iCreate

Programs by iCreate

1 open now · 1 past

Open now

iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway Prototype/PoC Funding Support

by iCreate

₹2L – ₹30L

Past programs

iCreate Drone Challenge 2025

by iCreate

Up to ₹2Cr

Track record

What iCreate reports about its portfolio.

iCreate reports 931 startups supported, 140+ patents from portfolio companies and 1,603 jobs created — the largest reported startup count of any incubator profiled here. The patent figure is the more useful one, since it is harder to inflate than a headcount of startups touched.

931Startups supported

140Patent familiesStated as 140+ patents generated by portfolio companies.

1,603Jobs created

All figures self-reported — icreate.org.in, as of Jul 2026.

Programmes they run

Standing programmes at iCreate, separate from the funding calls above.

Only one programme on this list publishes an amount, and it is the Rs 50,000 student idea fund. Everything else — the Idea Catalyst, the Pro-Fund Gateway, i3A, NIDHI-SSS — is described without a figure, an eligibility rule or a duration. Note also that NIDHI-SSS is open only to startups already incubated at iCreate, so it is not an entry route.

iCreate Idea Catalyst (iIC)

Accelerator

Introductory programme for idea-stage startups, aimed at turning an idea into a business plan.

Runs in numbered batches. Neither eligibility, duration nor funding is published.

Programme page

Spark-up Idea Fund

Grant scheme

Up to Rs 50,000 for student ideas, with a bootcamp and mentoring.

The smallest cheque here and the only one scoped to students. Useful as a first step rather than as funding in any meaningful sense.

Programme page

iLAB@iCreate

Platform

Prototyping lab access with in-house experts.

Programme page

India Israel Innovation Accelerator (i3A)

Accelerator

Bilateral programme adapting technologies and business models between India and Israel.

iCreate's international partnerships (Start-up Nation Central, Technion) sit behind this. Eligibility and terms are not published.

Programme page

iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway

Grant scheme

Route into prototype-stage funding options.

Described as a gateway rather than a fund; no amount stated.

Programme page

NIDHI Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS)

Grant scheme

DST seed support for incubatee startups.

National DST scheme. Only open to startups already incubated at iCreate.

Programme page

Pitch to Rise

Competition

Monthly pitching series, held on the last Friday of the month.

Shortlisted projects receive prototyping grants. Runs hybrid, online and on campus. A recurring, low-commitment way to get in front of iCreate without applying to a programme.

Programme page

EVangelise

Competition

Annual electric-vehicle innovation challenge, run out of iCreate's EV Centre of Excellence.

Programme page

iCreate Drone Challenge

Competition

Problem-statement-driven challenge for drone technology.

Programme page

Incubation tracks

The routes into iCreate, and what each one includes.

Two things distinguish iCreate structurally. It is a public-private partnership with the Gujarat and Union governments rather than a university or research-institute incubator, so it is not tied to one campus's students or faculty. And it runs its own purpose-built campus at Deo Dholera. Neither fees nor equity terms are published.

Track	Type	Space	Includes
iCreate Idea Catalyst (iIC)Aimed at idea-stage startups to translate ideas into profitable business plans. Duration inferred from previous batch timelines (e.g., 24th June 2024 to 4th July 2024).	Pre-incubation	—	Immersive learning journey, Personalised guidance by seasoned startup mentors and industry experts, Certificate of participation from iCreate, India's leading incubator of startups based on tech innovation, Personalised scorecard based on 5 parameters critical to building a successful startup, Hands-on learning that provides you practical, real world insights, Learning through peer interaction, team mentoring, and one-to-one mentoring, Experience of pitching to investors and industry experts, with guidance on pitch preparation, Access to our Alumni Network
Spark-up Idea FundA unique opportunity for students to submit innovative ideas/projects.	Pre-incubation	—	Participate in a 3-day bootcamp and receive intensive mentoring from experts, Validate your idea with real customers, Learn about how to create a successful technology-based product, Interact with other startups who are at a similar stage, and learn from their journey, Receive support and funding of up to Rs. 50,000/- from iCreate, Get Access to our Alumni Network
iCreate Seed-stage AcceleratorAn intense 4-week programme (2 weeks online + 2 weeks at iCreate campus). Program Fees: INR 40000. For startups with a product or service ready to be taken to market.	Acceleration	—	Curated validation of assumptions with customers, suppliers, ecosystem partners, Mentor-guided examination of the market validation (e.g. need for pivot, etc.), Realistic strategies for raising capital & go-to-market, Operational & financial roadmap to a high-growth business, Actual pitching session for incubation plus financial support (grants up to Rs 10 lakh and investments up to Rs 40 lakh) through iCreate's Pro-Fund Gateway, that offers access to varied schemes from reputed government institutions, Get access to our Alumni Network

Labs & facilities

Equipment and space on campus.

The equipment story is prototyping and electronics rather than wet-lab: the iLAB prototyping facility plus what iCreate describes as Cisco's largest innovation lab in India. That fits the sector spread — EV, Industry 4.0, drones, fintech, edtech — and means a hardware team is the natural fit here.

iLab at iCreate

Dedicated innovation and prototyping ecosystem for rapid prototyping, validation, and refinement of products.

EV technologies lab

Electronics & IoT lab

Makers Lab

Workshop

Optics Lab

Drone Lab

CNC Lathe Machine

Multi-purpose lathe machine (HQ400-3A) for turning, drilling, milling, and thread cutting of metal, wood, and other materials.

Welding, Drilling, Assembly Equipment

Includes TIG welding, Spot welding, MIG+Arc Welding, and Aluminum welding service.

Plasma Cutting Machine

CNC Controller Intecut 5 machine, cuts SS, MS, and Al up to 25mm thickness.

