Honda Innovation Challenge 1.0
Honda's first deep tech startup collaboration in India. Co-develop and pilot them in real environments in India and across the world.
Paid PoC with Honda | Upto 10 Lakhs fund | T-Hub & Honda Mentorship

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About the Program

After working with startups across the US, Japan and Israel, Honda is opening its real operating environment to Indian startups for the first time.

The Honda Innovation Challenge, executed in partnership with T-Hub, is a structured co-development program where selected startups will work directly with Honda’s Global Strategy, digital, engineering, and service teams to build and pilot real mobility solutions.

This challenge offers startups a unique opportunity to innovate, test, and validate scalable solutions in AI-led In-vehicle Intelligence, Safety, and Maintenance within an authentic, real-world mobility ecosystem and customer journey.

Selected startups will receive funding, technical mentorship from Honda, and a structured deployment pathway while being supported by T-Hub’s ecosystem, resources, and network.

The focus: Practical innovation built for Indian conditions and deployable within 12 weeks.

Why This Program Matters

Mobility is evolving from vehicles → intelligent systems.
For customers, a vehicle is no longer just a machine; it is a safety companion, a decision assistant, and a seamless service interface.
Honda has long been at the forefront of safety, engineering excellence, and intelligent mobility. As the industry advances, Honda is accelerating its leadership by shaping the next generation of experiences:
Engineering excellence → Predictive, intelligence-led assistance
Advanced hardware systems → Integrated, software-defined experiences
Trusted service networks → Seamless, transparent digital journeys
The ambition is not simply to add features.

It is to build vehicles that understand, guide, and proactively support customers across their mobility journey.
This program is designed to collaborate with startups that can help extend and accelerate that vision.

Why Build With Honda

Honda is one of the world’s most trusted mobility companies serving millions of users across motorcycles, automobiles, aircraft, power products, and beyond. Following successful collaborations with startups globally, this initiative marks Honda’s first structured, deep engagement with Indian startups.

Through this program, Indian startups get the opportunity to:

Build with a global OEM
Validate in real operating conditions
Work directly with technical and business teams
Build with a Solve problems that affect real customers dailyglobal OEM

What Startups Get

Up to 10 Lakhs as a
co-development fund
Direct technical mentorship from Honda teams
Structured 12-week paid
Proof of Concept
Real user validation
Deployment pathway
Access to the T-Hub ecosystem, mentors, network, and support

Who Should Apply

Startups with a working MVP ready for real-world deployment.
Selection Criteria
Clear relevance for at least one of the six focus areas
Team capability for deployability within 12 weeks
Scalability & cost feasibility
Integration readiness
Customer adoption potential
Early customer traction helps, but is not mandatory.

Focus Area

Incident, Accident, Maintenance, and Service
Honda continuously works toward helping riders and drivers better understand their vehicle’s condition and stay ahead of potential disruptions. This focus area explores solutions that make vehicle health insights clearer, more proactive, and easier to act upon, supporting safer usage, informed decisions, and timely care across both 2-Wheelers and 4-Wheelers.
In moments when assistance is required, clarity and coordination matter most. This focus area looks at enhancing how customers are guided and supported, enabling structured, reassuring, and well-orchestrated assistance experiences that connect relevant stakeholders and help users take the right actions with confidence.
Honda aims to make post-incident journeys more transparent, understandable, and reassuring for customers. This focus area explores ways to strengthen engagement before and after an incident, improving awareness, enabling structured documentation, and simplifying support interactions to enhance customer confidence and trust.
SDV Ambient In-Car AI Agent
Driving environments vary widely, and minimising distraction while improving awareness is essential. This focus area explores software-defined interfaces that provide timely guidance and alerts in a natural, low-distraction manner,  helping drivers stay informed and confident across diverse conditions.
Vehicles are becoming an active part of daily routines. This focus area looks at enabling contextual intelligence that understands usage patterns and driving situations, offering helpful, predictive assistance that supports everyday mobility decisions practically and intuitively.
Customers interact with vehicles across multiple touchpoints. This focus area explores bringing those interactions together into a cohesive, intuitive experience, enabling natural communication, relevant actions, and seamless access to services through an integrated in-vehicle environment.

Program Journey

Sep - Oct, 2025
Call for Applications
Screening of Applications
November 2025
November 2025
Pre-Finale Hackathon
Grand Finale for Winner selection
December 2025
January 2026
Kickstarting POC
Sep - Oct, 2025
Call for Applications
Screening of Applications
November 2025
November 2025
Pre-Finale Hackathon
Grand Finale for Winner selection
December 2025
January 2026
Kickstarting POC

Program Timeline

Sep - Oct, 2025
Call for Applications
Screening of Applications
November 2025
November 2025
Pre-Finale Hackathon
Grand Finale for Winner selection
December 2025
January 2026
Kickstarting POC
Sep - Oct, 2025
Call for Applications
Screening of Applications
November 2025
November 2025
Pre-Finale Hackathon
Grand Finale for Winner selection
December 2025
January 2026
Kickstarting POC
About Honda
Honda is a global mobility leader delivering motorcycles, automobiles, aircraft, and power products worldwide.



In India, Honda serves a wide and diverse customer base across two-wheelers, four-wheelers, power products, and battery technologies, with a strong and ongoing commitment to safety, reliability, and engineering excellence. The company continues to invest in intelligent safety systems and connected experiences that elevate customer confidence and trust.

Through this program, Honda seeks to build on this strong foundation by collaborating with startups to further advance safety, service, and in-vehicle intelligence, developing next-generation solutions grounded in real customer needs and Indian driving realities.
About T-Hub
T-Hub, the World's Largest Home for Startups, is a comprehensive startup ecosystem enabler. It connects corporations, governments, academia, and investors with startups, offering crucial resources, mentorship, access to funding, and paid pilot opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Honda × T-Hub Solution Accelerator Program?

A startup co-innovation program where selected startups work directly with Honda teams to build and pilot solutions across safety, service, and in-vehicle intelligence use cases.

What support do startups receive?

Selected startups receive up to ₹10,00,000 (10 Lakh INR) from Honda to co-develop and pilot their solution, along with access to Honda stakeholders, technical mentorship, technical inputs, and real-world validation opportunities through T-Hub. T-Hub will also provide additional resources and mentorship where applicable.

Is there a cost to participate?

No. There is no program fee.

Who can apply?

Startups with a working MVP are mandatory. Early customer traction is preferred but not compulsory.

My solution fits more than one use-case, can I apply?

Yes. You can apply to multiple relevant focus areas within a single application.

Honda’s global innovation efforts, including its presence in high-performance engineering environments like Formula 1, reflect a strong focus on real-world performance and safety. This program brings that problem-solving mindset to everyday mobility in India.

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