small inputs.
big outcomes.

Prize challenges that turn breakthrough solutions into real-world impact.

the leverage logic

how small inputs unlock big outcomes

01

research investment

We invest early in deep, sector-led research to identify opportunity gaps that markets and governments have not solved. This defines sharp problem statements and meaningful outcome thresholds, de-risking innovation before a single rupee funds solutions.

02

prize challenge

We design outcome-linked prize challenges that attract committed solvers rather than idea hobbyists, ensuring participation is anchored in measurable results. Open participation surfaces hidden capacity and unconventional approaches, which are tested through real-world pilots under market conditions before scaling.

03

downstream scale

We transition validated solutions from pilots into ecosystem assets, ensuring proven models do not remain isolated successes. As implementers, NGOs, corporates, and governments adopt them with confidence, follow-on capital flows, activating markets and enabling durable impact beyond the prize.

10–100×
leverage

When funders invest early in research and precise problem framing, they unlock 10–100× follow-on capital and sustained market momentum. Clear outcome thresholds focus innovation on measurable results, while validated models attract implementers and ecosystem partners who carry impact beyond the prize.

scale mechanisms

two pathways to scale

affordability

cost barriers

market and technology-led

When safe, affordable products & delivery models are missing, we use this approach to catalyse low cost products, new distribution models, & product innovation that expand access at scale.

accessibility

access to solutions

behaviour and systems-led

When products exist but stigma, frontline behaviour, or social norms limit uptake, we use this approach to drive behaviour change, system alignment, and long-term sustained adoption.

adoption

sustained use

affordability

cost barriers

market and technology-led

When safe, affordable products and delivery models are missing, we use prize alpha to catalyse low cost products, new distribution models, and product innovation that expand access at scale.

accessibility

access to solutions

behaviour and systems-led

When products exist but stigma, frontline behaviour, or social norms limit uptake, we use prize beta to drive behaviour change, system alignment, and sustained adoption.

adoption

sustained use

the ecosystem

who this enables

small holder farmers

we work for those
who feed us

A single failed season can push millions into distress, amid climate shocks, fragmented markets, and rising input costs.

86% of India’s farmers are small and marginal, farming less than 2 hectares.

rural entrepreneurs

we work for those who power
rural economies

Limited access to credit, markets, and technology keeps enterprises stuck in low-growth cycles.

120M+ rural micro-enterprises in India are largely informal and under-capitalised.

working women

we work for those who drive livelihoods forward
Mobility constraints, safety concerns, and unpaid care work restrict entry into paid employment.

Women do 10× more unpaid care work than men; India’s FLFP (~42%) is among the world’s lowest. 

informal workers

we work for those who keep
our cities running

Operate without contracts, insurance, or stable incomes. Form the backbone of urban economies.

400M+ workers in India's informal sector. Over 90% of India's workforce is informal.

We aid them through solvers & innovators who design breakthrough solutions, implementers
& institutions
who adopt and scale validated models, and ecosystem partners who enable long-term scaling.

the catalyst

research as a force multiplier

by the numbers

quiet confidence

3

thematic areas

₹50–200Cr

prize purse

5

challenges

ecosystem partners

what partners say

Joan Christel
President
State Street Foundation

At State Street Foundation, we believe access with the right tools can shift trajectories for home-based women entrepreneurs. Our partnership with the^delta prize on aahaar bazaar backs solutions expanding market access, supporting thousands of women ‘foodpreneurs’ toward meaningfuleconomic inclusion at scale.

Deepa Nagraj
Senior Vice President & Global Head - ESG, Sparkle Innovation Ecosystem, and Communications
Mphasis

While female labour force participation is rising, data shows that women remain concentrated in a few low-productivity sectors, highlighting the need to close solution gaps. At Mphasis, we’re committed to supporting initiatives that drive real change. We’re proud to take this step through The/Nudge Prize, helping to identify and support innovative ideas that create equitable livelihoods for women.

featured challenge

what is live now

the challenge

Home-based women foodpreneurs hold significant market potential, yet most remain confined to hyperlocal markets due to structural constraints across product readiness, compliance, and market access. Formalisation alone does not unlock growth; scalable pathways must address the full stack of operational and market barriers.

3,000

women foodpreneurs
to be reached

50%

sales from new channels
targeted

5–6×

revenue growth
expected for top performers

;