Pre-Incubation

Pre-incubation is where the centre starts with an idea rather than a company. It runs about six months, with periodic reviews, and is meant to get you to a feasible business model and a working prototype.

The centre delivers it both as a standing route and as dated cohorts. The two cohorts it advertised during 2026 were restricted to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University students, and both have closed. The policy behind the phase is broader than the cohorts, so if you are not an SMVDU student it is worth asking the centre directly rather than waiting for a call.

What you get

• Mentoring on refining the idea and building a business model
• Shared office space, internet and tools
• Workshops on business, intellectual property and strategy
• Access to mentors, industry experts and investors
• A route through to the incubation phase

Who can apply

• Per the centre's policy, students, alumni, faculty and outside innovators
• You need a novel idea with commercial potential and evidence that you are serious about building it
• Cohort intakes advertised during 2026 were open only to SMVDU students, and asked for a named faculty mentor and a signed mentor consent form

How selection works: Applications are screened on innovation, feasibility and scalability by a three-person committee, then shortlisted applicants face a selection panel. Cohort selection is judged on innovation and uniqueness, problem-solution fit, technical feasibility, market potential, scalability, social and economic impact, team capability and readiness. To graduate the phase you need at least three months in it and an assessment by two managing committee members and the chief executive.

How to apply: Through the online application on the centre's website, or by email or physical application, with a statement of purpose, business plan, intellectual property declaration and the centre's standard forms. Enquiries go to smvdu.tbic@smvdu.ac.in.