Atal Incubation Centre – Social Alpha (AIC)
A programme by Social Alpha
A NITI Aayog Atal Innovation Mission incubation centre focused on climate, health and livelihoods start-ups.
At a glance
| Best for | Early-stage climate, health and livelihoods start-ups |
|---|---|
| Stage | Idea – Prototype |
About Atal Incubation Centre – Social Alpha (AIC)
The Atal Incubation Centre at Social Alpha was set up under NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission to give early-stage start-ups end-to-end support on their lab-to-market journey, with a focus on five areas: energy transition, circular economy, health and wellness, mobility and sustainable construction. Start-ups join through specific grand challenges (past ones include the India Clean Air Challenge, Pfizer INDovation, and Techtonic editions on waste management and clean energy) or through lateral entry.
What you get
- Product development through extensive lab infrastructure, maker space and test beds
- Go-to-market strategy support and access to in-house experts in investment banking, marketing, HR and product development
- Seed and follow-on funding support
- Market access support for scale-up and commercialisation
- Design-for-manufacturing support
- Mentorship, partnership opportunities and international visibility
Who can apply: Early-stage start-ups and entrepreneurs with market-creating innovations in the AIC's focus sectors, usually onboarded through a specific grand challenge.
How to apply: Through the grand challenge currently open, or by lateral entry via the AIC page.
Where to apply
Other Social Alpha programmes
- Techtonic: Innovations for SustainabilitySocial Alpha's current Techtonic edition, scouting innovations across the energy transition, new materials and natural resources.
- Techtonic: Innovations in Clean EnergyA closed Techtonic edition that scouted renewable-energy, energy-efficiency and clean-energy-access innovations.
- SpaceTech Innovation Network (SpIN)A lab-to-market platform for space-technology start-ups, supported by ISRO, with rolling applications.
- mach33.aeroA joint initiative with CSIR-NAL supporting aviation, aerospace and space-tech start-ups from a lab in Bengaluru.
- Department of Science and Technology NIDHI Seed Support SchemeA DST-backed seed fund giving grant support to start-ups already in Social Alpha's incubation programme.
- CEIBIC CleanTech ChallengeA closed clean-energy challenge run through the Clean Energy Innovation and Business Incubation Centre, with a preference for Kerala-based start-ups.
- Krishi Mangal (with Cisco CSR)A recurring agri-focused accelerator with Cisco CSR, now in its third edition, for start-ups supporting smallholder-farmer resilience.
- Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) and Entrepreneurs for Impact (E4i)Two fellowship tracks that bring in individuals to commercialise deep-science lab innovations or train as first-time impact entrepreneurs.