iAccelerate 4.0 – Tamil Nadu Hardware Accelerator for Prototype & Product Startups

Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (iTNT Hub)

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Details

Amount

₹7.5 lakh - ₹15 lakh

Deadline

February 18, 2026

Provider

Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (iTNT Hub)

Type

accelerator

About this Opportunity

Tamil Nadu Hardware Accelerator for Prototype and Product (TN-HAPP), branded as iAccelerate 4.0, is a 12-week intensive and structured hybrid accelerator programme designed to help hardware startups in Tamil Nadu move from concept stage to production-ready products.

The program is implemented by Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (iTNT Hub) and focuses on providing government-subsidized access to professional design, prototyping, and manufacturing ecosystem support. Selected startups are onboarded into a cohort-based accelerator where they receive structured mentorship, design validation support, and connections to MSME manufacturers and industry partners.

The accelerator operates through two dedicated tracks aligned to Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), enabling startups at both early and advanced hardware development stages to participate. Financial support is provided in the form of government-backed design vouchers that can be redeemed with iTNT Hub empaneled design and manufacturing partners. The program aims to reduce product development risk, accelerate go-to-market readiness, and enable scalable manufacturing outcomes for hardware startups.

Eligibility

  • The applicant must be a hardware-focused startup registered in Tamil Nadu and operational for at least one year at the time of application.

  • The startup should be working on an innovative hardware product and must fall between early ideation, prototype, or pre-production stages corresponding to TRL 2–9 depending on the selected track.

  • The founding team must be willing to commit to full-time participation in the 12-week accelerator program.

  • At least two-thirds of the company’s directors must have a CIBIL credit score of 650 or above.

  • The startup should demonstrate a genuine requirement for professional design, engineering, or manufacturing intervention and must be willing to work with iTNT Hub empaneled design partners under a tri-partite agreement.

Application Process

  • Interested startups must complete the official TN-HAPP application form available online.

  • Applicants are required to fill out nine structured sections in the form, primarily consisting of checkboxes and short responses.

  • Startups must upload mandatory documents including Certificate of Incorporation, Company PAN Card, GST Registration Certificate, Pitch Deck, Product Concept Document, and CIBIL score screenshots of directors.

  • Optional supporting documents such as patents, IP filings, or previous funding term sheets may also be submitted.

  • Applications are reviewed by iTNT Hub, and shortlisted startups undergo an evaluation process before final selection into either the Design Track or Scale Track.

  • Upon selection, a tri-partite agreement is executed between the startup, iTNT Hub, and the empaneled design partner, after which voucher-based support is released as per program guidelines.