Indian Institute of Science

Who should apply

• Founders with a deep science or deep tech idea that is based on IP and aims at a social or commercial problem.
• You do not need to be an IISc alumnus. The page says services are open to all.

How to apply

• Send your business plan or pitch deck to stem.cell@fsid-iisc.in. The page accepts applications through the year.
• The 'Apply Now' button on the page does not lead to a form, so use the email route.

What reviewers look for

• A clear customer problem, a defensible technology and IP position, and an entrepreneurial team.
• A credible market, business model and financial plan, and a societal impact case.

Before you apply

• Ask about equity and any fees. The page describes seed support as grants and equity-related funding, but does not give terms.

STEM is the deep science and deep tech incubator run by the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID), which works with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru. It takes IP-based start-ups that aim to commercialise science and technology for societal benefit.

The incubator says it is domain agnostic and accepts applications all through the year. Its incubation services are open to all and are not restricted to IISc alumni only.

How the programme works

STEM incubates start-ups that turn science and technology into products. The incubator describes its offering as space, access to IISc labs under IISc policy, training and events, mentoring from IISc and industry, cloud credits from partner organisations, and access to working capital and debt funding through partners. Founders and employees are covered by group medical insurance. Its prototyping labs (the MATTER facility) are open to start-ups at concessional rates.

Seed funding and space

Seed support is described as grants and equity-related funding. The page does not say what share of equity, if any, is taken from start-ups, so check the terms before you apply. The incubator offers fully furnished space on the IISc campus at no rent.

Who can apply

Anyone with a deep science or deep tech idea rooted in IP can apply. The page does not restrict the programme to IISc students, staff or alumni. IISc faculty who want to commercialise their own work have a separate route, the Faculty Entrepreneurship Program, which runs under IISc policies.

How selection works

The incubator says it has a repeatable process to evaluate entrepreneurs and business ideas. A jury of IISc faculty, other academic institutions, financial and legal experts, and industry domain experts reviews applications against the parameters the page lists: the customer problem, technology and intellectual property, the entrepreneurial team, competitive landscape, markets, business model, financials and societal impact.

Who runs it

The incubator is run by FSID, a foundation set up to carry IISc's science and technology into industry and society. FSID's Innovation Centre is on the IISc campus in Bengaluru, near Maramma Circle Gate and close to the J.N. Tata Auditorium.

Other programmes on the same site

FSID also runs an Entrepreneur-in-Residence programme. It helps validate start-up ideas, from lab to field, and develop business plans, which can lead to a full incubation proposal. Its audience is not stated on the page.

The site also lists government schemes under a heading for schemes it operates, including the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, the NIDHI Seed Support Program and the SIDBI Seed Support Program.