Startup Exploration Program 2026 - IIT Mandi Catalyst
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Quick Answer
3-month exploration program for prototype-stage innovators
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹9Cr
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- IIT Mandi Catalyst
- Application deadline
- —
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Results & next round
Applications for this round are closed. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by IIT Mandi Catalyst. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The Startup Exploration Program 2026 by IIT Mandi Catalyst is a structured three-month incubation initiative designed to help innovators transition from early-stage ideas and prototypes to validated, market-ready and growth-ready startups. Positioned as an exploration-focused program, it supports founders who are at the prototyping or product development stage and require structured mentoring, infrastructure access, and ecosystem integration to accelerate execution.
The program is built around guided experimentation, business validation, and structured capability building. Participating startups receive expert mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders who provide personalized guidance tailored to each venture’s maturity and sector. A strong emphasis is placed on refining business models and establishing clear go-to-market strategies, ensuring that founders move beyond technical development toward commercial viability.
In addition to strategic business mentoring, the program offers legal and intellectual property support. Founders are guided on entity structuring, compliance considerations, and safeguarding innovation through appropriate IP mechanisms. This structured legal foundation is critical for startups preparing for future fundraising, partnerships, and commercialization.
Infrastructure access is a core pillar of the program. Selected startups gain access to co-working spaces, labs, and technical facilities that enable product iteration and development in a supportive environment. The program also integrates networking opportunities, connecting founders with potential clients, partners, investors, and alumni entrepreneurs within the broader startup ecosystem.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
IIT Mandi Catalyst is the technology business incubator (TBI) run by IIT Mandi from its Kamand campus in Himachal Pradesh. Launched in 2016, it was the state's first TBI. It is funded by IIT Mandi itself, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Ministry of…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Amount
- Up to ₹9Cr
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Successful applicants receive a structured three-month incubation experience: each team is assigned a mentor from a relevant industry background, follows a curated curriculum of nine workshops (goal-setting, visioning, UI/UX, value proposition & business model, technology management, finance fundamentals, legal clinic, patent & IP management, and funding schemes for startups), and attends intensive bootcamps. Monthly check-ins with the Catalyst team track milestones and address bottlenecks. The program culminates in a Demo Day where startups showcase progress and position themselves for IIT Mandi Catalyst's next-level incubation programs. Beyond mentoring, you get access to co-working spaces, labs and technical facilities for product iteration, plus networking with potential clients, partners, investors and alumni. Expected outcomes: a refined prototype/MVP and market readiness.
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
