10 start-up incubators to kickstart your venture in India

Aug 16, 2024

By: Prerna Tyagi

What are start-up incubators?

A start-up incubator supports MSMEs and early-stage companies through mentorship, capital & other resources to help them thrive. Here are 10 top incubators in India that can support your entrepreneurial journey:

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​Villgro

Villgro is an impact-first incubator specialising in nurturing social enterprises focusing on innovations that tackle pressing social issues. Their expertise lies in 4 sectors – Healthcare, Agriculture, Climate Action, and Gender Inclusion. In 2023, Villgro partnered up with SBI Foundation for their ‘Innovators For Bharat: Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods’ program, designed to provide incubation support to 15 high-potential startups.

Credit: Villgro

​IIMB’s NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning ​

IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL provides a robust ecosystem for start-ups, backed by their renowned faculty. According to their website, the combined value of their incubated ventures equals $7.37bn. They’re supported by Goldman Sachs, Capgemini, and Ford Foundation, among other renowned corporates and government organisations.

Credit: NSRCEL

​IIMC's Innovation Park​

The IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) is a non-profit organisation established by IIM Calcutta to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Its mission is to advance research and business innovation through collaborations between industry and academia. IIMCIP operates through two main divisions: the Business Incubation Unit and the Innovation Lab

Credit: IIMC Innovation Park

10,000 Start-ups

10,000 Start-ups by NASSCOM has been active since 2013 and provides a virtual incubation programme and a Tech.WE Program, aimed at growing India's tech women entrepreneurs. Their Nasscom Industry Partnership Program (NIPP) facilitates sustained engagement between large corporations and innovative technology startups in India.

Credit: 10000 start-ups

Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM)​

Kerala Start-up Mission is dedicated to fostering a thriving start-up culture in Kerala. They provide multiple programs, including an incubation programme and a KSUM-EY Accelerator, in partnership with Ernst & Young(EY). Their aim is to create a helpful environment for high-tech businesses.

Credit: KSUM

Venture Catalysts

As per their website, they have backed over 110 start-ups since 2016. With companies like Beardo and BharatPe in their portfolio, Venture Catalysts provides comprehensive support for start-ups, including seed funding, mentorship, and access to a vast network of investors and industry experts.

Credit: Venture Catalysts

T Labs

T Labs is an accelerator that focuses on supporting tech start-ups through mentorship, funding, and strategic partnerships. They fund up to 15 companies per year with a strong emphasis on innovation & technology and have 50 companies in their portfolio.

Credit: T Labs

Antler India​

Antler India offers a unique incubation model that blends pre-seed funding with intensive mentorship and a global network, structured into two phases. The first phase, known as the Antler "Residency," assists entrepreneurs in finding co-founders and building teams to refine their business ideas, ultimately investing up to $500K in idea-stage start-ups.

Credit: Antler India

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