Bosch DNA accelerator

How applications work

There is no standing application form or published deadline on the current programme page. Bosch describes the current intake as a continuous, year-round process, so the way in is to contact the programme team directly rather than wait for a dated call. Questions and expressions of interest go to the programme inbox at bgswdnastartup.allianceprogram@in.bosch.com. An older dedicated website for the programme no longer works, so use the current Bosch Global Software Technologies page as the live source.

What the programme is looking for

The programme sources startups in Bosch's own areas of interest, so fit with a Bosch business matters more than hitting a generic stage bar. Be clear about which Bosch domain your work maps to — mobility, Industry 4.0, energy, and the healthcare and semiconductor areas it is opening up — and about the technology behind it, whether that is artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human-machine interaction, sustainability or robotics.

What to expect if selected

The engagement is built around co-creation with a Bosch business unit, usually starting with a proof of concept, and can lead to joint go-to-market work or Bosch investing in the startup. Treat it as a corporate alliance rather than an open incubation space: it is edition- and interest-led, and selection has historically been based on how well a startup fits Bosch's requirements, how mature the solution is, and the team's technology capabilities.

Bosch DNA Nxt is the startup alliance programme run by Bosch in India. DNA stands for Discover, Nurture and Align: the programme sets out to discover startups working in Bosch's areas of interest, nurture the engagement, and align the startups with Bosch's business units so the two sides can build something together. It is run by Bosch Global Software Technologies, formerly Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH.

What it supports

The programme sources startups in areas Bosch cares about across mobility, Industry 4.0 and energy, with healthcare and semiconductors named as areas it is opening up. The technologies it looks for include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human-machine interaction and AR/VR, sustainability and robotics. The common thread is a solution a startup can take into a Bosch business, rather than a fixed stage or sector filter.

How the programme works

DNA Nxt is built around co-creation: selected startups work with Bosch business units to build proofs of concept, and the engagement can lead to joint go-to-market work or Bosch investing in the startup. Bosch describes the current intake as a continuous, year-round process, while past editions ran as fixed cohorts. The stated length of an edition is not consistent across Bosch's own announcements, which have described it as both a 12-week and a 16-week programme, so treat the duration as approximate.

The sixth edition was run in collaboration with Startup India, the central government's startup initiative, which offered mentoring and the chance for startups to work closely with Bosch business units.

Track record

Bosch states that the programme has hosted six cohorts since it began, with more than 90 startups graduating, and that it has drawn more than 6,000 applications to take part. It points to outcomes including co-creations and product development, joint go-to-market efforts and investments into startups. These are Bosch's own figures.

How to apply

The current programme page does not publish an open application form or an intake deadline, and an earlier dedicated website for the programme no longer works. The route Bosch gives is to email the programme team at bgswdnastartup.allianceprogram@in.bosch.com for information or queries. In the past, applications were invited during specific editions.

Who runs it

The programme is run by Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW), the arm of Bosch that was formerly Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions, and which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH.