The Real Challenge is Between Starting Up and Scaling Up
IIMA Ventures, in collaboration with Kotak Mahindra Bank, launches the third edition of Kotak BizLabs, an accelerator to create Tomorrow’s Startup Capitals in India’s tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
Building on the success of the first two cohorts, Kotak BizLabs Season 3 is designed to identify and support social impact and sustainability-focused startups from Bharat. The program provides grant funding of up to INR 30 lakhs, tailored training, expert-led mentoring, and acceleration support to help startups strengthen their foundations and scale their impact. With a focus on sourcing innovation from Bharat, Kotak BizLabs nurtures entrepreneurs to build resilient, impactful businesses and drive sustainable change.
Apply now to be a part of upcoming cohort
Grant funding of upto INR 30 Lakhs for 20 high-potential startups.
Tailored mentorship, specialized training, and access to expert networks for solving technology and business challenges.
3-day intensive bootcamp at the IIM Ahmedabad Campus for the top 25 selected startups in November 2026.
Networking opportunities with investors and peers, and access to resources crucial for business development.
Startups building on advanced or proprietary technology (AI, robotics, IoT, advanced materials) that creates a strong technical moat and long-term competitive advantage.
Solutions that reduce environmental impact through cleaner energy generation, resource efficiency, or pollution control across industrial and consumer use cases.
Innovations that improve access, affordability, or efficiency of financial services, including payments, lending, insurance, and wealth management, especially for underserved segments.
Technology-driven solutions improving healthcare delivery, diagnostics, affordability, and access, particularly for Tier-2/3 and underserved populations.
The startup must be a formally registered business entity that holds valid DPIIT recognition, confirming its legitimate and compliant status as a startup.
The startup must have a market-ready product actively used by paying customers, showing real revenue and validated demand.
The startup’s solution should be genuinely innovative and fall within the specific sectors and themes that Kotak BizLabs is designed to support.
We welcome startups working across DeepTech AgriTech, ClimateTech, CleanTech, FinTech, EdTech, HealthTech, Sustainability, Supply Chain & Logistics, Waste Management, Sustainable Manufacturing, Inclusive Technology, Electric Mobility, and other impact-driven solutions.
Kotak BizLabs Season 3 is an 8-month acceleration programme designed to help startups strengthen their business foundations, access expert mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities and accelerate their growth journey.
No. There are no application or participation fees. Kotak BizLabs is a CSR initiative of Kotak Mahindra Bank and selected startups do not have to give up any equity to participate.
Selected startups gain access to intensive mentorship, grant support, investor interactions, networking opportunities and a strong ecosystem of industry experts and startup enablers.
Applications are reviewed by our incubator partners and programme experts. Shortlisted startups may be invited for further discussions and evaluation before the final cohort is selected. Applicants will be notified of their application status at each stage of the process.
Applications are being accepted until 6th Oct, 2026. Please note that the deadline will not be extended.
We strongly encourage you to think through and submit only one application for the innovation that you are most focused on building. If you are submitting two applications for the same innovation, the duplicate application with less context and poorly articulated thoughts will not be taken forward.
It is good that you are working out of other geographies; however, in this program, we are looking for startups registered in India with their founders and operations based in India.
Yes, you can apply to this program, regardless of whether you have received grants or awards or raised funds.
We are looking for startups with a strong founding team, a unique and innovative solution, alignment with the sector, and the potential of the business to scale.
For any query, general or technical, write to us at abhimanyu@iima.ac.in or shantanut@iima.ac.in