Important Information Regarding Bhasha Setu Challeges.

All startups registered for the Challenge are requested to update their details in the profile section, as new fields have been added. Startups that have not submitted their MVC and other required details are also requested to update their information and upload the necessary documents using the following link: Wavex Challange. All details must be submitted by 9th August 2025, as evaluations will begin on 10th August 2025.

WAVEX Startup Challenge 2025

"BhashaSetu – Real-Time Language Tech for Bharat"

(AI-Powered Translation, Transliteration & Voice Localization for Government Communication)

Problem Statement

Develop a cutting-edge, real-time AI solution for translation, transliteration, and voice localization across at least 12 major Indian languages—enabling inclusive, emotionally resonant, and context-aware communication for:

  1. Official government systems
  2. Public media broadcasts
  3. Press releases and digital outreach platforms

The end solution must empower platforms like Press Information Bureau (PIB), Doordarshan (DD), and All India Radio (AIR) with multilingual content delivery in real-time across text, audio, and video formats.

Challenge Brief

The AI-based system should include:

  1. Real-time translation in text, speech, and video formats (≥12 languages).
  2. Emotionally intelligent transliteration that preserves tone, sentiment, and contextual meaning.
  3. Seamless voice localization with life-like voices adaptable to local dialects.
  4. Scalable architecture suitable for nationwide rollout and integration-ready APIs for AIR/DD/PIB.

Prototype-to-Production Outcome Expectations (Desirable but not mandatory)

  1. Accuracy: ≥ 98% (text BLEU or equivalent metrics) for public communication data.
  2. Latency: ≤ 1s for 100-word text and ≤ 2s for 30s video/audio.
  3. Output Formats: Real-time capability for subtitles, voice overlays, and multilingual PDFs, API based data sharing
  4. Scalability: Must be suitable for national and state-level rollout across platforms.

Technical & Submission Requirements

Mandatory Features

Category Specification
Language Support Minimum 12 Indian languages
AI Models Use of open-source or low-cost AI engines (e.g., OpenNMT, Marian, Whisper, XLS-R, NeMo) preferred (not mandatory); proprietary APIs allowed if cost-effective
Architecture REST API or modular microservices; JSON-based output with timestamps (preferred but not mandatory, startups can use any suitable architecture)
Translation Efficiency Provide measured time and space complexity, latency, throughput
Integration Capability Demonstrate ability to connect with AIR/DD/PIB systems using standard interfaces

Minimum Viable Concept (MVC) Demo

Submit a 7-minute video showing:

  1. Live demo: Translate a real PIB press release (from PIB site) into at least 2 Indian languages, with subtitle/video or speech.
  2. Metrics display: Show latency, translation cost, space & time complexity during the demo.
  3. Architecture overview: Briefly walk through your stack, language engine, pipeline, and API.
  4. Optional: Performance on speech-to-text, dialect sensitivity, or voice cloning.

Startup Submission Package (shared via Google Drive or public link)

File Description
01_MVC_Demo_{startup_name}.mp4 Demo video as per above specs
02_Tech_Deck_{startup_name}.pdf Architecture, models used, optimizations, cost-efficiency
03_Cost_Sheet_{startup_name}.xlsx Translation cost breakdown (₹/1000 words, ₹/min audio, infra licensing etc.)
04_Team_Profile_{startup_name}.pdf Startup team bios, GitHub/LinkedIn links, past experience
05_Roadmap_{startup_name}.pdf 6-month go-to-production plan with milestones
Optional_{startup_name}.zip GitHub repo link, extra demo clips, benchmarking logs

Upload all files to Google Drive / GitHub / Dropbox and share a public view-only link while submitting on https://wavex.wavesbazaar.com

Challenge Timeline (60 Days)

  1. Registration Opens: 30th June 2025
  2. Final Submission of POC: 30th July 2025
  3. Evaluation and Final Rounds: To be announced

Preliminary Startup Scoring Rubric (Total: 100 Points)

Criterion Description Max Score
Technical Competence Accuracy, real-time capability, NLP/AI model choice, completeness of the prototype, multilingual performance 25
Scalability & Integration Readiness Ability to scale across languages, formats (text, speech, video), and platforms (AIR, DD, PIB); modularity and API support 20
Cost-Effectiveness Estimated cost per 100 words translated (lower is better); reliance on open-source or sustainable services 20
Innovation & Uniqueness Novelty of the approach, creative use of tech, or original thinking beyond existing solutions 15
Team Capability & Background Experience, prior projects, domain expertise in AI/ML/NLP/govtech, and ability to execute 5
Clarity of Proposal & Demo Quality of pitch/demo; clarity of objectives, milestones, deliverables, and expected impact 5
Feasibility & Time to Pilot Readiness for pilot testing; TRL (Technology Readiness Level); potential to meet delivery timelines 5
Policy/Compliance Awareness Data localization, ethics, openness to compliance with government integration protocols 5

Based on the above the final selected 5 teams will be called to Delhi for showcasing of their final

Final Jury Evaluation (100 Points)

Criterion Max Score
Real-Time Demo & Functional Accuracy 25
Multilingual Capability & Contextual Nuance 20
Scalability, API Readiness, & Architecture 15
Operational Cost Metrics 15
Innovation (Emotion Detection, Dialect Handling) 10
Clarity of Documentation & Pitch 5
Jury Q&A Performance 15

Prize & Outcome

  1. One selected startup will receive a formal MoU to develop the full solution under WAVEX & Ministry supervision.
  2. Support for pilot integration with AIR, DD, PIB
  3. Showcase at national media & innovation forums.
  4. Incubation opportunity under WaveX and space till development of the final product.

Application Information

Application Method: Register on the WAVEX portal and select the "BhashaSetu – Real-Time Language Tech for Bharat" challenge:

Submission Deadline: July 30th, 2025, 23:59 IST

Incomplete entries/ non-accesible shared links will be summarly rejected. This is the last opportunity to revise/submit the required MVC and details. For queries please reach out to whatsapp/whatsapp call. 1) 8860001444 < waves team>,

For any assistance, please contact: