Vivekananda Global University

Choosing the right route

• Early-stage founders with a validated idea or MVP are the stated audience for ACIC-VGU's open call.
• Technology-based startups are the stated focus of VGU-TBI Foundation.
• Students and faculty with an idea can start with IIC-VGU's idea submission.

How applications work

• Each incubator has its own form, so apply to the one whose focus matches your startup.
• Confirm the current sectors and intake dates with the team before applying, since the ACIC-VGU site describes its sector focus in more than one way.

What to have ready

• A clear description of the problem, the solution and the stage the startup is at.
• For VGU-TBI, the stage you are at: idea, validation, go-to-market or early revenue.

Vivekananda Global University (VGU) is a private university in Jaipur, Rajasthan, run by the Bagaria Education Trust. Its startup support comes through three bodies on or around the campus: ACIC-VGU Foundation, an incubation centre set up under the Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog; VGU-TBI Foundation, a technology business incubator; and the Institution's Innovation Council (IIC-VGU), the university's innovation and startup cell.

Who can apply

ACIC-VGU and VGU-TBI say they are open to students, alumni, researchers and community innovators. ACIC-VGU's open incubation call lists students, innovators, early-stage startups and entrepreneurs with a validated idea or MVP as those who can apply. VGU-TBI works with technology-based startups. IIC-VGU works with students, faculty, staff, alumni and aspiring entrepreneurs.

ACIC-VGU says it focuses on early-stage startups and grassroots entrepreneurs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Its sector focus is described differently on different pages of its own site: one describes it as sector-agnostic, another lists design and craft, handicrafts, lifestyle, fashion and agriculture. Check the current call for the sectors it accepts.

Programmes

ACIC-VGU's open incubation call, UpcubateX, runs in hybrid mode, with virtual sessions and on-campus work at the ACIC-VGU centre in Jaipur. The call offers mentorship, hands-on business support, capacity-building workshops and idea validation, and it describes the support as including access to funding and investor connects.

VGU-TBI Foundation was established in 2021 as a not-for-profit technology business incubator operating under the university. It takes technology-based startups through incubation, and its application form asks for the startup's stage: idea, validation, go-to-market or early revenue.

IIC-VGU was established in 2018-19 in line with the Ministry of Education's Innovation Cell. Founders submit an idea through its form to be considered for mentorship, funding and incubation support. The council also runs innovation and entrepreneurship activities for students and faculty.

The SIDBI Swavalamban Chair is a separate research and action platform under the SIDBI SAHAS initiative. It is aimed at small businesses, grassroots innovation and regional SME challenges.

Recognition

ACIC-VGU describes itself as India's first Atal Community Innovation Centre in a private university. Its website and the university's pages both name the Atal Innovation Mission. The Institution's Innovation Council states a star rating from the Ministry of Education.

Track record

The figures differ between sources, and they are all self-reported. The university's pages say 212+ startups have been incubated, and the ACIC-VGU site says 140+. The university's pages also give a larger total for government grants secured through ACIC-VGU than the ACIC-VGU site does. Other stated counts include 60 funded startups, 50+ mentors, 60+ partnerships and 15,000+ entrepreneurs reached, and IIC-VGU says it has supported 800+ unique ideas.

Facilities

ACIC-VGU describes hands-on lab facilities alongside its incubation support, mentorship and funding access. The incubators are based on the VGU campus in Jaipur, in Sector-36 near NRI Road.

How to apply

Applicants apply to ACIC-VGU through its online application for the UpcubateX call, or by writing to acic@vgu.ac.in. VGU-TBI takes applications through the form on its page or at tbi@vgu.ac.in. Ideas for IIC-VGU go through its submission form, with queries to iic@vgu.ac.in.