps users detect obstacles, and Jyoti AI Smart Glasses, which can read text, recognise objects and describe surroundings.

Skye Air Mobility

• Founded In : 2019
• Founders : Ankit Kumar
• Headquarters : Delhi NCR

The dronetech startup uses autonomous drones to handle last-mile deliveries. Its platform combines drones with Skye UTM, an unmanned traffic management system that monitors flights, plans routes and manages airspace. It uses a Hub-Pod-Walker model: packages are loaded at a central hub, flown by drone to a landing pod near the customer and then delivered to the doorstep by a ground worker or autonomous rover.

scanO

• Founded In : 2020
• Founders : Vidhi Bhanushali, Rajat Kabade
• Headquarters : Pune

The healthtech startup offers users automated dental screening and diagnostic support. Its scanO Air device uses computer vision to scan the mouth and detect 40+ oral conditions, including cavities, gum problems and suspicious tissue changes, in about 12 seconds. Further, its AI is designed to support dentists rather than replace them, flagging potential issues for clinical review.