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 ₹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 ₹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.
