India is now the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world with over 61,400 startups recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). In the same survey, it is reported that each of the 555 districts in India produced at least one new startup. Whilst the startup scene is undoubtedly vibrant, this also goes to say that competition is rife. Starting up is half the battle, and it requires more than grit to survive and thrive. Coming in to assist startups are incubators and accelerators, equipping entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and networks they need to compete in such a crowded market.
In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of all incubator and accelerator programs in India, along with a short overview of their programs so you can decide which ones are most suitable for you. The incubators and accelerators in this list have been subdivided into applicability for startups in their 'ideation', 'launch', or 'growth' stages.
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STARTUP INCUBATOR AND AN ACCELERATOR?
While many people understood startup accelerators and incubators as one and the same, there are actually several key differences between them.
An incubator's main purpose is to create an optimal environment for startups in their early ages to grow and flourish. Incubators support the development of ventures from mere ideas into functional prototypes, minimum viable products, and foundational business plans. This ideation process takes an indefinite amount of time, so incubator programs tend to be open-ended with no set timeframe. Incubatees may even stay up to years within an incubator.
A common yet unique offering of incubators is also the shared coworking space that houses other yet-to-be-launched businesses. In this space, entrepreneurs may brainstorm with other founders and participate in mentoring and workshop programs to flesh out the details of their businesses. As such, incubators are most suitable for young businesses still at the ideation stage who are developing their primary vision, business plan, and technological capabilities.
Unlike incubators, an accelerator's objective is not to build a long-term business environment, but to get your company up and running quickly and accelerate your growth. Accelerators work on a predefined timeline and offer intensive learning, structured guidance, and mentorship to condense years' worth of learning by doing it into a short period of time, usually within weeks. This implies a large focus on metrics and results; startups must demonstrate their ability in setting and meeting predetermined growth objectives at the end of the program. To help achieve this, funding is usually offered by the accelerators to help startups kickstart their growth, requiring a larger amount of equity in exchange.
Another benefit of startup accelerators is also access to their wider network of investors, venture capitalists, angel investors, and corporate partners. With that being said, startup accelerators have a stricter and more competitive application procedure. In order to apply, a common prerequisite is for startups to have an MVP or can demonstrate some initial traction. As such, accelerators are most suitable for startups that can already demonstrate a high-growth potential and are ready to launch, commercialize, and expand nationally and internationally.
In the end, whether you join an incubator or accelerator depends on what you want to achieve and the terms you'd like to receive. Think about the goals, priorities, and needs of your startup right now, and you should be able to find an incubator and accelerator that can help you sort it out.
FULL LIST OF STARTUP INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS IN INDIA
Ideation Stage Startup Incubators in India
Full list of ideation-stage startup incubators in India:
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Communication Technology
Duration: -
MICA Incubator is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship in the communication sector, providing services to foster, nurture, and commercialize ideas and innovations that can alter the industry. Ventures in the domain of strategic marketing and communications can receive technical, financial, infrastructural, physical, and intellectual assistance in converting their ideas into technology-based firms.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Healthcare, AgriTech & Herbals, Industrial Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, HealthTech and MedTech, Bio-Services, Bio-economy, Technology and Engineering
Duration: 6 months - 3 years
The Technology Incubation and Entrepreneurship Development Society (TIEDS) was founded to foster regional innovation through its incubator at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. They create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and provide physical, technical, financial, and networking support to facilitate, train, and assist in idea development and other activities. Startups can also benefit from access to financing schemes and the ecosystem of angel and institutional investors, industry experts, mentors, and other entrepreneurship-focused institutions.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Duration: -
