Ten startups presented their ideas at the event, where they were assessed by a panel comprising Michelin’s AI data scientists, business leaders, product managers, and developers.Michelin announced the winners of its first AI Challenge in the tyre technology sector, held in collaboration with DPIIT and Startup India, aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in India's AI startup ecosystem. The ceremony took place at IIT Delhi, recognising Kogo.ai, Prophecy, and Zangoh.ai for their notable contributions. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Michelin and DPIIT for continued support of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The event was attended by Petros Sourmelis, Minister-Counsellor, Delegation of the EU to India and Bhutan, Marie Khater, Deputy Head of the Regional Economic Department for India and South Asia, Embassy of France, Dr. Ambica Rajagopal, Michelin Group's Chief Data and AI Officer, and Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director of Michelin India.
Startups with innovation
Ten startups presented their ideas at the event, where they were assessed by a panel comprising Michelin’s AI data scientists, business leaders, product managers, and developers. The three awarded startups will have opportunities to collaborate on strategic projects and receive mentorship.
Dr. Ambica Rajagopal said, “The Michelin AI Startup Challenge is designed to identify and support innovative startups to build solutions using AI agents, LLMs, computer vision, and robotics to enhance manufacturing, product quality, road and pedestrian safety, and how to use AI in a responsible, explainable and ethical way. By leveraging LLMs and generative AI, we are not just automating workflows but enabling intelligent agents to discover optimal paths of action through complex choices. These AI systems are now able to generate insights from distributed knowledge, linking structured and unstructured data to build deeper models of customer behavior. The potential to unlock creativity and innovation has never been greater.”
Marie Khater shared, “The work and activities engaged by Michelin in India embodies the profound and concrete partnership that our two countries have on digital technologies. Not only is Michelin an industrial group, one of the leaders in tyre manufacturing but the company is deeply engaged in innovation and R&D, particularly in the digital space. I am really looking forward to seeing how we can build on existing initiatives from French and Indian companies like this one to find synergies and strengthen our bilateral ties on innovation, notably in the perspective of the Indo-French year of innovation in 2026.”
What was the challenge?
The Michelin AI Challenge was a 12-week initiative that involved multiple stages including outreach, applications, shortlisting, and mentorship until September 2024, culminating in a grand finale with the shortlisted startups. The challenge attracted 106 startups from across the country, with around 60% from tier 1 and tier 2 cities, highlighting diverse AI solutions and bridging geographical barriers.
The top ten startups showcased their projects at a demo day at IIT Delhi. The three winning teams were awarded paid pilot projects from Michelin, with funding of up to INR 5 lakh each. Additionally, the winners will gain access to global contracts and incubation support from Michelin leadership.
DPIIT has been active in mobilising startups in the manufacturing space and providing early-stage support essential for their growth. The Department is creating initiatives to bridge the gap between industry and startups by establishing incubators and incubation programs led by the industry. This initiative aims to empower manufacturing startups with innovative technologies and sustainable practices, enabling them to become global market leaders through industry-supported incubation.
Shantanu Deshpande stated, “At Michelin, our commitment to India is reflected in our decision to establish our AI headquarters in Pune and in our continued partnership with the government through initiatives like the MOU signed with DPIIT. We believe in the power of collaboration, where our global expertise and mentorship, combined with the government's scale and vision, create a win-win scenario. We sincerely extend our gratitude to DPIIT for their invaluable support in making this challenge a success.”
Petros Sourmelis remarked, “The AI Challenge is a novel initiative of Michelin that aims to expand Data and AI capabilities and bring innovation to the forefront. That it has received 200+ applications from startups across the country speaks volumes about the interest this program and its themes have generated. I hope this will give a huge spur to industry-linked innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.”
