MANDI: Indian Institute of Technology Mandi Catalyst invites applications from start-ups and entrepreneurs for the 12th batch of the Start-up Exploration Programme staring in April 2022. The objective of this programme is to help technology-based ideas/start-ups achieve concept validation and prove market potential.
Dr. Puran Singh, Faculty in-charge, IIT Mandi Catalyst, said IIT Mandi Catalyst has a mandate to support as many as 100 startups this year. “The program suits startups , which are in early stages, looking for idea validating and prototype development.”
Catalyst has supported around 227 startups in the exploration program for the last five years. 125 startups have been funded under various funding schemes available with catalyst.
The three-month virtual programme will offer start-ups structured training programme during which they will set goals they wish to achieve during the three months. Among other things, the startups get basics of business from group mentoring sessions/workshops conducted by industry mentors and expert, said IIT Mandi.
The programme is open to Indian nationals with a technology-based innovative start-up idea relating to any sector/focus area. But ideas from human-Computer Interaction, Building for the Himalayas and Environment and Sustainability are preferred for the programme, said the spokesperson.
The staryup are selected through a multi-stage process, including online application, screening, pitching to a selection panel, and final discussion. Start-ups that achieve validation or show market traction are moved to phase II of the incubation programme.
Successful completion of the Exploration Programme will open doors to various funding opportunities under different schemes available with Catalyst. The incubator has seed funding of up to Rs 50 lakhs, prototyping funding of up to Rs 10 lakh, and an entrepreneur-in-residence programme, with monthly support of Rs 30K under various central and state government-funding schemes.
Funding schemes are available with IIT Mandi Catalyst:
NIDHI | MeitY | State Govt | TIH | Start up India Seed Fund |
Nidhi-Prayas - INR 10L | Tide 2.0 EIR - INR 35K pm | HPCM SA – 25K pm | CPS-Prayas - INR 6L | SISF Grant - INR 20L |
Nidhi-EIR - INR 30K pm | Tide 2.0 Grant - INR 7L | HSY - INR 50L | CPS-EIR - INR 30K pm | SISF Loan - INR 50 L |
Nidhi-SSS - INR 25-50 L | CPS-SSS - INR 50 L | |||
CPS-Accelerator - INR 35 |
As the teams progress and get selected for the next phase after three months of exploration program, they can get access to various labs facilities available at IIT Mandi including Design and Innovation Centre (DIC), where you get several technologies such as automatic ration vending machines, firefighters, and electronic guitars are already under development in the center.
They can get access to Centre for Design & Fabrication of Electronic devices (C4DFED) Facility, A World-Class dynamic infrastructure and toolset for next-generation integrated circuits (IC’s) and electronic device design and fabrication research and technology development focusing semiconductor Industries. They also get advanced materials research center (AMRC) lab, BioX Centre, with a focus to pursue excellence in research, innovation, and discovery with focus on life sciences and technology development by promoting multi-institutional and inter-disciplinary research activities in health-related and agri-based challenges.
Last date to apply for the Start-Up Exploration Programme is 15th April 2022. Interested start-ups can apply through: https://iitmandicatalyst.typeform.com/to/V1MGkg.
