NSRCEL Campus Founders Programme by IIM Bangalore

• Student founders at idea or product stage seeking IIM Bangalore campus incubation.

About this scheme

The NSRCEL Campus Founders Programme is an incubation initiative specifically designed for student entrepreneurs and recent graduates from across India. It is run by NSRCEL, the entrepreneurship centre at IIM Bangalore, which is renowned for fostering innovation and supporting early-stage ventures. As a privately and philanthropically backed entity, NSRCEL has a strong track record of nurturing startups across various sectors, including those supported through CSR and corporate-funded programs. This specific Campus Founders Programme leverages NSRCEL's extensive experience and network to guide the next generation of student and recent graduate entrepreneurs.

This program guides founders through a structured multi-stage journey, providing intensive support from prototype development and validation to achieving early growth. The curriculum is designed to impart essential entrepreneurial skills, strategic thinking, and market understanding, ensuring participants are well-equipped to navigate the challenges of startup creation and scaling.

The program offers potential funding support in the form of grants up to Rs. 5 lakh. This non-dilutive grant-in-aid is awarded to up to three promising ventures that successfully reach Phase 2 of the incubation journey. The financial support is intended to help these ventures scale their validated prototypes and advance their market entry strategies, providing crucial non-dilutive capital at an early stage. Beyond monetary grants, participants gain access to a comprehensive startup toolkit, which includes valuable discounts and credits from prominent partners such as AWS, RazorpayX, Stripe, and Zoho, significantly reducing initial operational costs. The program also provides extensive networking opportunities through NSRCEL's broad alumni and mentor ecosystem, facilitating valuable connections for business development, fundraising, and strategic partnerships. Furthermore, founders benefit from structured peer learning sessions, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among cohort members from various sectors to address common challenges and accelerate collective growth.

Who can apply

• Applicants must be current undergraduate or postgraduate students, or recent graduates with less than one year since their graduation date at the time of selections.
• This criterion ensures the program supports individuals at a formative stage of their entrepreneurial journey, providing a strong foundation as they transition from academia to venture building.
• Founders from any academic discipline are welcome to apply, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of innovation.
• The program is open to founders from across PAN India, emphasizing its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship nationwide.
• Startups must possess a working prototype, serving as tangible proof of concept and indicating the founders' commitment and initial progress.
• The program is sector-agnostic, welcoming innovative ideas with potential for scale from any industry, encouraging a diverse range of solutions to real-world problems.

Eligible entity types: Individual Innovator, Private Limited, LLP, Proprietorship

Benefits & funding

• The program provides a non-dilutive grant of up to Rs.
• 5 lakh for up to three promising ventures reaching Phase 2.
• Additionally, participants receive a startup toolkit with discounts and credits from partners like AWS, RazorpayX, Stripe, and Zoho.
• Comprehensive support includes access to NSRCEL's alumni and mentor network, peer learning, and a structured multi-stage incubation journey.

How the application process works

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

1. 1

   The selection process begins with an initial screening of applications, followed by group discussion rounds and individual interviews.

2. 2

   Candidates are evaluated on innovation quality, entrepreneurial intent, and potential for impact.

3. 3

   Final selection is communicated after due diligence, with selected founders onboarded into the campus-based program at IIM Bangalore.

Frequently asked questions