Taking the position as soldiers of the team, and not the army generals, thinQbate is an incubator that is dedicated to empowering you and your startup's success. The 6,000 sq. ft. cutting-edge incubation space is outfitted with physical, digital, and human infrastructure to fulfill any of your needs. The bustling community is filled with like-minded people who have banded together to support your growth through knowledge exchange and skill-sharing. Beyond capital, they add value to your company by assisting you in all areas of your business - providing a specialized in-house staff spanning legal, tax, compliance, content, and communication.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic (Healthcare & Pharma, Information Technology, Manufacturing & Engineering, Other Areas of Social and National Importance)
Duration: 6 months
AIC-NMIMS is the incubator of Atal Incubation Centre at NMIMS university located in Mumbai. The center features world-class infrastructure and resources, equipped with a complete set of technical lab facilities such as a tissue culture lab, molecular biology lab, robotics lab, and more. They also provide incubated entrepreneurship education, business consultation and advisory, recruitment assistance, legal advice, marketing consultations, and mentoring. Though the incubator is sector agnostic at large, considering the high-quality R&D infrastructure and expert faculty in specific areas, they are specialized in the particular sectors listed above. To date, they have incubated 132 startups.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sustainable Inputs, Precision or Smart Farming, Innovative Food Technology, Supply Chain Technology, Post-Harvest Technology, Farm Mechanization, Farm Fresh Retail, Agri-Biotech, Urban/Vertical Farming, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Agri-Fintech, ICT &IoT in Agriculture, Soil, Water & Weather Tech
Duration: -
a-IDEA (Association for Innovation Development of Entrepreneurship in Agriculture) is an award-winning technology business incubator sponsored by ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad (ICAR-NAARM) and financed by the Government of India's NSTEDB, DST, BIRAC, and DBT. Since their establishment in 2014, they have assisted over 2,800 startups and incubated over 310 startups in the agricultural and allied sectors. The incubator is planning to add an additional 11,000 sq.ft. to the existing capacity of 14,000 sq.ft to support agricultural startups and accommodate ideation, incubation, and acceleration programs.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 1 year
SR Innovation Exchange, otherwise known as SRiX, is the technology business incubator at SR University, Telangana. SRiX works with entrepreneurs at the crossroads of technology and industry, fostering ideas and technological innovations from conception to completion.
To convert outstanding ideas into profitable hardware and software solutions, SRiX emphasizes design, engineering, fast prototyping, early user involvement, and seed funding requirements. They provide the resources, mentors, and connections to worldwide partners and investors startups need to succeed.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sector Programs
Duration: -
GINSERV is a technology business incubator that provides the ideal environment for tech startups to incubate and accelerate their vision. From ideation to launch, they offer thoughtfully designed programs for every aspect of your startup. Fostering an enabling environment, their expansive campus allows for ideas to be shared, innovation to be encouraged, and entrepreneurs to thrive. They are known in India for their carefully constructed ecosystem and deep resource pools of partners, including subject matter experts and mentors, investors, and market connections.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sector Programs
Duration: -
CIIE, standing for 'Capital, Incubation, Insights, Everything', is an innovation continuum that provides incubation, acceleration, finance, and insights to support bold entrepreneurs developing revolutionary solutions. They are established at IIM Ahmedabad as a Centre of Excellence with support from the Government of India's Department of Science and Technology and the Government of Gujarat. They support the development of startups at the perilous earliest stages through the provision of cutting-edge infrastructure, training programs, personalized coaching, learning resources, and access to funding and networks of collaborators and partners.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sector Programs
Duration: 3-12 months
Startup Oasis is part of CIIE.CO, an incubator and fund set up at IIM Ahemdabad, India's leading entrepreneurship center. They specialize in identifying, incubating, accelerating, and financing businesses and social enterprises in lesser-known, tier 2, and tier 3 cities. They motivate startups to solve regional challenges through scalable solutions and assist them in developing sustainable business models. They offer programs for various entrepreneurs that are open throughout the year: Rajasthan entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, technology entrepreneurs, social impact entrepreneurs, craft entrepreneurs, and student entrepreneurs.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: New Food Proteins, Next Generation Materials, Non-Animal Testing
Duration: 6 months
