Bengaluru, September 3, 2026: AssisTech Foundation (ATF), an organisation working to strengthen India’s Assistive Technology ecosystem, has announced the sixth edition of the ATF Awards 2026, inviting startups and ecosystem stakeholders to showcase innovations and initiatives aimed at improving inclusion and accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Applications for the awards opened on September 1, 2026, and will remain open until September 21, 2026. The winners will be announced at the ATF Awards ceremony scheduled to take place on December 1, 2026, in Bengaluru. Positioned as India’s only national awards platform dedicated to Assistive Technology, the ATF Awards aim to recognise organisations developing technology-driven solutions as well as the wider ecosystem supporting their development and adoption. The awards are open to Assistive Technology startups, government institutions, corporates, investors, educational institutions and NGOs, giving organisations across the ecosystem an opportunity to gain recognition for their work in making technology more accessible and inclusive.
Recognising Innovation Beyond Startups
Unlike conventional startup awards that primarily focus on companies and founders, the ATF Awards take a broader approach by recognising the ecosystem that enables Assistive Technology solutions to reach the people who need them. The platform highlights contributions from innovators, government bodies, corporates, CSR organisations, investors, academic institutions and NGOs. Through this approach, ATF aims to bring greater visibility to the different stakeholders involved in developing, funding, researching, implementing and scaling assistive solutions. Prateek Madhav, CEO and Co-Founder of AssisTech Foundation, said that the awards are designed to highlight innovators addressing challenges that frequently remain outside the mainstream innovation ecosystem. According to Madhav, Assistive Technology requires more than technological innovation alone. Investment, research, policy support, partnerships and meaningful engagement with communities are equally important for ensuring that solutions can create lasting impact. Through the sixth edition of the awards, ATF aims to bring both innovators and ecosystem enablers into the spotlight while creating opportunities for their work to be recognised, connected and scaled.
Seven Award Areas Across Startups and Enablers
The ATF Awards 2026 will recognise contributions across three broad areas: Emerging Startups, Established Startups and Enablers. The awards will include recognition for innovation among emerging Assistive Technology startups, impactful and high-performing established startups, women-led leadership and contributions from ecosystem enablers. The enabler category will cover organisations and institutions such as NGOs, government bodies, educational institutions, CSR initiatives and investors that play a role in strengthening the Assistive Technology ecosystem. Applicants can review the eligibility requirements and application process through the official ATF Awards platform. Applications will undergo a structured screening and evaluation process after the submission window closes. The shortlisted entries will then be evaluated by a jury, with finalists expected to be announced in the first week of November 2026. The final winners will be announced during the awards ceremony on December 1, 2026.
Growing Recognition for India’s Assistive Technology Ecosystem
The latest edition comes at a time when India’s Assistive Technology ecosystem is seeing increasing participation from startups, investors, institutions and community organisations. In 2025, ATF received more than 100 startup applications from 15 cities, with solutions addressing 15 different types of disabilities. The awards also saw more than 8,000 participants take part in the People’s Choice voting process. In addition, over 50 applications were received from ecosystem enablers, including NGOs, government departments, educational institutions and investors. With the 2026 edition, ATF is looking to build on this momentum and increase the visibility of Assistive Technology within India’s broader innovation ecosystem. The foundation believes that greater recognition and collaboration can help promising solutions gain access to capital, partnerships, research capabilities, policy support and the communities they are designed to serve.
Building a Larger Assistive Technology Ecosystem
AssisTech Foundation works across the Assistive Technology ecosystem to support the development and adoption of technology products and services designed to empower Persons with Disabilities across learning, livelihood and living. The organisation was recognised with a National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in 2025 by President of India Droupadi Murmu, under the category of Sarvshreshth Anusandan/Navpravartan/Utpad Vikas awarded by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Over the past six years, ATF says it has impacted more than 1 million PwDs, built a network of 500+ Assistive Technology startups, and supported the acceleration of more than 80 startups. Its portfolio has collectively developed over 110 Assistive Technology products and secured more than 60 patents. Through initiatives such as the ATF Awards, the foundation continues to bring innovators and ecosystem stakeholders together with the broader objective of making technology more accessible, inclusive and impactful for Persons with Disabilities across India.
