IMAGE CoE 6-month accelerator cohort
A programme by IMAGE Centre of Entrepreneurship (CoE) (Centre of Entrepreneurship)
A 6-month cohort accelerator for gaming, animation, VFX, computer vision and AI start-ups, with seed funding, office space and mentorship. The 7th cohort is closed.
At a glance
| Best for | Indian start-ups in gaming, animation, VFX, computer vision or AI, registered no more than 10 years ago |
|---|---|
| Stage | Idea – Prototype |
| Duration | 6 months |
| Format | In person |
| Cost | Paid, takes equity |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of Telangana, TVAGA, HYSEA, IIIT Hyderabad, TIE Hyderabad, Hyderabad Angels, SucSEED Indovation Fund |
About IMAGE CoE 6-month accelerator cohort
The 7th cohort is closed to new applications. The centre says it runs cohorts twice a year, so watch for the next call.
What you get
- Seed funding, with the amount depending on development stage, pitch deck and technology validation.
- A plug and play office for your team, co-working space, conference rooms and a Preview Theatre.
- Connections with major venture capital and angel funds, and a demo day to show products to investors.
- Mentorship from industry experts, in classroom and one-to-one sessions.
- Legal, IPR and statutory support, and end to end market support.
- Additional credits from ecosystem partners.
Who can apply
- Indian start-ups in gaming, animation, VFX, computer vision or AI, registered in India no more than 10 years ago.
- Product companies. Services firms are not the focus.
- Individual academics, researchers, educators and entrepreneurs may take part, but a selected team must register as a private limited company within 3 months.
How selection works: three phases, starting with an online contest entry, then screening of ideas and proofs of concept, then a one-to-one pitch to a panel.
How to apply: when a cohort is open, sign up on the centre's online contest portal with your company details. Shortlisted applicants are invited to pitch at the centre in Hyderabad.