Thermal Conductivity Machine

Measures heat transfer rate and boiling point of liquid samples over a range of 200 °C, with auto login system and graph creation in W/M²°C.

Cisco IoT Lab

Access via Cisco

3D Printing Machines

Vertical Milling Machine

Lathe Machine, Radial Drill Machine and Vertical Milling Machine

TIG MIG Welding

Support services

Help offered alongside funding and space.

IP & patentsBusiness advisoryMarket access

Recognitions & empanelments

Official approvals this incubator holds.

Thinner than the peer set, and differently shaped: iCreate's standing rests on the Gujarat PPP structure and a 2020 national TBI award rather than on a stack of scheme empanelments. It runs fewer national schemes than PIEDS or a-IDEA.

Supported by Government of Gujarat· 2012National Award for Technology Business Incubator 2020, instituted by NSTEDB, DST, Government of India· 2020DST-recognized PRAYAS CentreDST approved Technology Business Incubator for NIDHI-EIR ProgrammeRecognized Incubation Centre under TIDE 2.0

The Gujarat model, and what it changes

iCreate is unusual among Indian incubators in not being attached to a university or a research institute. Founded in 2012, it runs as a public-private partnership backed by the Government of Gujarat and the Government of India, on its own campus at Deo Dholera near Ahmedabad.

That has two practical consequences. There is no affiliation gate — nothing here is restricted to one institution's students or alumni, which is a real contrast with PIEDS, where the largest funds are closed to non-BITS founders. And the sector spread is broad by design: electric vehicles, Industry 4.0, fintech, healthtech, agritech, edtech, watertech and renewable energy, with a dedicated EV Centre of Excellence.

The partner list is the other distinguishing feature — Cisco, Start-up Nation Central and Technion in Israel, the University of Houston, ICRISAT, Mumbai Angels, Bootup Ventures and Social Alpha. The India Israel Innovation Accelerator exists because of those relationships and has no obvious equivalent elsewhere in this set.

The easiest way in

Use Pitch to Rise first. It runs on the last Friday of every month, hybrid and online as well as on campus, and shortlisted projects receive prototyping grants. A recurring monthly pitch with no application cycle is a materially lower-friction entry point than anything else in Indian incubation, and it is the obvious first step before committing to a programme.

Then match yourself to a stage. iCreate organises its support as a ladder: Idea Catalyst for idea stage, the Pro-Fund Gateway and iLAB for prototyping, the Seed-Stage Accelerator for early market, and NIDHI-SSS for scale-up (that last one open only to startups already incubated here).

Best fit: hardware and deep-tech teams — EV, drones, Industry 4.0 — who want prototyping facilities and corporate access without an institutional affiliation. The EV Centre of Excellence and the Cisco innovation lab are the differentiators.

On terms: iCreate sets funding amounts and incubation terms per programme and per stage rather than publishing a single schedule, so the practical step is to apply through the funding portal or raise it at a Pitch to Rise session, where you can get an answer for your specific case.

About iCreate

iCreate (International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology) is a technology business incubator based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, established in 2012. Operating under the Gujarat Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence (GFEE), iCreate has grown to become one of India's most recognized incubation centres, earning national awards for its contributions to the startup ecosystem. The incubator provides comprehensive support to technology-driven startups including co-working infrastructure, mentorship, prototyping facilities, and access to funding networks. With over 380 startups supported to date, iCreate has established itself as a leading player in Gujarat's innovation landscape.

Role in Startup Ecosystem

iCreate plays a central role in Gujarat's startup ecosystem by providing institutional support for technology-driven entrepreneurship. The incubator's focus on sectors such as electric vehicles, fintech, agritech, healthtech, and aerospace and defence aligns with both Gujarat's industrial strengths and India's national technology priorities. iCreate's position in Ahmedabad gives it access to Gujarat's strong manufacturing base and business networks, enabling it to connect technology startups with established industries for pilot projects, supply chain integration, and market access. The incubator's national award recognition has also helped it attract startups and mentors from across India.

Programs and Initiatives

iCreate offers structured incubation programs that cover the full startup lifecycle from ideation through growth. Startups receive co-working space, access to prototyping labs and testing facilities, one-on-one mentorship from industry experts, and connections to investors and corporate partners. The incubator has a particular strength in hardware and IoT startups, with facilities that support physical product development and testing. iCreate also runs acceleration programs focused on specific sectors and technologies, bringing in domain experts and industry partners to provide specialized guidance. The incubator organizes demo days, investor meets, and industry networking events that showcase its portfolio companies to potential customers and funding sources.

Notable Alumni

iCreate's portfolio of 380+ startups spans multiple technology sectors. The incubator has produced ventures in electric vehicle technology, financial technology, agricultural innovation, and defence technology that have gone on to raise institutional funding and secure commercial contracts.

Who Benefits

Technology entrepreneurs based in or willing to relocate to Gujarat are primary beneficiaries. Hardware and IoT startups that need access to prototyping and testing infrastructure find iCreate's facilities particularly valuable. Founders working in electric vehicles, fintech, agritech, healthtech, and defence technology can leverage the incubator's sector-specific expertise and industry connections. Student entrepreneurs from Gujarat's universities and engineering colleges also access iCreate's programs to develop their ventures.

Strategic Impact

iCreate contributes to Gujarat's position as one of India's leading states for entrepreneurship and innovation. By supporting over 380 startups, the incubator has helped build a critical mass of technology ventures in the state, creating a positive feedback loop that attracts more founders, investors, and corporate partners. iCreate's focus on hardware and IoT alongside software ventures reflects the broader opportunity in Gujarat, where strong manufacturing infrastructure can support the commercialization of physical technology products.