As the name suggests, The Humane Entrepreneurs' mission is to foster innovation for a kinder and more humane future. It is an intensive virtual mentorship program for firms that are improving our world's future through humane means within production and consumption. From what we wear to what we eat, they will assist firms in developing more sustainable alternatives and making a positive impact. The curriculum will help entrepreneurs in developing more empathetic, multistakeholder-centric, and creative business solutions by utilizing the human-centered design framework.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: NGO, Social Impact
Duration: 9 months
For UnLtd India, making a social impact is an art form, and they are the canvas for founders to cultivate ideas for social change. In their incubation program, early-stage entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to maximize their leadership potential and accelerate the growth of their organizations. The program is divided into three stages: Test to pilot the idea, Build to expand the idea, and Grow to scale the idea. Since each concept is unique and each entrepreneur is on a distinct growth trajectory, the program will be personalized to each company.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Science and Technology
Duration: -
Founded in 1986, TREC-STEP is one of the country's first Science and Technology Entrepreneur Parks, supported by the Government of India and a number of national and international development agencies. They have undertaken multiple developmental initiatives and provided access to individuals from all walks of life. They offer a comprehensive incubation support package including funding, infrastructure, and internationalization strategy for early-stage innovative ideas to successfully launch, commercialize, and grow their ideas.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Duration: 14 weeks - 1 year
Young businesses are more susceptible during their early years, and many startups die before they can grow to become worldwide organizations. PadUp Ventures program is created to help educate entrepreneurs and ensure their survival and success. PadUp's Validate, Incubate, and Accelerate program transforms entrepreneurs via a thorough, well-designed, and disciplined teaching, mentoring, and monitoring process led by mentors who are experienced in the process. At the heart of the program are fundamental teachings such as the user-centric approach, the lean startup mindset, learning while doing, and models for developing new solutions to existing, emerging, and future challenges.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder, Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Duration: 2 years
With a mission to encourage 'Innovation by EveryONE', Lemon Ideas has emerged as an enabling environment for the development, nurture, and growth of entrepreneurial ventures. Lemon Ideas work with startups and founders with a focus on education, technology, and sustainable living. They assist ventures in customer acquisition, expansion, commercialization, and investment readiness through acceleration and mentorship programs. They also offer various initiatives such as the Lemon Entrepreneurship School and the Innopreneurs Startup Contest as a platform for learning, founding, and growing aspiring entrepreneurs and their ideas.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Duration: -
3iZone is an open innovation ecosystem built around technologies, industries, and collaborations. Knowing the difficulty in starting and building a business, they provide professional facilities to alleviate the most common and significant challenges that a venture may face. Their incubation program helps startups identify fresh concepts, assemble founding teams, and build businesses based on data. They also facilitate partnerships and establish credibility to help businesses speed up their growth and achieve strong financials.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 18 months
SIIC IIT is a comprehensive platform for innovators at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Founded in 2000, the SIIC incubator has helped numerous founders and ideas emerge as viable startups and businesses. They have a wide pool of interdisciplinary and experienced academics, entrepreneurs, mentors, and team members that will assist you in bridging the gap between your concept and vision. Their program is highly-personalized to your firm and is most suitable for startups willing to incubate through equity-sharing.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 3 - 12 months
If you want a change of pace and a serene environment to build your business sound like a good idea, then IIT Mandi Catalyst is a great place to be. One of a kind, the incubator space is built around the hills and provides an affordable, quiet, yet high-tech environment for early-stage entrepreneurs to flourish. They work with entrepreneurs who are tackling global problems, particularly with Himalayan enterprises and social impact businesses. They'll help you through the ideation and product development phases, providing technical mentoring and infrastructure to build your product and get your business plan right.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology, Mobile Payments and Banking, Aadhaar Applications, Machine Learning and Data Analytics, Retail Efficiency
Duration: -
