Startup headlines are often dominated by funding announcements, investment rounds and valuation milestones. Yet many brands continue to build successful businesses through persistence, careful resource management and a willingness to grow on their own terms.At the inaugural edition of the One of a Kind Awards - for early stage startups, presented by The Economic Times and Cashfree Payments, these journeys were recognised through the Bootstrapped Champion Award category. The honour was presented at the grand reveal and felicitation ceremony held on August 21, 2026, at Novotel,Bengaluru.The event brought together founders, investors, entrepreneurs and ecosystem leaders to celebrate the inaugural 2026 cohort of Indian internet-first startups. The awards are at the heart of an initiative to identify companies demonstrating strong early evidence of ambition, original execution and the potential to create durable value.In the Bootstrapped Champion category, Nesta Toys was named the winner, followed by THE TAN CLAN as the first runner-up and HITESH ENVIRO ENGINEERS PRIVATE LIMITED as the second runner-up.Building without a large capital cushionNesta Toys was recognised for addressing the need for safe, screen-free and development-focused play products for children. The IIM-alumni-led company offers educational wooden toys for children aged between 0 and 14, using open-ended, research-informed designs and non-toxic materials to encourage creativity and early learning.THE TAN CLAN was recognised for building a handcrafted accessories brand rooted in Indian artistry. Its potli bags, clutches and other products combine traditional beadwork, embroidery and fabric craftsmanship with contemporary designs for weddings, festive occasions and modern everyday use.HITESH ENVIRO ENGINEERS PRIVATE LIMITED was recognised for developing engineering solutions for water and wastewater treatment. The Delhi-NCR-based company designs and manufactures sewage and effluent treatment plants, industrial reverse-osmosis systems, membrane bioreactor and zero-liquid-discharge solutions, along with automation and monitoring systems.Celebrating growth through resourcefulnessFor bootstrapped companies, growth is often closely tied to customer value. Revenue, repeat usage and profitability can become important sources of validation, while unnecessary spending can place the business under immediate pressure.It requires brands to manage risk differently, through sharper prioritisation, operational efficiency and a close understanding of what customers are willing to pay for.In practice, bootstrapping can offer founders greater control over decision-making and the pace of expansion. It can also impose difficult constraints. Companies must balance ambition with cash-flow realities, prioritise carefully and find ways to generate momentum without the cushion of large fundraising rounds.The Bootstrapped Champion Award honours startups that have achieved significant traction while remaining largely self-funded.When recognition comes with credibilityThe winners were identified through a transparent process involving application screening, strategic evaluation by internal research experts and final presentations before a jury of industry architects.Applications were accepted from April 13 to May 31, 2026. Strategic evaluation ran from May 29 to June 19, and shortlisted companies presented their business models to the final jury on June 30.The jury included Animesh Kumar Das, MD undefined Vikram Chachra, venture capitalist, 8i Ventures; Saurabh Garg, entrepreneur, founder and CBO, NoBroker.com; Kanika Agarrwal, partner, India Quotient; and Dr. Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub - Govt. of India.Compounding support over timeFor winners and runners-up, the One of a Kind Awards - for early stage startups initiative creates an ecosystem of continued support designed to help early-stage companies strengthen visibility, access and execution. National feature stories and brand spotlights across ET and Cashfree digital platforms can help brands reach customers, partners, talent and investors beyond their immediate networks.The benefits include national exposure through feature stories and brand spotlights across The Economic Times and Cashfree digital platforms, as well as access to a network of investors, founders and builders through the Awards Night ecosystem.Winners also gain access to Cashfree Payments’ infrastructure, including exclusive credits that support brands in their growth journey with advanced payment solutions for internet-first businesses. This support can help companies manage and expand essential functions such as payment collection, settlements, international payments and identity verification as their operations develop.Why the awards matterMany promising startups remain under-recognised because they grow outside the funding-driven spotlight. The One of a Kind Awards - for early stage startups seeks to correct that imbalance by identifying companies whose quality is visible in their customers, operations and business models, even when their journeys have not been defined by large capital raises.Presented by The Economic Times and Cashfree Payments, the initiative provides early-stage companies with recognition at a point when it can still influence their trajectory. It helps close the gap between building quietly and being seen widely, while connecting founders to resources that can support their next phase.