CIE IIITH

Avishkar is CIE's accelerator for deep tech startups. Each cohort runs for six months and a new cohort starts twice a year.

What you get

• Seed funding. The amount depends on the development stage, the pitch deck and the tech validation.
• Mentoring from IIIT Hyderabad professors and resident mentors.
• Access to prototyping labs and research labs.
• Access to cloud credits.
• Events and a network of founders.

Who can apply

• Startups registered in India.
• A full-time founder.
• Ideally a basic MVP and some customer validation.
• An emerging technology such as AI, AR/VR, computer vision, machine learning, robotics or NLP.

How selection works: shortlisted applicants pitch to a panel at IIIT Hyderabad. Selected applicants are told within about a week.

How to apply: use the registration link on the Avishkar page. For questions, email incubation@iiit.ac.in.

Ojas Medtech is CIE's accelerator for healthcare and life sciences startups. Each cohort runs for six months and a new cohort starts twice a year. Ojas is also the medtech incubator, launched in 2018 with support from DBT's BIRAC programme.

What you get

• Seed funding. The amount depends on the development stage, the pitch deck and the tech validation.
• Mentoring from IIIT Hyderabad professors and from hospitals, diagnostics firms and research institutes.
• Access to prototyping labs and research labs.
• Access to cloud credits.

Who can apply

• Startups in MedTech, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Diagnostics, Wellness or healthcare device development, using emerging technologies.
• Startups registered in India, with a full-time founder.
• Ideally a basic MVP and some customer validation.

Cost: selected teams pay a fee per seat and must take at least one incubation seat.

How selection works: shortlisted applicants pitch to a panel at IIIT Hyderabad. Selected applicants are told within about a week.

How to apply: use the Ojas page. For questions, email cieoutreach@iiit.ac.in.

The OJAS PEP Program is a one-year fellowship for researchers and medical professionals who want to build an entrepreneurial career in the healthcare sector.

Who can apply

• Researchers and medical professionals.

How to apply: use the application form linked from the Ojas page.

The AI in Mobility Accelerator is run by CIE at IIIT Hyderabad with support from the Department of Science and Technology.

What you get

• Technology and domain mentoring, with access to faculty research.
• Access to investor and partner networks, and to market access.
• Sales and marketing acceleration, playbooks and frameworks.
• Growth investment opportunity for selected startups, as set out on the programme page.

Who can apply

• Startups developing AI applications in ADAS, mobility, road safety and freight.

How to apply: use the apply link on the programme page, which goes to the Avishkar application.

The AI in MediaTech Accelerator is run jointly by CIE at IIIT Hyderabad and Arka Media Works, with support from the Department of Science and Technology. The chief mentor comes from Arka Media Works.

What you get

• Technology and domain mentoring, with access to faculty research.
• Access to investor and partner networks, and to market access.
• Sales and marketing acceleration, playbooks and frameworks.
• Growth investment opportunity for selected startups, as set out on the programme page.

Who can apply

• Startups developing AI applications in virtual production, metaverse, multimedia and journalism.

How to apply: use the apply link on the programme page, which goes to the Avishkar application.

TIDE 2.0 is run at CIE under MeitY's TIDE 2.0 scheme. The entrepreneur-in-residence route helps founders with a deep tech product idea use research from IIIT Hyderabad labs to build a market-connected product startup.

What you get

• Co-creation with IIIT Hyderabad research.
• Strategy guidance and acceleration.
• Access to maker labs.
• A seed grant, with the amount set out on the programme page.
• Eligibility to pitch for further grants.

Who can apply

• Minimum four years of formal full-time undergraduate or postgraduate education, with a basic degree or diploma in science or engineering. Or a three-year degree or diploma plus two years of full-time work after it.
• Full-time commitment. The residency cannot run alongside another remuneration or fellowship.
• Entrepreneurs with a business model and no established company, and graduates with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• A proposed solution that uses AI/ML, computer vision or robotics.
• Verticals include smart city, mobility, medtech, traffic and road safety, natural language translation and Industry 4.0.

How selection works: screening, shortlisting interviews, then selection and onboarding.

How to apply: use the online application form on the TIDE 2.0 page. Queries go to the programme contact on that page.

The TIDE 2.0 Grant is a three-to-six-month fellowship for early-stage startups with a deep tech product idea. It helps them validate the product and plan how to reach customers.

What you get

• Market and go-to-market planning.
• Strategy guidance and acceleration.
• A prototype development grant, with the amount set out on the programme page.
• Access to maker labs.

Who can apply

• Founders working full time on the solution, with the expertise to deliver it.
• Startups at prototype development, MVP, pilot or product development stage.
• Deep tech startups seeded from research that want to use IIIT Hyderabad research labs.
• Solutions in one of the listed verticals that use AI/ML, computer vision, robotics or AR/VR.

How selection works: screening, shortlisting interviews, then selection and onboarding.

How to apply: use the online application form on the TIDE 2.0 page.

AIC is the social technology incubator at CIE. It was set up in 2019 with support from NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission and runs as an Atal Incubation Centre. The flagship AIC Incubation Program gives selected startups hard and soft skills and mentor support to run a business with social impact.

What you get

• Hard and soft skills training and mentor support.
• An opportunity to pitch for seed funding at the end of the programme.
• Co-working areas, a conference room and meeting space.

Who it is for

• Tech-based social enterprises working towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

How to apply: details are on the AIC page.

The Deeptech Incubator is the oldest of CIE's incubators, launched in 2008. It focuses on seeding and accelerating startups backed by deep tech research, and it draws on the institute's research.

Who it is for

• Startups backed by deep tech research.

How to apply: details are on the CIE about page.

Research Cafe gives startups direct access to IIIT Hyderabad faculty in fields such as AI, data science and cybersecurity.

What you get

• Advisory sessions, co-creation opportunities and dedicated office hours with faculty.

How selection works: screening, shortlisting interviews, then selection and onboarding.

How to apply: use the Research Connect page.

Rootnode gives startups access to IIIT Hyderabad faculty across artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity and other research areas.

What you get

• Tailored advisory sessions, co-creation partnerships or dedicated office hours, depending on the startup's needs.

How selection works: screening, shortlisting interviews, then selection and onboarding.

How to apply: use the Research Connect page.

CV Labs is a two-week hands-on programme. Tech-focused entrepreneurs, budding startups and product teams from large companies use it to explore and develop solutions in emerging research areas aligned with IIIT Hyderabad research.

How selection works: screening, shortlisting interviews, then selection and onboarding.

How to apply: use the Research Connect page.

Deeptech CoWorkz is a dedicated space for AI and deeptech startups to work alongside other research-driven ventures. Members get on-demand conference rooms, community events, access to IIIT Hyderabad faculty and research labs, and a founder network.

How selection works: screening, shortlisting interviews, then selection and onboarding.

How to apply: use the Research Connect page.