Assam down town University

Choosing the right programme

• Startups with revenue, an MVP or a pilot launch are the stage the Catalyst loan is written for.
• Idea and proof-of-concept teams with a co-founder who can work full-time should look at TIDE 2.0.
• Students of AdtU should look at Campus iDEATION.
• Startups wanting an accelerator with campus customers and lab access should look at iGNITION.

Before you apply

• Check the eligibility line for your programme. The Catalyst loan needs at least 51% Indian-citizen ownership. TIDE 2.0 needs Indian citizenship.
• Have a pitch deck with financial projections and proof of traction, revenue or an MVP ready. The Catalyst page asks for both.
• Have founder contact details up to date. The application form asks for a phone number and address.

How selection works

• Catalyst applications are screened by an expert panel. Shortlisted startups present their business plan and how they would use the loan. The panel recommends final approval.
• The pages do not describe a selection process for iGNITION, Campus iDEATION or TIDE 2.0.

Assam down town University (AdtU) is a private university in Panikhaiti, Guwahati, Assam. Its technology business incubator is run by down town Venture Labs Foundation (dtVL), a Section 8 company set up under the university's initiative and supported by MeitY, Government of India. dtVL's pages describe it as the incubator of AdtU, and its office is on the university campus.

What the incubator offers

dtVL runs three programmes for early-stage founders and one scheme that its site lists alongside them. dtVL iGNITION is an accelerator with an open Cohort 1.0 call. It offers free access to a co-working space with licensed design software, a rapid prototyping facility for product fabrication and testing, access to AdtU's laboratory facilities for research and development, empanelled chartered accountants and company secretaries, introductions to angel investors and venture capitalists, and training and workshops. It also offers guided business-model analysis and mentorship.

Catalyst: dtVL startup loan is an interest-free loan for early-stage startups, repayable within 365 days of disbursal. Selected startups are also onboarded as incubatees and get help with intellectual property filing and access to legal support through dtVL's advisors.

Campus iDEATION is for students of AdtU who want to build a startup while they study. It offers funding through innovation grants and entrepreneurship loans, a co-working space for selected student incubatees, mentorship, and training in business development, startup financials and government schemes. Support on company incorporation, intellectual property and compliance is part of the same offer.

MeitY's TIDE 2.0 scheme for ICT startups is listed on the dtVL site. It gives an entrepreneur-in-residence stipend to startups at the idea or proof-of-concept stage, and a grant to startups at the prototype stage. Each comes with one year of pre-incubation support. Applicants must be citizens of India.

Who can apply

Eligibility depends on the programme. Catalyst is open to startups in any sector, provided at least 51% is owned by Indian-citizen founders or co-founders. Its stage rule is early revenue, an MVP, or a pilot launch. TIDE 2.0 requires Indian citizenship and an idea, proof of concept or prototype. Campus iDEATION is for AdtU students only. The pages do not state a separate rule for iGNITION beyond the audience it names: early-stage startups, entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, and startups that need funding, mentorship and industry connections.

Track record

dtVL states that it has given financial support to over 25 startups and incubation support to over 70 startups, and that supported startups have generated over 300 job opportunities in Assam and other regions. These figures are the incubator's own and are stated as "till date" on its site. The Catalyst page says selected startups can show their products to AdtU's 8,000+ students, faculty and staff, while the iGNITION page refers to over 10,000 captive customers on campus. The two pages give different campus counts, so neither is stated here as fact.

Recognition

dtVL's incubatees page lists its incubatees under the DST NIDHI i-TBI programme, and its site links to the DST NIDHI portal. Its about page says it is supported by MeitY.

How to apply

Use the online "Apply for Incubation" form on the dtVL website. It asks for the startup name, phone number, email, address and a short description of the startup. Email incubation@dtvlfoundation.in with questions. The pages state no intake deadline. iGNITION's page says Cohort 1.0 applications are open.

Location

The incubator is on the Assam down town University campus, Sankar Madhab Path, Gandhi Nagar, Panikhaiti, Guwahati 781026, Assam.