Government of Telangana

Choose the programme by stage

• MVP-stage registered startups: the T-Works Access Program.
• Startups at technology readiness level 4 or above with a validated proof of concept: RICH-AID.
• Early-stage startups connected to research: Mission 10X.
• Innovators with rural-impact innovations: the TSIRI grants.
• Women founders: WE Hub's stated focus is women's entrepreneurship. This page does not describe a programme you can enter directly, so check its site for the current route in.

How applications work

• Each programme has its own official page. Start from the link on that programme's entry.
• T-Works is a paid monthly pass, so check the cost and the refundable deposit before you apply.

How selection works

• The official pages linked here do not describe how applications are selected.

What reviewers look for

• Meet the eligibility line for the programme first. For RICH-AID, that means a validated proof of concept at technology readiness level 4 or above.

The Government of Telangana runs innovation programmes for startups and innovators across the state. Its IT department lists T-Hub, WE Hub and T-Works among its initiatives, and the state innovation cell publishes the rural-impact incentives and the Intinta Innovator exhibition.

Flagship centres

T-Hub describes itself as bringing startups, corporations, governments, academia and investors together to drive change. Its own page, dated 2022, says it has designed and delivered more than 100 innovation programmes over seven years, and enabled 2000 startups to scale nationally and globally.

T-Works is a prototyping centre built around a culture of hobbyists, makers and innovators. Its access programme gives registered startups paid access to the centre.

WE Hub's primary goal is to foster and promote women's entrepreneurship. The IT department's WE Hub page says 354 entrepreneurs have been supported through its programmes, though the page does not date that figure. Funding raised through WE Hub's channels has included equity, grants and debt.

Grants and incentives

The Telangana State Innovations with Rural Impact (TSIRI) incentives are grants in three categories: Prototype, Seed and Pilot. The innovation cell's page says six startups and twelve innovators have received incentives under these grants.

Acceleration and scaleup programmes

RICH-AID is a 16-week, cohort-based acceleration programme for startups that have a validated proof of concept and want to scale. Mission 10X is a 6-month joint scaleup programme for early-stage startups connected to research.

Who runs what

The IT department lists T-Hub, WE Hub and T-Works as its initiatives. The state innovation cell appears as TGIC on the IT department's site and as TSIC on its own site, and both give 2017 as its set-up year.

RICH runs RICH-AID and Mission 10X. RICH describes itself as a Section 8 company, and as the nodal agency for the Hyderabad Science and Technology Cluster, an initiative of the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.

Who can apply

T-Works is for registered startups at MVP stage, with technology readiness level 4 or above. TSIRI grants are for startups and innovators with rural-impact innovations. RICH-AID is for startups at technology readiness level 4 or above with a validated proof of concept. Mission 10X is for early-stage startups connected to research. Intinta Innovator draws innovators from across Telangana's districts.

How the programmes work

T-Works is a paid monthly pass. Its access terms cover two users, with extra users charged per user each month, and a refundable caution deposit applies.

Intinta Innovator is an exhibition. Its third edition drew more than 500 innovative ideas from 33 districts.