DPIIT’s Startup India initiative launches program to support growth of incubators across India

• ByStartupStory     |    March 16, 2023

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Startup India initiative, has introduced the inaugural edition of the ‘National Incubator Capacity Building Program’ to foster the development of incubators throughout India. The move comes in response to recommendations from the National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC), established by DPIIT and chaired by Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. The aim is to establish a robust ecosystem that fosters innovation and startups, propelling sustainable economic growth and creating employment prospects.

The National Incubator Capacity Building Program, launched by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), aims to provide hands-on training to incubators to make them sustainable. As part of the initiative, incubators will receive 3 months of mentorship and advisory support, as well as access to knowledge resources and tools to help entrepreneurs grow. The program is being implemented by Villgro, which won the National Incubator Award 2020 by DPIIT.

The National Incubator Capacity Building Program will include developing tailored business models for incubators, as well as providing masterclasses and workshops to help manage the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme. In addition, participants will have access to VITALS, a technology-based information system designed to track the incubation process of startups. The program’s ultimate goal is to promote sustainability and growth for incubators across India.

 

Up to 20 incubators will receive guidance from experienced mentors such as Paul Basil, Mohammad Azhar, Chand Das, Rama Kannan, and Arun Venkatesan. The mentors will lead a 3-phase hybrid capacity-building program that includes self-paced learning modules and in-person sessions lasting 12-16 weeks.

Prashant Prakash, a member of the National Startup Advisory Council, emphasized the need for effective incubators to support the thriving startup community and scale innovative solutions. He expressed his pleasure in launching the National Incubator Capacity Building Program, which will help identify a cohort of visionary incubators and enable them to create a significant impact. Startup India has been instrumental in enabling the Indian startup ecosystem for the past seven years, and the program aims to develop process-driven incubation and investment.

Mohammad Azhar, Lead of Govt & Public Sector Initiatives at Villgro, highlights the significance of incubators in India’s startup ecosystem, particularly in Tier 2 & 3 cities where startups require mentorship to develop sustainable and scalable business models. Villgro is committed to enhancing the capacity of incubators by providing guidance on incubation plans, domain knowledge, and customized roadmaps. To be eligible for the National Incubator Capacity Building Program, incubators must be registered in India and have at least five employees, with a focus on early-stage startups, and have incubated at least five startups in the current or last financial year. The application deadline for the program on the Startup India Platform is March 25, 2023.

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