IDFC FIRST Bank IGNITE Programme
A programme by IIMCIP (IIM Calcutta Innovation Park)
Nine-month incubation for startups on sustainable business solutions, with a CSR grant for each selected startup.
At a glance
| Best for | Startups on environmental and social challenges, at MVP or proof of concept |
|---|---|
| Stage | MVP |
| Duration | 9 months |
| Cost | Free |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | IDFC FIRST Bank |
About IDFC FIRST Bank IGNITE Programme
A nine-month incubation programme for startups building solutions to environmental and social challenges, run by IIM Calcutta Innovation Park as implementation partner for IDFC FIRST Bank.
What you get
- Nine months of structured incubation
- A CSR grant for each selected startup, with a larger award for top performers
- One-to-one mentoring and technical bootcamps
- Mock pitch sessions and investor pitching opportunities
Who can apply
- Startups registered and operating in India, with at least one Indian citizen founder
- A functional MVP or proof of concept at TRL 4 or above
- Incorporated not more than 10 years ago
How selection works
Eligibility screening, assessment by domain experts and jury members, a pitch if shortlisted, and final cohort selection.
How to apply
The stated call window was August to September 2026, with the cohort starting in October 2026.
Where to apply
Other IIMCIP programmes
- Kotak BizLabs Accelerator ProgrammeAcceleration for early-revenue startups with measurable social or environmental impact, run as a CSR initiative of Kotak Mahindra Bank with IIMCIP.
- Prakriti Incubation Launchpad Cohort 2Twelve-month incubation for North East startups on sustainable business solutions, implemented with Pernod Ricard India (PRIF).
- Maruti Suzuki NurtureSix-month joint programme of Maruti Suzuki and IIMCIP for early-stage startups building solutions for Indian mobility.
- NIDHI - Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) programmeA government fellowship for first-generation technology entrepreneurs, with pre-incubation at IIM Calcutta Innovation Park.