ISB DLabs
Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad campus
The incubation and acceleration arm of the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, running pre-incubation, incubation and accelerator programmes for startups.
ISB DLabs at a glance
| Part of | Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad campus |
|---|---|
| Address | ISB Hyderabad Campus, road no.6, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana 500111 |
| Programmes | 7 standing programmes |
| Stages supported | Idea, Prototype, MVP, Early revenue, Growth |
| Official website | isbdlabs.org |
Which ISB DLabs programme fits you
7 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
By stage
- Idea
- ISPROUTE
- Prototype
- Build for Billions Accelerator
- MVP
- Build for Billions Accelerator, FinChAIn @ ISB powered by Broadridge Acceleration Program, Liftoff Propel
- Early revenue
- FinChAIn @ ISB powered by Broadridge Acceleration Program, Liftoff Propel, Agri and Food Accelerator
- Growth
- Agri and Food Accelerator
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISPROUTE | Aspiring entrepreneurs with an early idea | Idea | 10 weeks | — | — |
| Build for Billions AcceleratorWith Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, Union Bank | Fintech startups serving the informal economy | Prototype – MVP | 50 days | — | No equity |
| FinChAIn @ ISB powered by Broadridge Acceleration ProgramWith Broadridge | AI, blockchain and DeFi startups with early revenue | MVP – Early revenue | approximately 9 weeks | — | — |
| Liftoff Propel | MVP-stage startups in T1, T2 and T3 cities | MVP – Early revenue | — | — | — |
| EduRISE 2.0 Accelerator | Ed-tech startups incorporated for at least six months | — | 12 weeks | — | — |
| Agri and Food AcceleratorWith Deshpande Startups | Agri, food tech and allied startups in early revenue or growth | Early revenue – Growth | — | — | — |
| Business Incubation Cohort | Startups with promising ideas, innovations and technologies | — | — | — | — |
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at ISB DLabs, separate from the funding calls above.
ISPROUTE
IncubationA 10-week pre-incubation programme for aspiring entrepreneurs, open to tech and non-tech ideas.
Best for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an early idea
- Idea
- 10 weeks
- Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
ISPROUTE is a 10-week pre-incubation programme that helps aspiring entrepreneurs move from an early idea towards a proof of concept, through workshops, masterclasses with experts, structured experimentation and mentorship.
What you get
- Hands-on workshops and masterclasses with experts
- Mentorship and networking
- Financial support for the top five startups
Who can apply
- Aspiring entrepreneurs, sector agnostic, tech and non-tech, with high-impact ideas
How to apply
- Its pages give different editions and dates, so check the current intake on the ISPROUTE page before you apply.
Build for Billions Accelerator
AcceleratorA 50-day equity-free fintech accelerator, run with the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, for startups bringing financial services to the informal economy. The current call has closed.
Best for: Fintech startups serving the informal economy
- Prototype – MVP
- 50 days
- No equity
With Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, Union Bank
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Build for Billions is a fintech accelerator run by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub and DLabs at ISB. It aims to bridge the gap between financial services and the informal economy, including payments, credit and savings for informal workers.
What you get
- A 50-day accelerator programme that takes no equity
- An opportunity for selected startups to pilot their idea with Union Bank
Who can apply
- Startups with a demonstrable prototype, MVP or product, and
- Startups that have received seed, angel, pre-Series A or Series A funding
How to apply
- The call on the page ran from December 2023 to January 2024 and has closed. Check the DLabs programmes page for any later call.
An approximately 9-week global accelerator, run with Broadridge, for startups in AI, blockchain and DeFi.
Best for: AI, blockchain and DeFi startups with early revenue
- MVP – Early revenue
- approximately 9 weeks
With Broadridge
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The FinChAIn @ ISB accelerator is run by DLabs with Broadridge for startups working in AI, blockchain and DeFi. It offers mentorship from DLabs and Broadridge, masterclasses and workshops, go-to-market and scale-up support, and internationalisation support.
What you get
- Mentorship from DLabs and Broadridge
- Tailored masterclasses and workshops by industry experts
- A Demo Day at the end of the programme
Who can apply
- Startups in AI, blockchain and DeFi, incorporated for at least one year, at the post-MVP or advanced product stage, with early revenue and scalability potential
- Startups from anywhere in the world can apply
How to apply
- Apply through the programme page. Shortlisted startups are notified and given onboarding details.
