NIDHI EiR (Entrepreneur in Residence)

NIDHI EiR exists to offset the opportunity cost of quitting a well-paid job to start up. It runs for twelve months and pays a monthly stipend.

What you get

• A monthly stipend for twelve months
• Access to the prototyping lab, mentoring, guidance and networking
• Structured pre-incubation with hands-on support
• A chance at incubation at DERBI afterwards
• Help with company formation, legal work, intellectual property management and business development

Who can apply

• Indian citizens with government-issued proof of nationality
• Either four years of full-time undergraduate or postgraduate education towards one or more degrees, with a basic degree or diploma in science or engineering; or a three-year degree or diploma plus two years of full-time work experience after it, again on a science or engineering base
• You must be willing to pursue the venture full-time, and to register for DERBI's pre-incubation programme for the whole period of support
• You need a formal business plan and an investment presentation

DERBI says preference goes to technology business ideas with larger technical uncertainty or long gestation, ideas building on technology or intellectual property from publicly funded research, and ideas with real social impact.

Focus areas: digital health, hospital automation, AI for diagnosis, point-of-care devices, telemedicine, nutrition, sanitisation and hygiene, wellness.

How to apply: Pitch To Us form, selecting NIDHI EiR.