STPI Kalpataru Centre of Entrepreneurship (CoE) on Industry 4.0

Check that you fit the Open Challenge Program

The Open Challenge Program is for Indian startups building software products in the Industry 4.0 space — Industrial IoT, AI, machine learning, AR/VR, industrial automation, robotics, drones and 3D printing. If your work sits outside those areas, this is not the right route. DPIIT-registered startups are encouraged to apply.

Make sure you meet the eligibility rules

• Your entity should be an Indian startup, and for a private limited company the date of incorporation must be within the last ten years.
• At least 51% shareholding must be held by an Indian citizen or a person of Indian origin.
• Your entity must not be a subsidiary of a foreign corporation.
• Individual applicants, partnership firms and LLPs can apply, but are expected to register as a private limited company, preferably within three months, once selected.
• Startups already on-boarded at Kalpataru cannot re-apply through the challenge.

How applications and selection work

Apply online through the Apply Now link on the programme page. Applications are screened in a centralised, multi-tier process, and shortlisted applicants are called to pitch or present for final selection.

What they are looking for

Selection weighs the idea, the novelty of the solution, the strength of the team and the soundness of the business proposal. Prepare to show how your product uses Industry 4.0 technology to solve a real problem.

Where to get help

For technical queries on the application form, write to the Kalpataru team at kalpataru@stpi.in.

STPI Kalpataru Centre of Entrepreneurship (CoE) on Industry 4.0 is a startup incubator in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is established at the Rashtriya ISPAT Nigam Limited – Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (RINL-VSP) with the support of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, in partnership with RINL-VSP and the Government of Andhra Pradesh. It is run under Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) as one of the STPI Centres of Entrepreneurship.

What they support

Kalpataru focuses on Industry 4.0 technologies: Industrial IoT, artificial intelligence, machine learning, AR/VR, industrial automation, robotics, drones and 3D printing. It works with Indian startups building software products in these areas, and encourages DPIIT-registered startups to take part. Individual academicians, researchers, educators, entrepreneurs, partnership firms and LLPs can also take part, and are expected to register as a private limited company, preferably within three months, if they are selected. Startups already on-boarded at Kalpataru are not eligible to re-apply through its challenge. To qualify, an applicant's entity must have at least 51% shareholding held by an Indian citizen or person of Indian origin, and must not be a subsidiary of any foreign corporation.

Programmes

Kalpataru's main route in is the Open Challenge Program (OCP), a competition that identifies startups solving problems in emerging sectors using Industry 4.0 technologies. The current round is Open Challenge Program 8.0. Startups apply, are screened and pitch for selection, and selected startups undergo a one-year incubation delivered in Nurture, Develop and Market phases. Incubation can be extended on the recommendation of the Project Management Group committee.

Facilities and support

Selected startups get plug-and-play space, mentoring, seed support and access to the centre's labs during their incubation. The centre describes its support as covering the full incubation period, with the structured Nurture, Develop and Market phases.

Who runs it

Kalpataru is one of the Centres of Entrepreneurship set up under Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), an organisation under MeitY. The centre operates from the RINL-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant campus, with the Government of Andhra Pradesh as a partner.

Locations

The centre is based at Sector-1, Ukkunagaram, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, within the RINL-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

How to apply

Applications for the Open Challenge Program are made online through the Apply Now link on the programme page, which routes to STPI's application portal. Applications are screened in a centralised, multi-tier process, and shortlisted applicants are called for selection through a pitch or presentation. For help with filling the application form, applicants can write to the Kalpataru team at kalpataru@stpi.in.