LEAP AHEAD
A programme by Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) (Software Technology Parks of India)
A three-month hybrid growth programme run with TiE Delhi-NCR for startups that already have revenue; the second edition closed in January 2025.
At a glance
| Best for | Private limited tech startups with revenue and audited accounts that are ready to scale |
|---|---|
| Stage | Early revenue – Growth |
| Duration | 3 months |
| Format | Hybrid |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | TiE Delhi-NCR, MeitY |
About LEAP AHEAD
LEAP AHEAD — Launchpad for Tech Entrepreneurs towards Accelerated growth and Pioneering AHEAD — is STPI's growth-stage track, run with TiE Delhi-NCR and a panel of investors. It is a three-month intensive mentorship in hybrid mode, mixing virtual and in-person sessions. Applications for the second edition ran from 15 October 2024 to 15 January 2025 and the result has been published, so it is between intakes. The first edition ran as CHUNAUTI 6.0.
What you get
- Three months of intensive mentorship, part online and part in person
- One-to-one mentorship with investors and industry experts
- Funding after grooming and handholding by the investor panel
- Networking and exposure to global markets
- Incubation at STPI centres around the country
- Cloud credits and other third-party benefits
Who can apply
- Indian startups in software product development, structured as a private limited company
- In the scaling or growth stage, or planning expansion into new geographies or product diversification
- With a stated minimum revenue and at least one year of audited accounts or a filed ITR
- Having raised a stated minimum from outside investors — this does not apply to bootstrapped startups
- At least 51% shareholding with an Indian citizen or a person of Indian origin, and not a subsidiary of a foreign corporation
- DPIIT-recognised startups are encouraged, and startups showing traction, preferably between seed and Series A, with a scalable product and a significant addressable market, are preferred
How selection works: applicants pitch. The second edition held in-person pitching at Guwahati, Bhopal and Jaipur, with online pitching for the remaining applicants.
How to apply: through the Apply Now link on the LEAP AHEAD page while a window is open.
Where to apply
Other STPI programmes
- Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS)STPI's national incubation scheme for software product startups, run from twelve Tier-II centres and entered by winning a CHUNAUTI challenge.
- CHUNAUTI (NextGen Start-up Challenge)STPI's recurring national startup challenge and the way into NGIS incubation; ten editions have run and it is currently between calls.
- STPI Centres of Entrepreneurship (CoE) networkA national network of domain-specific incubation centres, each built with a state government and industry partners, each running its own calls.
- Software Technology Park (STP) SchemeA rolling registration for 100% export-oriented software units, with single-window clearance and duty-free imports.
- Electronic Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) SchemeThe hardware twin of the STP scheme — a rolling registration for 100% export-oriented electronics manufacturing units.
- SAYUJSTPI's free networking and resource-discovery platform, and where its Centres of Entrepreneurship publish their calls and contests.