NCPEDP, Mphasis Assistive Technology Hub Seed Grant 2026

• Startups and innovators building assistive technology solutions for persons with disabilities.

About this scheme

The NCPEDP, Mphasis Assistive Technology Hub Seed Grant 2026 is a funding initiative by the NCPEDP AT Hub , a programme run by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) with support from Mphasis , aimed at early-stage startups developing assistive technology solutions for persons with disabilities in India. Selected startups receive a seed grant of up to Rs. 5 lakh, alongside mentorship, user access, marketing and outreach support, and access to the AT Hub's broader ecosystem.

The programme addresses a critical gap: globally, only around 10% of people who need assistive products can access them, and in developing countries the figure is even lower. India's disability market is fragmented, the assistive technology supply chain is weak, and awareness of AT solutions remains limited. The AT Hub was created to bridge these gaps by bringing together startups, researchers, policymakers, and civil society organisations to build a sustainable AT ecosystem in India.

This is the second grant cycle of the AT Hub. In the inaugural 2024 cycle, launched at EMPOWER at the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) in Trivandrum, 25 startups pitched to an expert jury and 16 were selected to receive seed grants of Rs. 5 lakh each. Portfolio companies from the 2024 cohort include TrueAssist Technology, Able Company, AI.gnosis, Ksham Innovation, Panoculon Labs, Dextroware Devices, SignSetu, Thryv Rehab Solutions, UDot Braille Tech, Cognitii (Neurodiverge Labs), and others , giving a clear signal of the types of solutions the programme is looking to support.

Beyond the grant, the AT Hub works across four core areas: startup support (funding, mentorship, product design and costing training, market access), infrastructure building (network of physical hubs and cluster institutions), policy and standards (regulatory engagement, quality benchmarks), and awareness and engagement. Selected startups join this broader ecosystem, which connects them with Disabled People's Organisations, industry actors, government programmes like Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, and a network of AT innovators across India.

Who can apply

• Early-stage startups developing assistive technology solutions for persons with disabilities
• Solutions should address critical gaps in accessibility, independence, and inclusion
• Must be user-centred and designed with the needs of persons with disabilities in mind
• No sector restriction within assistive technology , mobility aids, hearing, vision, communication, cognitive, and other AT verticals are all eligible
• Must be at an early stage with a promising solution in development or validation

Benefits & funding

• Selected startups receive a seed grant of up to Rs.
• 5 lakh to help take their assistive technology product to the next level.
• Beyond the grant, participants receive mentorship from domain experts, user access for testing and validation, marketing and outreach support, and access to the NCPEDP, Mphasis AT Hub's broader ecosystem of startups, researchers, policymakers, and civil society organisations.

How the application process works

The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with NCPEDP, Mphasis AT Hub, in your own name.

1. 1

   Following a rigorous screening process, shortlisted startups present their solutions to a distinguished jury panel.

2. 2

   The jury evaluates startups on the strength and user-centredness of their assistive technology solution, its potential to address critical gaps in accessibility and independence for persons with disabilities, and the team's ability to execute.

Frequently asked questions