Shell E4 programme launches its first cohort - 5 innovative start-ups poised to accelerate India’s transition to a sustainable future

Global energy leader, Shell has been at the forefront of finding innovative solutions to meet the world’s growing energy needs, driven by its core purpose of “Powering more and cleaner energy solutions - through our people, partnerships and innovations”. In September 2017, Shell in India launched the Shell E⁴ Start-up Hub which envisions to promote innovation and build partnerships by nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. After a rigorous selection process, five start-ups out of hundreds that applied, have been selected into the prestigious Shell E⁴ (Energizing and Enabling Energy Entrepreneurs) programme.

The Shell E⁴ programme has been modelled after some of the most successful accelerator programmes in the world and is tailor-made to offer start-ups with everything they need to accelerate their business growth. As part of their induction into the programme, the start-ups will each receive US $20,000 as seed funding. In addition, they will have access to:

• Use of state-of-the-art testing and prototyping laboratories in Shell, for product development and testing;
• Bootcamps aimed at customer discovery and improving the product offering;
• Top industry mentors and experts throughout the duration of the programme;
• New markets & regular interactions with the investor community, which is the first step to funding opportunities.

During the Shell E⁴ programme the start-ups will be housed at a vibrant co-working space within Shell Technology Centre Bengaluru, which will provide them with round-the-clock proximity to Shell subject matter experts and advisors who can help them develop or refine their products. In addition, the start-ups will also have access to Shell’s large global partner network providing opportunities for niche networking at multiple energy focused events and engagements that have been planned as part of the curriculum.

At the end of the six-month programme, the cohort start-ups will have the opportunity to pitch to top investors from India and abroad as well as meet with an array of decision makers from the energy ecosystem, on Demo Day. After the cohort graduates, they will continue their relationship with the programme through the Shell E⁴ alumni network.

Here’s a quick look at the five startups selected for the first cohort of the Shell E⁴ programme.

1. Detect Technologies

This Chennai-based startup focuses on asset integrity management, especially in the conventional oil and gas industry, and has already built a unique, patented technology for pipeline condition monitoring in real-time, using a long-range ultrasonic sensor for temperatures of up to 350 degrees Celsius. This solution will help reduce massive productivity losses in case of a breach. Along with this, the company also provides Noctuan intelligent solution for structural health monitoring on hard-to-reach assets such as stacks, columns, pipe racks, vessels, tanks, boilers, chimneys etc. and has several Fortune 500 companies as their clients.

Founders Daniel Raj David, Tarun Kumar Mishra, Harikrishnan AS, Karthik R, are all IIT Madras alumni who, along with their Professor Krishnan Balasubramanian, bring a wealth of experience in research, management and execution for the company.

1. ION Energy

ION Energy is building cutting-edge energy storage systems and infrastructure for the adoption of high performance electric vehicles. ION has offices in Mumbai, USA and now France. ION leverages deep proprietary technology that merges their strengths in design, electro mechanics, battery management systems and software. Apart from deploying their own systems and infrastructure, ION will license a chemistry-agnostic and extensively cascadable architecture that enables rapid product development for customers that demand high quality battery systems.

1. IoTrek

IoTrek is developing technology solutions to make infrastructure and outdoor work-sites safe and smart, by using intelligent sensors, low power wireless networks and machine learning software.

Founded by IIT-Roorkee alumni Piyush Vishwakarma (CEO), Kamran Alam (CTO) and Prerak Ujgare (COO), IoTrek is building solutions such as a "connected workforce" for the construction industry. The startup is working closely with some large construction companies in the US and India to improve the safety as well as productivity of field sites. IoTrek has come up with ultra-low power tracking devices embedded with motion sensors to connect people and assets in real time over long-range wireless network infrastructure. It aims to save millions of dollars per year in operations for infrastructure companies by implementing various use cases on single network infrastructure.

1. Ossus Biorenewables

This Bengaluru-based startup is creating solutions for clean energy and recovery of green chemicals from waste water. They are focused on assetising waste water through, bH₂ plus, a technology employing specially-designed microbial cell factories, for generating biohydrogen and metals from renewable feedstocks like industrial effluents, municipal sewage and polluted water bodies.

With the potential to be retro-fitted to storage tanks, effluent treatment plants or installed directly in-situ for the restoration of polluted rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water, this startup is creating an end-to-end green solution for valorising the utilisable energy present in waste water.

Founded by Dr. Suruchi Rao and Shanta Rao in 2017, Ossus Biorenewables is currently in the process of demonstrating the elemental capability of their technology for generating value from produced water, an effluent generated by upstream oil and gas companies.

1. Trashcon

Another Bengaluru-based startup, Trashcon, founded by Nivedha RM, has created Trashbot, an automated municipal solid waste segregator that separates municipal solid waste (MSW) into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, metals, and rejects components of mixed MSW mechanically. The segregator can process up to 300-400 kgs of MSW/hour, recovering up to 85-98 percent of biodegradables and more than 95 percent of non-biodegradables. Any kind of mixed waste is dumped into the hopper and the waste is segregated instantaneously.

With an inbuilt IoT technology, Trashbot consumes relatively less energy compared to conventional segregators, minimises manual intervention and enables quick processing of large volumes of waste. Trashbots are installed at various wards across the city to prevent dumping of wastes on the streets and pathways, and thus prevent choking of water and sewage channels, which have resulted in flooding during heavy rains.

Read more about the Shell E⁴ Programme here.