Khosla Labs is a business incubator and innovation lab focusing on large-scale challenges that may be solved with technology and entrepreneurial fervor. They assist entrepreneurs in all processes from conceptualization, prototyping, validation, and launch. Founders may come up with various ideas to test, and the in-house design and technology teams will help prototype, field-test, and gather input and market validation. Sponsored by Khosla Ventures, projects may receive seed funding depending on their traction and business plan.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology, Social Impact
Duration: -
With over 13 years of experience in the field, CIE at IIT Hyderabad has incubated over 100 tech startups and amassed numerous experiences in seeding, fostering, and expanding deep tech firms in various emerging sectors. They amplify technology and intellectual property through research-led innovation and collaboration with the greatest minds at the IIITH research centers. They provide unparalleled access to cutting-edge infrastructure and services, as well as programs and funding to bring ground-breaking ideas in the realm of technology to life.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology, Biology, Hardware, Software
Duration: 4 months
Riidl stands for 'Research, Innovation, Incubation, Design, Laboratories'. In short, they are the go-to place to build your startup. Fully fitted with laboratories such as FabLab, SmacLab, and BioLab, this technology business incubator will assist you in developing your product from concept to launch. You can make use of their resources and variety of services such as training, mentoring, consulting, and investment options to meet your needs. To note, some services are only available during the incubation stage, while others are available until the firm receives Series A investment. Riidl also charges 4% to 6% equity for services provided to entrepreneurs.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology, Multiple Sector Programs
Duration: -
Forge Forward is an open innovation ecosystem where public and private actors can come together and collaborate to solve real global challenges. By allowing the government and industry to interact and partner with startups, they make open innovation a reality. They help startups catalyze national-scale changes with support through grants, seed funding, laboratory access, knowledge resources, capacity-building programs, and worldwide partner networks.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 3 years
Amity Innovation Incubator is a registered not-for-profit incubator backed by an advisory body comprised of industrialists, venture capitalists, technical specialists, and managers. They are the pioneering initiative amongst Indian universities, earning themselves accolades for being at the forefront of the innovation curve. They assist entrepreneurs in establishing their businesses by providing infrastructure, business advisory, mentoring, and financing. They also offer a variety of incubation services to help entrepreneurs grow, including business development, company formation, legal and intellectual property assistance, managerial assistance, and technological support.
Launch Stage Startup Incubators and Accelerators in India
Full list of launch stage startup incubators and accelerators in India:
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sector Programs
Duration: 1-5 years
Established in 2004, The Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) is one of the first academic incubators in the country as an umbrella organization of IIT Bombay. To promote the development of digital startups, it offers incubation support, funding, and accelerator programs in collaboration with corporations. The incubator supports the 'start-to-scale' journey for a broad spectrum of startups and assists in the transformation of research efforts into entrepreneurial businesses.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Duration: 14 weeks
AspireLabs Accelerator is a coworking space in Delhi that offers a startup accelerator program to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. Their variety of tailored initiatives is offered to startups at various sectors and stages. They have close ties with the Centre for Innovation, Incubation, and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), IIM Ahmedabad, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, as well as other partners within the Indian startup ecosystem.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: -
Amrita TBI is a non-profit startup incubator that is funded, mentored, and nurtured by the Government of India and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. With the goal of assisting entrepreneurs to scale domestically and worldwide, they offer world-class incubation and acceleration programs for early and growth-stage startups. They are stationed in 3 locations across India: Bengaluru, Kollam, and Coimbatore. To date, they have achieved a track record of 500 mentored startups, 208 incubated startups, and 69 filed patents.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Automobile and Mobility
Duration: 4 months
Maruti Suzuki MAIL is a startup accelerator initiative by Maruti Suzuki, India's leading automobile brand. Its objective is to create a platform for technology startups introducing new digital breakthroughs in the mobility and automobile sector. They seek technology-driven, customer-focused, and futuristic digital solutions to bring the best to Indian roads. Aside from funding and incubation support, startups gain the opportunity to engage on a paid project with Maruti Suzuki and the prospect of going to market jointly.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Deep Tech, B2B/B2B2C
