About the Program
Kotak BizLabs Accelerator Programme, a CSR initiative of Kotak Mahindra Bank in collaboration with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, is designed to support and scale 20 early-revenue-stage startups that are building innovative, commercially viable solutions with measurable social and/or environmental impact.
The program aims to help promising startups move from early market validation and initial
traction towards sustainable, scalable and investment-ready growth . Startups at this stage often have a validated product or service and initial market traction, but require focused support to strengthen their business models, expand their customer base, improve operational capabilities, build strategic partnerships, measure impact and prepare for fundraising.
Through a structured acceleration journey, selected startups will receive targeted support across:
- Business model strengthening and revenue strategy
- Market and customer development
- Product/service refinement and scalability
- Go-to-market (GTM) strategy
- Impact measurement and reporting
- Mentorship and access to industry and institutional networks
- Investment and fundraising readiness
- Strategic partnerships and market linkages
- Operational and organizational capacity building
The program is pan-India, with outreach activities particularly focused on the East and North-East regions of India.
Program Benefits
Selected startups will receive a combination of strategic, technical, market and financial support designed to accelerate business growth:
1. One-on-One Mentorship
Personalized mentoring from the IIM Calcutta Innovation Park ecosystem, with access to experienced mentors and domain experts based on the startup's specific needs.
2. Customized Capacity Building
Participation in structured bootcamps, workshops and webinars covering critical areas such as business strategy, GTM, financial management, fundraising, compliance and organizational development.
The program envisages multiple workshops/bootcamps and 150+ mentoring hours across the cohort.
3. Business Model & Revenue Strategy
Guidance to strengthen business models, revenue streams, pricing, unit economics and long-term financial sustainability.
4. Market & Customer Connect
Opportunities for market-access support, buyer interactions, corporate connects, strategic introductions and potential pilots.
The program specifically includes market-access activities, corporate connects and GTM support.
5. Investor & Fundraising Readiness
Support in developing investor-facing communication, pitch readiness, data rooms, investor mapping and curated investor interactions.
The program also envisages dedicated investor round tables and investor connects for participating startups.
6. Strategic Partnerships
Access to industry experts, corporates, investors, ecosystem partners, institutions and other relevant stakeholders to help startups build meaningful partnerships and market linkages.
7. Grant Support
Eligible startups may receive grant support of up to INR 30 lakhs, subject to program guidelines, due diligence, milestones and applicable terms and conditions.
The program design includes an initial grant disbursement and performance-linked top-up support for selected startups.
8. Demo Day
Top-performing startups will get an opportunity to showcase their businesses to Kotak leadership, investors, industry stakeholders and the wider ecosystem at the program's Demo Day.
1. One-on-One Mentorship
Personalized mentoring from the IIM Calcutta Innovation Park ecosystem, with access to experienced mentors and domain experts based on the startup's specific needs.
2. Customized Capacity Building
Participation in structured bootcamps, workshops and webinars covering critical areas such as business strategy, GTM, financial management, fundraising, compliance and organizational development.
The program envisages multiple workshops/bootcamps and 150+ mentoring hours across the cohort.
3. Business Model & Revenue Strategy
Guidance to strengthen business models, revenue streams, pricing, unit economics and long-term financial sustainability.
4. Market & Customer Connect
Opportunities for market-access support, buyer interactions, corporate connects, strategic introductions and potential pilots.
The program specifically includes market-access activities, corporate connects and GTM support.
5. Investor & Fundraising Readiness
Support in developing investor-facing communication, pitch readiness, data rooms, investor mapping and curated investor interactions.
The program also envisages dedicated investor round tables and investor connects for participating startups.
6. Strategic Partnerships
Access to industry experts, corporates, investors, ecosystem partners, institutions and other relevant stakeholders to help startups build meaningful partnerships and market linkages.
7. Grant Support
Eligible startups may receive grant support of up to INR 30 lakhs, subject to program guidelines, due diligence, milestones and applicable terms and conditions.
The program design includes an initial grant disbursement and performance-linked top-up support for selected startups.
8. Demo Day
Top-performing startups will get an opportunity to showcase their businesses to Kotak leadership, investors, industry stakeholders and the wider ecosystem at the program's Demo Day.
Timeline
Program Launch:
August, 2026
October, 2026
Call for Applications Closes:
Cohort Announcement:
November, 2026
November, 2026 - July, 2027
Capacity Building & Mentoring:
Demo Day:
August, 2027
Eligibility Criteria: Who Should Apply?
Kotak BizLabs Accelerator Programme is looking for early-revenue-stage startups that have demonstrated market traction and are working towards creating meaningful social and/or environmental impact.Your startup should:
1. Be working in one or more of the identified focus sectors
The startup must operate in one or more of the program's primary focus sectors listed below.
- Agri-Tech
- FinTech
- EdTech
- Healthcare
- Deep-Tech
- Climate Impact
- Climate-Tech
- Sustainability
- Indigenous Art & Craft
- Clean-Tech
- Waste Management
- Sustainable Manufacturing
2. Be in the revenue stage
Startups should have moved beyond the idea/early validation stage and should have proven revenue traction during the last 12 months.
3. Be DPIIT registered
The startup must have valid DPIIT registration.
4. Demonstrate growth potential
The program is intended for startups that have the potential to strengthen their business model, scale operations, expand their customer base and grow revenues.
5. Demonstrate social and/or environmental impact
Preference is aligned towards innovative and commercially viable solutions that address important social, economic and environmental challenges.
The program particularly seeks to help early-revenue-stage enterprises transition from initial validation towards sustainable and scalable growth.
Program Journey
Outreach & Applications → Screening & Selection → Onboarding → Mentoring & Capacity Building → Market & Investor Connects → Growth & Impact Tracking → Demo DayThe selection process is designed as a multi-stage evaluation involving applications, pitching and a selection committee comprising representatives from Kotak and IIMCIP. Startups are assessed on Problem-Solution Fit, Business Viability, Innovation, Impact Potential and Scalability.