WTFund by Nikhil Kamath, cofounder of Zerodha, has partnered with UnboxingBLR Foundation—a Bengaluru-focused not-for-profit—to launch the Namma Bengaluru Challenge. The initiative will award Rs 10 lakh each to five selected entrepreneurs, startups, or community organisations working on sustainable, innovative solutions to address Bengaluru’s urban challenges. Projects will be assessed on criteria such as innovation, impact, feasibility, scalability, and commitment.

Kamath in a statement shared that Bengaluru has given him the appetite to build, to push boundaries, and the hunger to drive forward with purpose. “This city isn’t just a backdrop; it's a breeding ground for ambition and audacity. This challenge is for the thinkers, the doers, and everyone in between who believes they can shape the city for the better,” he said.

Chief executive officer and cofounder of UnboxingBLR, Malini Goyal, expressed that the Namma Bengaluru Challenge is a way to give back to the city that has deeply influenced and inspired them. "This challenge is about encouraging ground breaking solutions that will have lasting benefits for our communities, and we’re eager to see the ideas that emerge,” she said.

To apply for the challenge participants should fill out a form on UnboxingBLR’s official website and submit a short video introducing themselves and their solutions. Shortlisted applicants candidates will be invited for virtual interviews, and the top 5 selected applicants will receive grants of Rs 10 lakhs each and a chance to present their ideas at the Futures Conference at BLR Hubba, the city-wide annual cultural festival happening between 30th November and 15th December 2024.