Duration: 6 months
Organized by Cisco, a multinational digital communications technology conglomerate, the Cisco Launchpad is the accelerator program for tech and technology-enabled B2B/B2B2C startups. Startups will be coached by Cisco executives and outside specialists, including CTOs/CIOs of startups, industry experts, investors, and VCs. The program covers major technological areas such as security, IoT, analytics, cloud, machine learning/deep learning/natural language processing, visualization/UX, virtual reality, smart things, and more. Startups may also utilize Cisco's industry-leading technology platforms in Wireless/Mobility, IoT, Collaboration, Security, Networking, and Cloud.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: FinTech
Duration: -
Rainmatter is a startup fund and incubator initiative by Zerodha, an online stock trading platform. They provide fully-facilitated workspaces, training, and up to $1 million capital for creative Indian Fintech startups. They will assist startups in product development through mentoring and access to their network of direct industry connections, as well as assist in market validation with over 5 million clients at their disposal.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Healthcare
Duration: 3 - 24 months
DERBI Foundation's flagship pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration programs, namely Pace, Gallop, and Emerge programs are designed for health startups at multiple stages. From early to late-stage startups, they will assist teams with stage-appropriate activities for idea validation, go-to-market, to scale-up. This includes support in areas such as technology development, clinical/regulatory pathways, and investor/market connections.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Healthcare
Duration: 4 months
To foster 'healthcare entrepreneurship' in India, Healthstart was established as the country's first dedicated accelerator program for the healthcare sector. With the motto to "Reimagine Healthcare", they provide early-stage healthcare startups with a rare opportunity to receive funding, mentoring, and access to a worldwide network of operators, investors, and companies.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: IoT, CleanTech and Renewables, Nano Technology, Visual Computing, Logistics and Supply Chain
Duration: 4 months
Brigade Reap is an accelerator program that is designed to help startups become investment-ready. With a highly structured program, the accelerator covers all the essential aspects to build a scalable and sustainable venture. Founders will work with mentors from various backgrounds and be supported by expert teams within Brigade Reap's five dedicated workspaces in Bangalore. They will also provide businesses with access to customers, whether it's for market research, test bed, or pilot. In return for their services, Brigade Reap will require equity ranging from 2% to 5%.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sector Programs
Duration: -
Since 2013, Zone Startups India has been one of India's premier incubators and accelerators. They have incubated 127 startups, accelerated 414 startups, and established a large network of mentors, corporations, and investors since their founding. Their support is available to startups at every stage, providing 360-degree assistance including infrastructure, business, finance, network, and market access.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: RetailTech, New Energy, FinTech, HealthTech/MedTech, Blockchain, IoT, EdTech, Apps for Jio Platforms
Duration: -
JioGenNext is a startup accelerator that is supported by Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, otherwise known as Jio, an Indian telecommunications company. Their primary MAP program, short for Market Access Program, is intended for startups with an MVP or early customers to launch their startups in the Jio ecosystem. They will work with entrepreneurs to develop relationships with key stakeholders in the group through mentoring and pitch deck preparation. Best of all, the program does not require any equity or payment.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: SaaS
Duration: 6 months
Amplifi Asia is a dedicated accelerator for Enterprise IT and high-end B2C tech-centric firms. Acting as your guiding light, they take a hands-on approach to guide founders with a laser-like focus on execution, results, and revenue. Over the course of the program, startups can benefit from 1-on-1 networking opportunities with target customers and introductions to warm customers and investors. Selected companies may also receive funding of $50,000 for their operations.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Duration: 3 months
BW Accelerator is a robust sector-agnostic accelerator program designed to boost startups at all stages. The program's key feature is a tailored action plan with a comprehensive focus on three core factors necessary for a growth-oriented business: mentor, market, and money. Based on hundreds of hours of experience and information, the program will show you the path to progress and provide ongoing assistance needed for development and scalability.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Duration: -
