Andhra Chamber of Commerce Business Incubator

Before you apply

• Check the chamber's incubation page and download its brochure to see the current offer.
• Use the Apply Now form on the incubation page. No deadline is stated, so apply when you are ready.
• Fees, equity and selection criteria are not published. Call 044-24315277 or write to acc@andhrachamber.com and ask before committing.

What to expect

• Only eight incubates are taken in the initial stage, so places are limited.
• The maximum stay is two years.
• The offer is office space, mentorship and market help, plus referrals through the chamber's MOU with the Atal Incubation Centre of Anna University Incubation Foundation.

Who it suits

• Early-stage startups that want a desk in Chennai close to a chamber of commerce and its MSME, export-import and tax expertise.

Andhra Chamber of Commerce Business Incubator is a startup incubation space run by the Andhra Chamber of Commerce in Nandanam, Chennai. The chamber was established in 1928 and primarily represents the MSME sector. The incubator sits inside its P Brahmayya Centre for Knowledge, which also houses a business library.

How the incubator works

The chamber set up the incubation space to give startups in their beginning stages infrastructure help to begin with, namely office space, mentorship and market assistance. The brochure for the space promises mentorship, technical support and a funding connect. It offers a co-working incubation space on Mount Road, next to Saidapet Metro.

The incubator starts small. The chamber says it will have an intake capacity of eight incubates in the initial stage. The maximum lock-in period is two years, and the chamber's expert committee can review that in exceptional cases.

Who can apply

The chamber describes the space as being for startups looking for support in the beginning stages. It does not publish eligibility rules such as sector, recognition, team size or fees. Ask the chamber before you apply if any of these matter to you. The page has an Apply Now link that opens an application form.

Facilities

The brochure lists 20 seats, a conference room, high speed internet, a discussion room and a pantry. These are shared co-working facilities, not labs or workshops.

Anna University link

The chamber has signed an MOU with the Atal Incubation Centre of Anna University Incubation Foundation. The MOU covers referrals, government information, technology development, training and orientation, mentorship and coaching, legal assistance, and support on angel funding, grants, subsidies and marketing. This gives incubates a route to the wider Chennai startup network.

The chamber and its library

The Andhra Chamber of Commerce has over 1300 members, from MSMEs up to multinational companies. It offers its members a business library of books, journals and trade information, which incubates can draw on for company law, taxes, MSME rules, standards and export-import rules. The chamber's own sub-committees cover these areas, so its expertise in trade and regulation is the main thing it brings beyond desks.

Location and contact

The incubator is at the Velagapudi Ramakrishna Building, 23 Third Cross Street, West CIT Nagar, Nandanam, Chennai 600035. You can reach the chamber on 044-24315277 or 7305043885, or by email at acc@andhrachamber.com.