GRO8 Cohort 2 by 888VC

• Best suited to early-stage AI, deep-tech, or fintech startups seeking accelerator funding.

About this scheme

The GRO8 AI-Enabled Venture Accelerator is a 12-week programme from 888VC that weaves AI into the day-to-day running of a startup, across strategy, sales, finance, product, and fundraising. Built around execution rather than ideation, it takes 12 startups per cohort and gives them hands-on mentoring and practical operator knowledge.

Each participant receives a minimum $25,000 direct investment, with the potential for $50,000 to $100,000 for standout companies and access to seed funding of up to $500,000. The programme concentrates on go-to-market strategy, investor readiness, AI-automation implementation, and pitch reviews, and startups also receive a startup kit valued at $60,000, along with introductions to a network of more than 200 seed and early-stage VC funds, 1,000-plus angels, CFOs, and CXOs in India, 100-plus CXOs and CIOs in the US, and 50-plus family offices, all aimed at faster growth and easier investor access. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Who can apply

• Aimed at pre-seed and seed-stage startups that are past ideation and actively building and selling a product.
• Ventures should show early market validation, such as initial customer traction, revenue, or strong product-market-fit signals.
• Applicants must demonstrate clear growth momentum across user acquisition, revenue, or partnerships.
• A functional product should be in the market, backed by a defined go-to-market strategy and early customer feedback.
• Startups should be technology-enabled, with innovation at the core of the business model.
• The programme looks for global ambition and the intent to scale beyond the home market from the start.
• Founders must commit fully to the 12-week programme, including mentoring, workshops, and investor engagement.
• Focus sectors include deep tech, AI, consumer, healthtech, sustainability, manufacturing, fintech, and SaaS.

Benefits & funding

• A minimum $25,000 direct investment, with up to $50,000 to $100,000 for standout companies and access to seed funding of up to $500,000.
• 12 weeks of hands-on mentoring covering go-to-market, investor readiness, AI automation, and pitch reviews.
• A $60,000 startup kit plus introductions to 200-plus VCs, 1,000-plus angels, CFOs and CXOs in India, 100-plus US CXOs and CIOs, and 50-plus family offices.

How the application process works

The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with 888VC, in your own name.

1. 1

   Apply through the 888VC form; applications are reviewed for team capability, AI-integration readiness, and execution focus.

2. 2

   Selected startups join a cohort of 12 for the 12-week programme.

3. 3

   Standout companies become eligible for $50,000 to $100,000 beyond the minimum $25,000 investment, with selection favouring teams open to embedding AI across operations.

Frequently asked questions