FundingFunding opportunities up to ₹10 Lakh through ACIC-VGU schemes
Equity-free Idea AI, SaaS & Enterprise
ClosesAug 15, 2026
Rolling Equity Funding
The Forum Accelerator
Rolling B2B SaaS pre-seed accelerator from Forum Ventures: Rs. 90 lakh (about $100,000) for 7.5% equity, plus mentors and Fortune 500 intros.
Check your readinessShare a few details and an IncorpX advisor will walk you through fit, documents and timelines for this scheme. Free, no obligation.
- Best fit for pre-seed B2B SaaS or AI founders who want hands-on, co-founder-style support.
About this scheme
The Forum Accelerator is the flagship programme of Forum Ventures, designed by founders and early operators specifically for B2B software companies at the earliest stage. The aim is straightforward: shorten the road from idea to traction and leave a startup ready for its next round. Forum positions itself as a fractional co-founder, staying close to the day-to-day rather than writing a cheque and stepping back, and its B2B-only focus reflects deep familiarity with enterprise sales motions and the network founders need to win them.
The headline offer is a Rs. 90 lakh (about $100,000) pre-seed investment in every selected company, taken as 7.5% equity on a standard post-money SAFE. For many teams this is the first institutional money they raise, and it usually lands on day one of the programme so founders can move quickly toward their next milestone. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis through forumvc.com/accelerator.
Capital is only part of it. Each cohort plugs into a network of 200+ mentors and advisors, 750 co-investors, and a community of 1,300 founders. Forum makes warm customer introductions to 300+ Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies for product feedback and early sales, and its dedicated fundraising support has helped portfolio companies raise more than $1 billion (over Rs. 9,000 crore) in later rounds.
On top of that, founders meet 250+ global investors and draw on practical help across finance, HR, operations, and marketing. Startups also unlock more than $100,000 in software perks from the likes of Google, AWS, Brex, HubSpot, and Stripe. A dedicated Managing Director works alongside each team as the fractional co-founder, keeping accountability tight and progress steady, with guidance shaped to the company's stage and goals.
Who can apply
- The company must build B2B software; this focus is what lets the programme tailor mentoring, introductions, and operating support to enterprise sales rather than consumer markets.
- It should be at the pre-seed stage, where early structure and strategy make the biggest difference.
- A minimum viable product should already be live or close to launch, showing the team can ship and is ready to test with real customers.
- Prior funding must stay under Rs. 4.5 crore (about $500,000), which keeps Forum's cheque and stake meaningful and usually makes it the first institutional investor on the cap table.
- Founders are expected to show genuine conviction, clear founder-market fit, and openness to fractional co-founder guidance.
- Drive and coachability matter; the programme rewards teams that actively tap its network and resources.
- Anyone, anywhere can apply and take part remotely, with optional desk space in Toronto, New York City, and San Francisco for those who want it.
Benefits & funding
Headline support
Up to Rs. 90 lakh
- Rs. 90 lakh (about $100,000) pre-seed cheque for 7.5% equity on a post-money SAFE, usually wired on day one.
- A standing network of 200+ mentors and advisors, 750 co-investors, and 1,300 fellow founders.
- Warm introductions to 300+ Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 buyers for feedback and first sales.
- Hands-on fundraising help, 250+ global investor introductions, and operating support across finance, HR, and marketing.
- More than $100,000 in software credits and perks from partners such as Google, AWS, Brex, HubSpot, and Stripe.
- A dedicated Managing Director acting as a fractional co-founder, with optional offices in Toronto, New York City, and San Francisco.
How the application process works
The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with Forum Ventures, in your own name.
- 1
Fill in the 'pitch us' form at forumvc.com/accelerator, covering your team, product, market, and traction.
- 2
Expect a reply within 1 to 2 weeks inviting you to an introductory call that checks mutual fit.
- 3
Clear further interviews and due diligence before a place in the B2B SaaS cohort is confirmed.
Want a second pair of eyes before you submit?IncorpX provides assistance for structuring proposals and organising the paperwork this process expects.
Documents checklist 1
- Online 'pitch us' form (team, product, market, and traction)
Need help getting these in order? IncorpX provides assistance for incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST registrations along with document preparation.
Official application
Ready to apply? Get the official link
Applications are submitted directly with Forum Ventures, in your own name. Share a few details and we will point you to the official application portal and help you prepare a complete submission.
Here is the official application link
Apply in your own name with Forum Ventures. Want a second pair of eyes before you submit? An IncorpX advisor can help you prepare.
Open the official applicationFrequently asked questions
How much does Forum Ventures invest, and on what terms?
Each company accepted into The Forum Accelerator receives Rs. 90 lakh (about $100,000) in pre-seed capital, taken as 7.5% equity on a standard post-money SAFE. It is typically the first institutional cheque and is paid out on day one.
Which startups qualify for the programme?
It is open to B2B software companies in any vertical that are at the pre-seed stage, have or are about to have an MVP in market, and have raised under Rs. 4.5 crore (about $500,000) so far.
Does Forum Ventures take equity, or is this a grant?
It is an equity programme, not a grant. Forum invests cash in exchange for 7.5% equity on a post-money SAFE, so the funding is not repayable but is dilutive.
When can I apply, and is there a deadline?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline. You can submit the 'pitch us' form at forumvc.com/accelerator at any time.
Do I have to relocate to join?
No. The programme runs remotely and works with founders wherever they are based, while offering optional office space in Toronto, New York City, and San Francisco.
What support comes beyond the investment?
Founders get a fractional co-founder in the form of a dedicated Managing Director, 200+ mentors, 750 co-investors, introductions to 300+ Fortune 500 and 1000 buyers and 250+ investors, and over $100,000 in software perks.
Important disclaimer
IncorpX is a private platform operated by a private company. It is not a government department, agency or official portal, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government body or of any organisation, incubator, accelerator, investor or partner listed in this directory. All program names, logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only.
This directory is compiled from publicly available official sources and is provided for general information only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax or professional advice. Funding amounts, eligibility criteria, required documents, deadlines and availability are determined by each program authority and change with every cycle, so the details shown here may be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm the current terms on the official program source before you apply or take any decision.
IncorpX charges no fee for the information in this directory and does not collect, process, lodge or submit any application on your behalf. Applications are made by you, in your own name, directly with the respective program authority. IncorpX provides assistance only for application preparation and for related registrations such as company incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME (Udyam) and GST. Eligibility, approval, disbursement and selection rest solely with the respective program authority, and IncorpX makes no representation or guarantee as to any outcome.
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