Liftoff Propel
AcceleratorAn accelerator, designed with a foundation partner, for MVP-stage startups from T1, T2 and T3 cities.
Best for: MVP-stage startups in T1, T2 and T3 cities
- MVP – Early revenue
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Liftoff Propel supports MVP-stage startups from T1, T2 and T3 cities that have a market-tested MVP and early or pilot customers, and want to secure product-market fit and validate their business model.
What you get
- Mentorship from ISB and a foundation partner
- Masterclasses and workshops, and market access assistance
- Access to lab facilities, go-to-market strategies, scale-up support and investor connect
- A Demo Day
Who can apply
- Startups incorporated for at least one year, at the post-MVP or advanced product stage, with early revenue and scalability potential
How to apply
- Apply through the programme page. Shortlisting and onboarding follow the application.
EduRISE 2.0 Accelerator
AcceleratorA 12-week accelerator, with bi-weekly sessions, for startups building ed-tech solutions for India's education system.
Best for: Ed-tech startups incorporated for at least six months
- 12 weeks
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
EduRISE 2.0 is an initiative of I-Venture @ ISB for ed-tech startups. It runs for 12 weeks with bi-weekly entrepreneurship sessions, workshops, speaker sessions and one-to-one mentoring, and aims to help startups reach market and scale.
What you get
- Technical mentors for product refinement
- Structured mentoring from industry experts
- Support for legal and compliance, fundraising support and networking
- Access to a package of perks from partners
Who can apply
- Startups innovating in ed-tech, incorporated for at least six months
How to apply
- Apply through the programme page.
Agri and Food Accelerator
AcceleratorA pan-India accelerator, run with Deshpande Startups, for agri, food tech and allied startups with early revenue.
Best for: Agri, food tech and allied startups in early revenue or growth
- Early revenue – Growth
With Deshpande Startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Agri and Food Accelerator is run by I-Venture @ ISB with Deshpande Startups. It identifies and supports entrepreneurs with innovative solutions in the agri and food sector, through handholding, capacity building, curated field visits to test products, and networking with stakeholders and investors.
What you get
- Mentorship from I-Venture @ ISB and Deshpande Startups
- Tailored masterclasses and workshops
- Product development and refinement, and market access and scale-up support
Who can apply
- Private limited firms with at least one year from incorporation, in early revenue and growth stage, working on agri, food tech or allied products or services
How to apply
- Apply through the programme page.
Business Incubation Cohort
Grant schemeAn incubation cohort run under the DST NIDHI Seed Support Scheme, offering seed funding, incubation and mentorship.
Best for: Startups with promising ideas, innovations and technologies
- Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Business Incubation Cohort is run by DLabs under the NIDHI Seed Support Programme of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The programme gives financial assistance for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialisation, alongside incubation, mentorship, fundraising support and growth acceleration.
What you get
- Seed funding support
- Incubation and mentorship
- Fundraising support and growth acceleration
How to apply
- Cohorts ran in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The cohort page does not state a current intake, so check with DLabs before you apply.
Labs & facilities
Equipment and space on campus.
Co-working and private offices
Co-working desks and private office suites at the ISB Hyderabad campus. The same kind of space is offered at AIC-ISB in Mohali.
Support services
Help offered alongside funding and space.
Business advisory
Mentorship, masterclasses and workshops across its programmes.
Market access
Market access and scale-up support, particularly in its agri and food accelerator.
Recognitions & empanelments
Official approvals this incubator holds.
DST NIDHI Seed Support Programme
Its Business Incubation Cohort is supported under the NIDHI Seed Support Scheme of the Department of Science and Technology.
How to apply to ISB DLabs
Choosing the right programme
- Match your stage to the programme. ISPROUTE suits aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea. The accelerators ask for a company that has already been incorporated.
- Check the minimum incorporation period on each programme page before you apply.
- Build for Billions is themed on financial inclusion for the informal economy. Its own call has closed.
How applications work
- Each programme has its own page with its own window. DLabs' pages give different editions and dates for ISPROUTE, so confirm the current intake before you apply.
- Shortlisted startups are notified after submission, and onboarding follows.
What reviewers look for
- A working prototype, MVP or product, or early revenue, depending on the programme.
- A clear fit with the programme's theme, such as fintech, ed-tech, agri and food, or AI and blockchain.