With 7 years of experience working with 50 firms, UIncept has an extended experience in building and advancing startups. They put their learnings to use in their program that will help you to navigate challenges commonly faced by startups in their early and later stages. Soon after the program begins, an analysis will be conducted to put the startups into two categories based on their size and rate of growth: reaching MVP and MVP+. Afterward, startups in each category will be assisted in conducting stage-appropriate activities through focused mentor involvement, business model and revenue stream improvement, and financing.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Social Enterprises, Multiple Sector Programs
Duration: 3-6 months
Founded in 2001, Villgro is one of the oldest and most pioneering social entrepreneurship incubators in India. For two decades, they have incubated over 340 social companies and assisted them in validating their ideas, gaining unique market insights, and developing long-term market channels. To them, innovation and market-based methods are effective ways to tackle social problems and create social impact on a large scale. As such, they seek entrepreneurs who are creating solutions targeting underserved populations using influential and lucrative technological innovations.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sustainability Analytics and IoT Applications, Energy Management Solutions, Demand Response Management, Eco-tourism, Alternative Transportation, Green Construction Materials and Products, Off-grid Electrification, ESCOs for SMEs, Process Change Solutions driven by Green Chemistry or Bio-mimicry
Duration: -
Are you thinking of starting a business in the field of sustainability? If so, the Innovation Capital Accelerator by cKinetics is for you. cKinetics is a mission-driven Sustainability Insight, Innovation, and Capital Advisory Firm. The cKinetics Accelerator is aimed at innovative, sustainable companies that are changing the future of resource conservation. They will invest in early-stage startups, provide in-person incubation assistance, and collaborate with founders to refine ideas and perform market validation.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 3 months
Google for Startups India is an accelerator program that offers the best of Google's programs, products, people, and technology to early and growth-stage Indian tech startups. Selected startups will receive technical project support from Google's experts in AI/ML, Cloud, UX, Android, Web, Product Strategy, and Growth to tackle specific challenges in their businesses. Aside from technical assistance, the program also provides customized mentoring, training, deep dives, and seminars focused on product creation, customer acquisition, and leadership.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 6 months
JITO JIFF is a startup ecosystem by The Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO), a global organization dedicated to promoting socioeconomic empowerment. Within the ecosystem, the JITO Incubation Centre is a collaborative initiative intended to assist fledgling businesses. As part of the program, startups will be mentored by key industry professionals and receive support services to scale and succeed. Teams will also gain access to the workplace in the JIIF Coworking space and funding via angel investors and investor connect programs.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 9 months
Established in 2013, the 10,000 Startups is an initiative by NASSCOM, The National Association of Software and Service Companies, with the goal to incubate, finance, and support 10,000 technology businesses in India. Since their founding, they have impacted over 8,600 startups through numerous events, programs, and startup-corporate connections. Their flagship programs are the incubator, industry partnership program, and global acceleration program targeted at startups at various stages and sectors.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 6 months
GHV Accelerator stands for Green House Ventures Accelerator, a program designed to bridge startups from incubation to Series A. Much like a greenhouse, they provide a regulated environment and required resources to boost the growth of startups, allowing them to develop multifold in a faster time period. The accelerator program is most suitable for startups that are post-incubation and pre-VC, as they will provide support and advisory for market research, networking and fundraising, and go-to-market strategy.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 1 year
IIMK LIVE incubator was established in 2016 by IIM Kozhikode with support from the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India. The program assists early-stage startups with proof-of-concept or prototypes to validate their business models, commercialize, and establish product-market fit; with the expected output for startups to gain revenue or receive investments. As an on-campus incubator, it stands to benefit greatly from IIM Kozhikode's teachers, students, research and knowledge base, alumni, institutional networks, and other resources.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology, Multiple Sector Programs
Duration: -
Social Alpha is an incubator with the mission to guide social entrepreneurs and innovators on their journey from lab to market. They support startups that are building compelling solutions to address poverty and other developmental difficulties in India. Through a three-tier ecosystem architecture, they provide startups with links to resources, financial and operational assistance, technical expertise, and investments.
