NSRCEL's recurring pre-incubation programme at IIM Bangalore for founders at idea, prototype or MVP stage, run in numbered cohorts.
Launchpad is the entry point into NSRCEL, the startup incubator of IIM Bangalore, for founders who are still validating a problem. It is sector-agnostic, open to founders from across India, and runs as a five-month cohort.
The programme has run for many editions — the 2026 intake was Launchpad 30 — so each call follows a familiar shape: cohort-based learning, one-on-one mentoring with review checkpoints, two in-person bootcamps in Bengaluru, and a closing pitch to a mentor panel.
Apply through the online application form on the Launchpad page when a cohort is open. Between cohorts, fill the interest form on the same page to hear when the next intake opens.
Application review → a conversation with the NSRCEL team → a pitch to the mentor panel → onboarding.
Reviewers look for founder intent and a bias for action, a deep understanding of the problem, and an innovative approach to it. Selection is competitive, and a place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant.
No. Launchpad is open to early-stage founders from across India, and solo founders can apply.
Idea, prototype or MVP stage. Startups that already have revenue and customers are a better fit for NSRCEL's growth programmes.
About five months per cohort, mixing online sessions with two in-person bootcamps in Bengaluru.
Yes. NSRCEL accepts past applicants and asks them to highlight the progress made since their previous application.