About ISB DLabs
ISB DLabs is the incubation and acceleration arm of the Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad campus. It is a not-for-profit Section 8 company run by ISB in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and it is based on the ISB Hyderabad campus in Gachibowli.
How the programmes work
DLabs runs a mix of pre-incubation, incubation and accelerator programmes, and several of them are run with partners. ISPROUTE is its pre-incubation programme for aspiring entrepreneurs, a 10-week course that helps early ideas reach a proof of concept. Its accelerators cover specific themes. The FinChAIn @ ISB powered by Broadridge Acceleration Program is an approximately 9-week programme for AI, blockchain and DeFi startups, with Broadridge. Build for Billions Accelerator is a 50-day equity-free fintech accelerator, run with the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, for startups that bring financial services to the informal economy. EduRISE 2.0 Accelerator is a 12-week programme for ed-tech startups, and the Agri and Food Accelerator, run with Deshpande Startups, supports agri and food ventures across India. Liftoff Propel, designed with a foundation partner, supports MVP-stage startups from T1, T2 and T3 cities.
The Business Incubation Cohort is run under the NIDHI Seed Support Scheme of the Department of Science and Technology, which gives financial assistance to startups with promising ideas, innovations and technologies. Earlier cohorts were run in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Who can apply
Eligibility depends on the programme. ISPROUTE is open to aspiring entrepreneurs and is sector agnostic. The accelerators generally ask for a company that has already been incorporated: the Liftoff Propel and FinChAIn programmes ask for at least one year from incorporation, the Agri and Food Accelerator asks for at least one year and early revenue, and EduRISE 2.0 asks for at least six months. Each programme page sets out its own criteria, so check the one you want before you apply.
Facilities
DLabs offers co-working desks and private office suites at its Hyderabad campus. The same kind of space is offered at AIC-ISB in Mohali.
Scale
The DLabs website says ISB DLabs has supported over 200 startups. This is a self-reported figure and its website does not date it.
Past programmes
Several earlier programmes are now closed. These include the Envision Social Impact Accelerator, the Envision Fintech Accelerator, which supported 10 fintech ventures, the Jumpstart Social Enterprises 2.0 Accelerator, the Clean Energy Lab, and the Climate Solver Accelerator. The website describes them in the past tense.
Who runs it
DLabs is run by the Indian School of Business and supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Frequently asked questions about ISB DLabs
What is ISB DLabs?
ISB DLabs is an incubator based in Hyderabad, Telangana.
What does ISB DLabs do?
ISB DLabs is the incubation and acceleration arm of the Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad campus. It is a not-for-profit Section 8 company run by ISB in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and it is based on the ISB Hyderabad campus in Gachibowli.
Where is ISB DLabs located?
ISB DLabs is located at ISB Hyderabad Campus, road no.6, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana 500111.
What programs does ISB DLabs run?
ISB DLabs runs ISPROUTE, Build for Billions Accelerator, FinChAIn @ ISB powered by Broadridge Acceleration Program and Liftoff Propel, among others.
Which ISB DLabs programme should I apply to?
It depends on how far along your startup is. Idea stage: ISPROUTE. Prototype stage: Build for Billions Accelerator. MVP stage: Build for Billions Accelerator, FinChAIn @ ISB powered by Broadridge Acceleration Program and Liftoff Propel. Early revenue stage: FinChAIn @ ISB powered by Broadridge Acceleration Program, Liftoff Propel and Agri and Food Accelerator. Growth stage: Agri and Food Accelerator. Check the programme's own eligibility before applying — several programmes are sector-specific.
Does ISB DLabs provide funding?
Selected startups in some ISB DLabs programmes can receive grant support, including ISPROUTE and Business Incubation Cohort. Grant amounts are set per programme and cohort, and selection into a programme does not guarantee a grant — check the programme's own page for current terms.
What facilities does ISB DLabs offer?
ISB DLabs offers Co-working and private offices.
Is ISB DLabs government recognised?
ISB DLabs holds the following recognitions and affiliations: DST NIDHI Seed Support Programme.
How do I apply to ISB DLabs?
- Match your stage to the programme. ISPROUTE suits aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea. The accelerators ask for a company that has already been incorporated. - Check the minimum incorporation period on each programme page before you apply. - Build for Billions is themed on financial inclusion for the informal economy. Its own call has closed.
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