Growth Stage Startup Accelerators in India
Full list of growth-stage startup accelerators in India:
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sector Programs
Duration: -
Backed by the Government of India's Department of Science and Technology, DLabs is a world-class incubator infrastructure that promotes innovation and entrepreneurship. Located in The Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad campus, the space provides a vibrant shared work environment within a healthy startup ecosystem. Through the program, ISB offers a variety of services, programs, financial opportunities, and access to the ISB network of students, alumni, entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors to promote entrepreneurial endeavors. To date, they have organized more than 12 theme-based accelerator programs with a total of 124 graduated startups.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sector Programs
Duration: -
The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is the state government's initiative for supporting entrepreneurship in the area. Serving to promote the state's startup environment, they offer various schemes and assistance programs coupled with 10 Lakh sq.ft. world-class infrastructure to assist businesses in their entrepreneurial journey. Since 2006, the space has provided assistance in the development of various high-end technology-based startups. Today, the organization has collaborations with other incubators, government schemes, and sector-specific partners to offer comprehensive support to businesses at various life cycle stages.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Science and Technology
Duration: -
Venture Center is a recognized incubator of the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board of the Department of Science and Technology in India. It is an award-winning science and technology incubator that works with early and later-stage startups to develop game-changing, first-of-their-kind technological advancements. Their ecosystem includes state-of-the-art infrastructure such as laboratory spaces, as well as resource centers such as a technology transfer hub, regulatory information facilitation center, and an ISO-certified Medtech clean room. They also provide finance, mentoring, and access to subject matter experts.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Duration: -
Referring to themselves as "Startup Developers", Venture Catalysts is India's first integrated incubator that assists entrepreneurs from the start to the finish line. Whether you're still starting out or are in the middle of growing, they will assist you in building great businesses. Bringing together all the essential aspects of startup building, they provide the necessary combination of funding, knowledge, and network to help you succeed.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Duration: 4 months
Growing a startup is not easy; it relies on multiple factors such as access to funding, strategic alliances, client exposure, mentor coaching, and others. India Accelerator is created for this purpose. They strive to provide all the key resources a startup needs to progress through the early stages of growth. The program helps and guides entrepreneurs through the process of operationally expanding their businesses while building meaningful relationships with strategic partners, mentors, and investors.
Who is it for: Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: EdTech Healthcare FinTech AgriTech Industry 4.0
Duration: -
The GAIN is a not-for-profit accelerator that is targeted at early-stage startups aiming towards the growth stage. Powered by VC platform StartupXSeed, The GAIN leverages its mentor and VC connections to help accelerate the startup's growth. Their main USP is to assist businesses in achieving global market access and cross-border business collaborations by connecting them with partner networks in over 13 countries.
Who is it for: Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Duration: 4 months
Target Accelerator India is the accelerator initiative of Target Corporation, a department store chain from the United States. Utilizing their vast retail experience, they aim to collaborate with startups to accelerate the creation and commercialization of brands. They seek for disruptive and technology-driven ideas to offer solutions for India's quickly changing retail market. The program will assist entrepreneurs in developing, testing, and scaling their ideas within the Indian ecosystem.
Closing Thoughts on Startup Incubators and Accelerators in India
As listed above, there are plenty of incubators and accelerators you can approach within the Indian startup ecosystem. Many of them offer both incubation and acceleration services as well as various other programs for startups at different growth stages. As each startup is unique, you might require a different type of support. When making your choice, make sure to research the exact requirements so you know exactly which one is suitable for you and maximize your chances of getting into the program. We hope this article helps you with your initial research to find one that suits your needs.