BIRAC BioNEST — Krishi Utthan Incubation Center
A programme by Indigram Labs Foundation (Indigram Labs Foundation)
ILF's bio-incubator with BIRAC for agri-focused biotech and life-sciences startups, running in cohorts; 35 startups are listed across three.
At a glance
| Best for | Biotechnology and life-sciences startups at TRL 6-7 working on science-led solutions for agriculture |
|---|---|
| Stage | Prototype – Early revenue |
| Format | In person |
| Run with | Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) |
About BIRAC BioNEST — Krishi Utthan Incubation Center
BioNEST is BIRAC's bio-incubation programme, and ILF runs one as the Krishi Utthan Incubation Center. It is aimed at startups whose work sits between the laboratory and the field — bio-agriculture, bio-based products and allied life sciences. ILF says it looks particularly for founders from tier 2, 3 and 4 cities. Three cohorts are published, with 13, 11 and 11 startups.
What you get
- Incubation-cum-office space at the centre.
- Mentorship on go-to-market and product refinement.
- Introductions to research institutions, investors, farmer producer organisations and market channels.
- Specialist accounting, financial, legal and farmer-engagement services.
Who can apply
- Biotechnology and life-sciences startups at TRL 6-7.
- Work aligned to the agriculture sector.
How selection works: Not published. ILF's two BioNEST pages also disagree on the phase dates, so check which phase and cohort is open before you plan around it.
How to apply: Through ILF's incubation form. The BioNEST page also offers a programme brochure and names an incubation coordinator as the contact; general enquiries go to tbi@indigramlabs.org.
Where to apply
Other ILF programmes
- Startup Incubation ProgramILF's general incubation route for early-stage agri, food, climate and rural startups, open all year with no deadline.
- Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)ILF says it is an approved incubator under DPIIT's seed fund scheme, and has published 17 startups supported through it.
- NIDHI Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS)DST seed support delivered by ILF for technology startups bridging the gap between prototype and market; 19 startups are listed.
- SAMRIDH — MeitY Startup AcceleratorILF is a delivery partner for MeitY's SAMRIDH accelerator for growth-stage product startups, and has run two cohorts.
- COFE — Children of Farmer EntrepreneursILF's own initiative for young founders from farming families building ventures in agriculture and allied sectors.
- Agritech AcceleratorA short landing page offering acceleration for growth-stage agritech startups; no cohort, dates or curriculum are published.
- Agripulse ProgramA past acceleration programme for early-stage founders in India's North-East; ILF describes it in the past tense and gives it no page of its own.
- NIDHI Accelerator ProgramA past government-supported accelerator for agri and food technology startups — not the same thing as the NIDHI-SSS seed support ILF still runs.
- Women Entrepreneurship ProgramA past bootcamp for women founders, ending in an investor pitch; ILF gives it no page, dates or intake.
- Adhunik Gram (Smart Village) InitiativeA past rural development initiative backing founders building technology and business models for rural markets.