Three Indian Startups Selected for Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025 in London

In a proud moment for India’s startup ecosystem, three Indian startups have been selected for the prestigious Commonwealth Startup Fellowship, a flagship programme of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) funded by the UK government.

The selected startups—lifeandlimb.ai (Ghaziabad), Hexpressions (Jaipur), and AgrowSure (Maharashtra)—pitched their groundbreaking innovations to leading investors at the Capstone Showcase held in London on Tuesday.

About the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship

The six-month fellowship, launched in collaboration with Imperial College London’s Enterprise Lab and the UK government, aims to nurture high-potential startups from low- and middle-income Commonwealth nations.

This year’s first cohort includes 19 startups chosen from over 1,400 companies across 44 countries, representing diverse regions such as India, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, and Cameroon.

Stephen Johns, International Communications Manager at Imperial College London, confirmed the selection and highlighted the fellowship’s global reach.

lifeandlimb.ai: Revolutionising Prosthetics

Nishant Agarwal, founder and CEO of lifeandlimb.ai, drew inspiration from his award-winning MS thesis at IIT Kanpur.

“When I won the President's Award for Best Outgoing Thesis at IIT Kanpur for my MS thesis on using myo-sensor technology for prosthetics in 2015, I realised I could take the project forward.”

After gaining experience in manufacturing, Agarwal launched lifeandlimb.ai in 2020, incubating it at IIT Kanpur. Over three years, the startup built a clinical pilot programme with 150 users.

At the showcase, Agarwal presented ‘bionicli’, a multi-articulated prosthetic hand designed to replicate human anatomy.

“In India, we are confident of capturing 30 per cent of the market in the next three years. But to expand internationally, we would need FDA approval in the US and EMA approval in Europe. This is where the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship will help us the most.”

AgrowSure: Agritech for Sustainable Farming

Founded by Akshay Wairale and Akshay Kawale, AgrowSure focuses on sustainable agritech products designed to address farmer needs.

“Our products were developed as sustainable solutions in four categories after studying the market needs of the farming community. Since ground realities are similar in other low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries, they will find our solutions useful as well,” said Wairale.

The bootstrapped company, incubated at IIT Kanpur, has also received grants from institutions like the Kerala Startup Mission. The fellowship, Wairale said, will help them expand to other Commonwealth markets.

Hexpressions: Affordable Housing Through Innovation

Jaipur-based Hexpressions, co-founded by Abhimanyu Singh and Shiilpi Dua, is transforming housing with composite paper honeycomb panels.

“Once back in India, we established Hexpressions in 2018 in Jaipur and developed paper honeycomb panels as a fast and modular construction solution. It takes four to five weeks to build a house using our partition walling system,” Singh explained.

The company is already setting up operations in England. Singh praised the programme:

“So, yes, it was immensely useful, especially the bootcamp in Ghana, where we could meet 18 other startup founders and share experiences. Ours is the first cohort, so we'll have to see how it pans out with investors.”

Global Support for Startups

Sarah Ranchev-Hale, Head of Imperial Enterprise Lab, expressed pride in supporting the fellowship:

“Even in its first year, the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship is already helping unlock talent, drive growth, and transform communities. Imperial is proud to work with these exceptional founders and support their journey to scale innovations that address some of the world's most pressing challenges.”

Professor Kevin Ibeh, Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner, emphasised the socio-economic benefits:

“The growing number of jobs created by the selected startups bodes well for communities and economies across the Commonwealth. These early contributions show what can be achieved when entrepreneurs are empowered with the right tools, networks, and support.”

Bootcamp and Training

The six-month fellowship began with a two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana, where fellows connected with industry experts, mentors, and peers. The initiative is designed to elevate innovative ideas into scalable ventures, providing international exposure, investor connections, and access to new markets.

Conclusion

The inclusion of three Indian startups—lifeandlimb.ai, AgrowSure, and Hexpressions—in the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025 highlights India’s rising influence in the global innovation ecosystem. From prosthetic technology and agritech solutions to sustainable housing, these startups are addressing critical challenges while creating social impact.

With international mentorship, investor support, and global market access, the fellowship is expected to accelerate their growth and strengthen India’s role as a hub for entrepreneurial talent. As the first cohort unfolds, the programme promises to create a ripple effect of innovation-driven development across Commonwealth nations.