The Economic Times Startup Awards 2025 recognized Nawgati, a fuel-tech startup, with the "Best on Campus" award, highlighting the growing trend of innovative startups emerging from university environments. This year's awards suggest that India's next unicorns may very well be conceived in classrooms rather than traditional boardrooms.
Nawgati, incubated at Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, stood out for its sharply defined problem statement, strong potential for scalability, and ability to create a meaningful impact in a traditionally run sector. The company edged out other contenders in the "Best on Campus" category, including beauty-tech startup Try My Style, AI-driven learning app Stimuler, industrial safety and surveillance company Bidaal, and biotech research firm ISMO Bio-photonics.
Founded in 2019 by Vaibhav Kaushik, Aalaap Nair, and Aryan Sisodia, Nawgati addresses the persistent problem of congestion at fuel stations. Kaushik's experiences with Ola and Uber rides exposed him to the long waiting times at CNG stations, inspiring him and his co-founders to develop a tech-driven solution. Their platform, Aaveg, helps drivers save time and money by providing real-time information on fuel station congestion. Nawgati's services currently cover over 1,000 fuel outlets and two million consumers.
"When we started, it was just an idea we believed in. This recognition validates the sleepless nights, the risks, and the perseverance it took to build from scratch. More importantly, it shines a light on our larger vision driving change in a traditionally run sector," said Kaushik, cofounder and CEO of Nawgati.
Nawgati's innovative approach includes a B2B platform, Aaveg, that offers congestion monitoring for fuel stations, and a consumer app that provides easy navigation for customers. The Aaveg platform allows fuel station operators to monitor real-time congestion, manage compliance, and improve overall operations. The Nawgati app helps consumers, particularly cab drivers, locate the least crowded fuel stations in real-time, optimizing routes and saving fuel.
The company's success has attracted significant investment. In May 2025, Nawgati raised $2.5 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by angel investor Ajay Upadhyaya, with participation from others. This funding is being used to enhance fleet management solutions and expand operations both domestically and internationally. Nawgati also secured ₹1 crore from GAIL's Pankh initiative in 2024 and an undisclosed sum in a seed round led by All in Capital in 2023.
Nawgati has partnered with the Seed Group to transform the UAE's fuel retail ecosystem and was selected for Google's elite App Innovation Cohort. The startup has also partnered with the All India Petroleum Dealers Association.
The Economic Times Startup Awards 2025 recognized other notable winners, including Urban Company (Startup of the Year), Chakr Innovation (Social Enterprise), and Minfy Technologies (Bootstrap Champ). Ashish Agrawal of Peak XV Partners was named Midas Touch, while Prukalpa Sankar of Atlan was recognized as Woman Ahead.
Nawgati's journey exemplifies the increasing role of university incubators in fostering successful startups. By addressing real-world problems with innovative, tech-driven solutions, these startups are not only disrupting traditional industries but also paving the way for India's next generation of unicorns.
