One of a Kind Awards: An ode to startups creating categories of their own

While many startups seek to compete within existing industries, a select few go a step further: they create entirely new categories or cause disruption in existing segments with their unique offerings. Instead of merely improving a familiar product, these companies change how people understand a problem and introduce a different way of addressing it.

At the inaugural edition of the One of a Kind Awards - for early stage startups, presented by The Economic Times and Cashfree Payments, this spirit of market creation was recognised through the Category Creator Award category. The honour was presented at the grand reveal and felicitation ceremony held on August 21, 2026, at Novotel, Bengaluru.

The event brought together founders, investors, entrepreneurs and ecosystem leaders to celebrate the inaugural 2026 cohort of India’s breakout internet-first startups. The awards focused on companies at a formative stage, when original ideas and unconventional business models are beginning to show evidence of market relevance, but before they become widely recognised.


In the Category Creator segment, Urdhvam Environmental Technologies Pvt. Ltd. was named the winner, while Praan Health and Rymo Technologies were awarded first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively.

Rethinking the problem

Urdhvam Environmental Technologies Pvt. Ltd. was recognised for addressing groundwater depletion through technology-led water management. Its BoreCharger solution combines groundwater mapping, IoT systems and a robotic mechanism to recharge depleted or low-yielding borewells by accessing water from unconfined aquifers. The company says the process can increase rainwater recharge by four to 20 times, while its wider work focuses on affordable and scalable groundwater rejuvenation.

Praan Health was recognised for rethinking chronic-care management for ageing parents and their families. Its platform combines doctor-led care with strength training, physiotherapy, nutrition planning, mental-health support, diagnostics and care coordination. Through its app and care programmes, the company claims to enable adult children to monitor their parents’ health journeys, track progress and coordinate support for chronic conditions in one place.

Rymo Technologies was recognised for developing portable, technology-enabled rehabilitation solutions for patients recovering from mobility impairments. Its flagship Mobi-L system combines robotics, virtual reality and game-based exercises for upper- and lower-limb rehabilitation, while its Mend platform focuses on balance, coordination and stability.

The imagination that identifies gaps

The Category Creator Award celebrates startups that challenge conventional assumptions and introduce entirely new ways of solving problems.

Unlike businesses operating in established markets, category creators often have to perform two tasks at once. They must build a product or service while also helping customers understand why it matters. This can involve educating the market, changing behaviour, developing new language around a problem and creating trust where familiar alternatives may not exist.

A trusted platform

Applications were accepted between April 13 and May 31, 2026, followed by strategic evaluation from May 29 to June 19. Internal research experts assessed factors including scalability, market traction and the quality of the company’s model. Shortlisted startups presented their businesses to the final jury at the June 30 meeting.

The category winners were selected through a transparent programme that moved from eligibility screening and strategic evaluation to presentations before a jury of industry architects.

The jury comprised Animesh Kumar Das, MD & CEO, ACKO General Insurance; Vikram Chachra, venture capitalist, 8i Ventures; Saurabh Garg, entrepreneur, founder and CBO, NoBroker.com; Kanika Agarrwal, partner, India Quotient; and Dr. Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub - Govt. of India.

Enabling the category’s next phase

For winners and runners-up, the One of a Kind Awards - for early stage startups initiative creates an ecosystem of continued support designed to help early-stage companies strengthen visibility, access and execution. National feature stories and brand spotlights across ET and Cashfree digital platforms can help brands reach customers, partners, talent and investors beyond their immediate networks.

The benefits include national exposure through feature stories and brand spotlights across The Economic Times and Cashfree digital platforms, as well as access to a network of investors, founders and builders through the Awards Night ecosystem.

Winners also gain access to Cashfree Payments’ infrastructure, including exclusive credits that support brands in their growth journey with advanced payment solutions for internet-first businesses. This support can help companies manage and expand essential functions such as payment collection, settlements, international payments and identity verification as their operations develop.

Why the awards matter

Most conventional recognition follows scale. The awards take the opposite approach: they look for the early evidence that a company is solving a meaningful problem, creating new behaviour or building a model with the potential to endure. The One of a Kind Awards - for early stage startups fills a gap in the startup ecosystem by recognising companies before their success is fully visible.

Presented by The Economic Times and Cashfree Payments, the initiative acts as a bridge between early promise and broader opportunity. It helps give category-defining startups the attention, networks and resources they may need to educate the market and build at a sustainable pace.