Who is eligible to apply for the NSRCEL Campus Founders Programme?

The program is open to current undergraduate/postgraduate students or recent graduates (less than 1 year since graduation) from any academic discipline across PAN India. Applicants must have a working prototype.

What kind of funding is offered through this program?

Up to ₹5 lakh in non-dilutive grant-in-aid is available for up to three promising ventures that successfully reach Phase 2 of the incubation journey.

What is the duration and format of the program?

The total program duration ranges from 3 to 12 months, depending on the venture's stage and progress. It follows a hybrid format, including virtual sessions and occasional physical events/meetups.

Is the program restricted to specific sectors or geographies?

No, the program is sector-agnostic, welcoming innovative ideas from any industry. It is open to founders from across PAN India.

What is the selection process for the NSRCEL Campus Founders Programme?

The selection process involves initial screening for eligibility, a telephonic interview, a pitch presentation to a mentor panel, a final program-fit assessment, and onboarding to the Foundational Pre-Incubation Phase.

NSRCEL Campus Founders Programme by IIM Bangalore

By NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore

Up to ₹5LRolling Applications

Quick Answer

Incubation for student entrepreneurs and recent graduates with prototype or early traction.

Funding amount: Up to ₹5 Lakhs
Funding type: Grant
Provider: NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore
Application deadline: Rolling
Location: Open to startups registered in India

Grant providers

Provider

NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore

Bengaluru · Karnataka · India

How to apply

Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.

1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.

Subscriber Insights

Notion — workspace, docs and AI for startups

About this grant

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 ₹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.

NSRCEL Campus Founders Programme by IIM Bangalore

NSRCEL Campus Founders Programme by IIM Bangalore

Grant providers

How to apply

See your fit score for this grant

Frequently Asked Questions

About this grant

Eligibility

Benefits & Funding

Timelines & Process

Grants closing soon

Competitions closing soon

Equity closing soon

Debt programs

Subsidies

Startup Software Credits

Notion

Huawei

Vultr

DigitalOcean

Razorpay

Render

IBM

Microsoft

Akamai Technologies

Mixpanel

Google

Datadog