PACE (Program to Accelerate Creation of Entrepreneurs)

PACE is DERBI's entry point, and the only one of its programmes that takes founders who have not built anything yet. Sixteen weeks, hands-on, ending on a Pitch Day.

What you get

• Help validating your problem and market fit against real customer insight
• A working proof of concept, with expert feedback
• An investor pitch deck and business model, presented on Pitch Day
• Access to DERBI's labs, testing facilities and specialised infrastructure
• Corporate validation from industry experts and jurors
• Real-world data partnerships for pilots and refining a proof of concept
• Grant and funding linkages once you have validated
• Direct entry to GALLOP, DERBI's two-year incubation programme

Who can apply

• Early-stage startups or individual founders with a clear problem statement
• At least one founder available full-time for the whole 16 weeks — this is the requirement most applicants have to plan around
• Open across India, with hybrid participation from Bengaluru encouraged
• Sectors: medtech and healthtech, wellness and sports tech, sustainability and greentech, space tech

How to apply: Use DERBI's Pitch To Us form and select PACE. You will need a pitch deck; DERBI publishes a sample format on the same page. Questions go to info@derbifoundation.com.

DERBI publishes no fee, no equity term and no cohort dates for PACE, so ask before you plan around either.