JITO Incubation & Innovation Foundation

Start by choosing the right route

JIIF runs distinct routes, and they are not interchangeable:

• Early-stage startup wanting a structured programme: the JITO Incubation Centre, a three-month programme that takes equity in exchange for support.
• Raising an early-stage round: the JITO Angel Network, which is sector-agnostic and open to all community entrepreneurs.
• A Jain founder wanting to pitch live: JITO Shark Angels, which invests exclusively in Jain entrepreneurs through on-the-spot pitch events.
• A DPIIT-recognised startup seeking seed funding: the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme route, where JIIF acts as a disbursing partner.

Check eligibility before you apply

The incubation centre requires at least 33% shareholding by a Jain entrepreneur in the applying company. JITO Shark Angels is for Jain entrepreneurs only, while the angel network is open more widely. The seed-fund route follows the scheme's rules: DPIIT recognition, incorporation within the last two years, and majority Indian promoter shareholding. Startups in sectors JIIF considers against Jain philosophy are not considered.

How applications and selection work

For the incubation centre, apply through the online incubation form; for funding, use the fundraising form. The angel network's process runs through application, evaluation, selection, an investor connect and due diligence, with expert panels assessing feasibility, market potential and viability. The Shark Angels process runs through in-house screening, expert analysis and an investment committee before a founder pitches at an event. Idea-stage and pre-proof-of-concept startups are generally pointed toward incubation rather than straight to funding.

What to prepare

• A clear proposal, since the angel network starts with a detailed submission that expert panels assess.
• Evidence that matches the route: the incubation centre takes any stage, but the funding routes expect something to evaluate.
• The right community fit, since two of the routes are restricted to Jain entrepreneurs.

JITO Incubation & Innovation Foundation (JIIF) is the incubation and angel-investment arm of the Jain International Trade Organization (JITO). It runs from JITO House in Andheri East, Mumbai, and works to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in India through an incubation centre and two angel-investment vehicles.

JIIF is not a single programme. It runs an incubation centre that takes early-stage startups through a short structured programme, a sector-agnostic angel network that invests in early-stage rounds, and a live pitch-event platform where founders raise money on the spot. It is also a disbursing partner for a central-government seed-fund scheme. The organisation describes itself as sector-agnostic rather than tied to one field.

How JIIF's programmes work

The JITO Incubation Centre (JIC) is a three-month incubation programme for early-stage startups. It offers mentoring from industry experts, partner credits and services, affordable office space, and help across legal, accounting, technology and HR. JIC does not charge a fee for its incubation services, but startups give up a share of equity to JIIF.

Alongside the incubation centre, JIIF runs the JITO Angel Network (JAN), a sector-agnostic angel network backed by JITO's investors that both leads and co-invests in early-stage fundraising rounds. A second vehicle, JITO Shark Angels (JSA), is a live fundraising-event platform where startups pitch to a panel of investors to raise money on the spot. The two differ in who they back: JAN invests across all community entrepreneurs, while JSA invests exclusively in Jain entrepreneurs.

Since 2022, JIIF has also been a disbursing partner for the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), a central-government seed-fund scheme. As a DPIIT-selected incubator partner, it channels seed funds to eligible startups as grants and convertible debentures, with disbursement overseen by an Incubator Seedfund Management Committee.

Who can apply

Eligibility depends on the programme. The incubation centre requires the applying technology company to have at least 33% shareholding by a Jain entrepreneur, and startups can apply at any stage. The angel network is sector-agnostic and open to community entrepreneurs, while JITO Shark Angels is for Jain entrepreneurs only. The SISFS route follows the scheme's own rules: a DPIIT-recognised startup incorporated not more than two years ago, using technology in its core product or business model, with at least 51% Indian promoter shareholding. JIIF does not entertain startups in sectors against Jain philosophy, such as liquor, non-vegetarian food, tobacco, weapons and gambling.

Facilities

JIIF runs a furnished co-working space at JITO House in Andheri East, Mumbai, with open workstations, director cabins, boardroom and meeting rooms, high-speed Wi-Fi, pantry and parking. It is offered at subsidised rates to the JITO ecosystem, with an additional discount for JIIF members.

Scale

JIIF reports that it has incubated more than 70 startups and that its network includes more than 100 expert mentors. It also reports a large base of angel investors, though its own pages give different counts for how many companies it has invested in. JITO Shark Angels ran nine events in its first season, with 53 startups pitching to 41 investors. These are JIIF's own published figures.

How to apply

Applications are made programme by programme through JIIF's online forms: an incubation application for the incubation centre, and a fundraising application for the angel network and JITO Shark Angels. SISFS applicants also apply through the Startup India Seed Fund portal. General queries go to operations@jitojiif.com.

Where it operates

JIIF is based at JITO House, Andheri East, Mumbai. It is the national incubation and angel-network arm of JITO; a separate JITO Surat chapter page describes JIIF as one of its initiatives and carries smaller, older figures.