Avishkar Venture Studio by CIE-IIIT Hyderabad

About this scheme

Avishkar Venture Studio is a six-month acceleration program specifically designed for emerging technology startups. It is run by the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at IIIT Hyderabad, a premier institution renowned for its deep tech research and academic excellence. CIE IIITH operates as a leading deep tech incubator, dedicated to nurturing startups through advanced technological support, strategic entrepreneurial guidance, and access to a vibrant ecosystem. The center's mission aligns with India's vision for technological leadership, fostering an environment conducive to groundbreaking innovation by leveraging its extensive research and academic framework, including faculty expertise and advanced laboratories. The program plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and market-ready solutions, empowering founders to build scalable deep tech ventures.

The program offers significant seed funding, providing an opportunity to secure up to 40 Lakhs INR. This capital is crucial for early-stage deep tech startups, which often require substantial resources for R&D and product development. The precise funding amount is determined after a comprehensive evaluation of the startup's current development stage, the strength and clarity of its pitch deck, and the technical validation of its underlying technology. This financial support is primarily intended to fuel the startup's immediate growth, facilitate key operational expenditures, and enable critical prototyping and market entry activities.

Beyond monetary aid, Avishkar participants benefit immensely from extensive mentorship. This mentorship is provided by distinguished professors from IIIT Hyderabad, who bring deep academic and technical insights, and by experienced mentors, each boasting over a decade of entrepreneurial support experience. Startups gain invaluable access to IIIT Hyderabad's cutting-edge prototyping and research laboratories, which are equipped with advanced tools essential for deep tech innovation. The program also includes essential cloud credits, crucial for development and scaling, and offers numerous opportunities for network building through various organized events, connecting founders with investors, industry experts, and potential customers.

Who can apply

• Startup must be registered in India.
• The startup must have at least one full-time founder.
• The startup should ideally possess a basic Minimum Viable Product (MVP) coupled with customer validation.
• The startup must be based on emerging technologies.
• Focus areas for application include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Robotics, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Deep Tech, and Natural Language Processing (NLP).

Benefits & funding

• 10 lakh in seed funding to support product development and early go-to-market work.
• Funding is supplemented by structured access to IIIT Hyderabad faculty for technical mentorship, use of prototyping and research labs, cloud credits, and a network of CIE mentors, operators, and investors.
• The full benefit is delivered over a six-month cohort programme that includes GTM, revenue, and strategy guidance.

How the application process works

The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), IIIT Hyderabad, in your own name.

1. 1

   Applications are submitted online via the CIE Avishkar registration form.

2. 2

   The CIE team runs an initial screening for stage fit, technology focus, and founder readiness.

3. 3

   Shortlisted applicants are invited to pitch in person at IIIT Hyderabad before a selection panel.

4. 4

   Final selection decisions are communicated within a week of the pitch.

Frequently asked questions