The Open Challenge Program (OCP) 9.0 is a startup incubation initiative by OctaNE CoE Aizawl , one of eight Centres of Excellence in India's Northeast established under MeitY's STPINEXT programme , focused exclusively on the Gaming and Entertainment sector. Located in Aizawl, Mizoram, the CoE invites applications from startups and entrepreneurs building innovative solutions in gaming, animation, visual effects, and the broader AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics) domain.
Selected startups receive seed funding of up to ₹25 lakh along with access to a state-of-the-art Gaming and Entertainment lab equipped with high-end GPU-based workstations and servers, dedicated incubation space in Aizawl, expert mentorship, domain-specific training, marketing and business development support, and IPR and legal assistance. The programme is designed to identify, support, and scale early-stage tech ventures working at the intersection of gaming, interactive media, and entertainment technology.
The OCP platform functions as a structured challenge where startups are evaluated on their ability to solve meaningful problems through innovative technology solutions. Beyond the funding and infrastructure access, the programme provides strategic networking and collaboration opportunities within STPI's pan-India ecosystem, which includes linkages with industry, academia, and government stakeholders. Over a five-year horizon, the Aizawl CoE targets support for 367 startups in the Gaming and Entertainment domain.
The programme is organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), and AIC STPINEXT INITIATIVES, with NIT Mizoram (NITMZ) and Mizoram University (MZU) as institutional stakeholders. For Gaming and Entertainment founders looking to access institutional support, seed capital, and world-class infrastructure in Northeast India, OCP 9.0 offers a well-structured pathway from early-stage to market-ready.
