National Institute of Technology Warangal

Choosing the right route

• Faculty and students with an early STEM idea start in pre-incubation.
• Founders with a registered technology company and an R&D link to the institute apply in the main incubation category.
• Founders with no link to the institute should ask the centre first, because its admission rules are limited to the institute's community.

How applications work

• Use the NITWIEF application form, or write to hello@nitwief.org.
• Give your name, your organisation or startup (or the idea, if you are still at ideation), any registration or incorporation number, and the support you need.
• Expect a reply after the team reviews the idea.

How selection works

• Send an executive summary or a business plan.
• Present to the CII evaluation committee if the first review is positive.
• Allow up to eight weeks for approval.

What reviewers look for

• A technology-based idea that suits an engineering discipline.
• Realistic financial projections with significant revenue within five to seven years.
• A clear R&D link to the institute, for companies in the main category.

The Centre for Innovation and Incubation (CII) is the incubator of the National Institute of Technology Warangal, in Warangal, Telangana. It supports technology-based startups from the institute's own community, and it runs pre-incubation for students and faculty with early ideas. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Foundation (NITWIEF), a Section 8 company set up by the institute, handles applications.

How the programme works

CII admits companies in two main categories. Pre-incubation is for faculty and students with STEM ideas who want to turn a tested idea into a commercial product, and who are expected to move on to the main category within a year. The main incubation category is for technology startups promoted by first-generation entrepreneurs. Those startups set up an R&D partnership with NIT Warangal to commercialise a new technological idea or to scale up a laboratory-proven concept. A third category covers technology units of existing small and medium enterprises that want a technology alliance with the institute.

Incubation is planned around an initial stay of 11 months. A further stay of 11 months can follow after a performance review by the CII startup committee. Any stay beyond 18 months needs the approval of the institute's Board.

Who can apply

Admission for incubation is limited to people with a direct or indirect link to the NIT Warangal community. That covers faculty, students at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level, postdoctoral researchers, alumni, R&D partners, partner universities and government agencies. Companies owned by faculty members together with entrepreneurs from outside the institute are a stated priority. The startup policy's scope section also refers to external startups, while its admission rules limit incubation to people with a campus link. Founders from outside the institute should ask the centre how their case is handled before applying.

Category II companies must be registered with the Registrar of Companies before admission, except for those still in pre-incubation. CII takes only technology-based companies in any engineering discipline. It expects a plan with realistic financial projections and significant revenue within five to seven years.

What incubated companies get

Incubated companies can apply for seed support from the institute's innovation fund. Seed support is given as a convertible instrument or a loan, and it depends on the institute's investment guidelines. Each company has a mandatory faculty mentor from NIT Warangal, and it can also have an industry mentor. Companies get training and workshops, a common secretarial pool, and an MBA intern if they want one. Professional services in accounting, intellectual property, legal and management are available on a part-time basis for payment. The institute also helps companies apply for government funding programmes.

Facilities are offered based on availability and need, and the institute keeps ownership of all assets and facilities provided. Companies must report material changes, such as changes of directors or new investment, and get the institute's permission before making them. Companies pay a refundable security deposit when they move in. Incubation fees can apply, and the institute may take a share of company equity for the use of its brand and support. It takes no equity from students in pre-incubation.

How selection works

Applicants send an executive summary or a business plan, depending on category. CII reviews it with an internal committee. If the review is positive, the founders give a presentation to an evaluation committee, which questions the plan closely. The committee then recommends admission to the Director, who gives final approval. The approval process can take as long as eight weeks, and it depends mostly on how ready the company is. Before admission, CII may run due diligence on the company, its team and its market.

Who runs it

CII is the institute's own centre. NITWIEF, the institute's Section 8 foundation, is the public route for applications and enquiries.