INCUBATE is a Bootcamp for early-stage start-up teams, to enable the lab-to-market transformation of research ideas into deep-tech start-ups that create positive social and economic impact at scale. INCUBATE aims to change the culture of innovation at academic or research institutions.

I-NCUBATE

Applications are OPEN for the next I-NCUBATE COHORT

Our mission is to transform capabilities, mind-sets and
the culture of an academic institution to commercialise
research.

Early stage start-up
teams gain

  • Deep understanding of customer needs based on first-hand evidence obtained from customers.
  • Decide whether to take the idea to the next stage based on the problem-solution fit and market feasibility (Go or No-Go).
  • Derive inputs to formulate a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and an optimal business model to attain a good product-market fit and scalability, going forward.
  • Enable faculty, researchers, and students to develop entrepreneurial skills.

How the program works

A team comprises a Faculty Lead and at least 3 Entrepreneur Leads, supported by a Business Mentor (from our network of mentors)

  • Around 10 teams comprise a cohort.
  • Teams undertake a customer discovery exercise over 8 weeks.
  • Every team meet 100+ customers and stakeholders, to arrive at a problem-solution fit.

3 dimensions of learning

Business Tools and Techniques

  • Value Proposition
  • Business Model Canvas
  • Industry Analysis
  • Build-Measure-Learn Loop
3d-design

Entrepreneurial Skills

  • Dealing with Ambiguilty
  • Creative / Non-Linear Thinking
  • Overcome Fear of Failure
  • Teamwork
  • Getting Things Done

Interviewing and Communication Skills

  • Clarity of Thought
  • Validating Assumptions
  • Connecting to People
  • Analysing Inputs from Customers
  • Presentation Skills

Lifecycle of a Start-up

incubate_life cycle

Click on each program to learn more.

Achieve tangible outcomes

As teams participating in I-NCUBATE, you will be able to:

1

Define the problem that you are solving or the opportunity you are addressing.

2

Identify your customers and analyse their needs and pains.

3

Develop coherent value propositions for chosen customer segment(s).

4

Find a problem-solution fit with evidence from an early adopter segment.

5

Understand the business ecosystem and competitive dynamics of your start-up.

6

Understand the evolution trajectory of your start-up from the idea stage to the MVP stage, onto a product-market fit, business-model fit and growing the venture.

7

Develop key entrepreneurial skills and mind set – including dealing with ambiguity, tenacity, making decisions with partial information, dealing with people, communication, and more.

Impact of I-NCUBATE Program

172
Startup teams
871
Entrepreneurs trained
182
Faculty Participants
26
Women
Entrepreneurs (in %)
15
Women
Faculty Members (in %)
40
STEM Colleges
50
Mentors Trained
23
Instructors Trained
20
Cohorts

Interested in joining our next I-NCUBATE cohort?
Connect with us.

    Contact us :

    Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre
    for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,
    IC & SR Building, II Floor - Annexe,
    IIT Madras, Chennai - 600 036

    +044 2257 8432.

    enquiries@gdciitm.org

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