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Startups/Innovation at UPES
Runway Incubator
Runway is an incubation initiative by UPES, designed to empower aspiring entrepreneurs in transforming ideas into successful ventures. With a strong focus on the technology sector, Runway offers structured mentorship, funding opportunities, legal support, and a collaborative workspace to help start-ups scale.
Leveraging expertise across diverse domains—from Energy to Gaming and Biotechnology to Fashion Technology—Runway promotes innovation through hands-on incubation, guiding start-ups from ideation to investment readiness. Recognised by the Government of Uttarakhand, Runway operates under UPES and the Hydrocarbons Education & Research Society (HERS), driving entrepreneurship and regional economic growth.
Top Startups Incubated at Runway UPES
Incubation Support
Selected start-ups participate in an 8 to 10 week blended (online and offline) incubation program, designed to refine their ideas and prepare them for market and investor engagement. Key features include:
- Entrepreneurial Basics: Training on business ideation, validation, market research, and financial management.
- Business Development: Building sustainable business models, creating prototypes, and developing MVPs.
- Support Services: Assistance with incorporation, compliance, and access to labs and co-working spaces and support in intern hiring.
- Customised Learning: Personalised support tailored to the specific needs of each startup to ensure their growth trajectory aligns with market demands.
Each startup is matched with a dedicated mentor who provides personalised guidance throughout and beyond the incubation journey. Mentors offer strategic advice on overcoming challenges, refining business strategies, and exploring new growth opportunities.
- Expert Access: Start-ups gain insights from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry professionals.
- Ongoing Support: Mentors remain accessible even after incubation to ensure long-term success.
The incubation program concludes with Demo Day, where startups present their refined business ideas to a carefully selected audience of investors, advisors, and industry stakeholders.
- Pitch Preparation: Startups undergo dedicated training to enhance their presentation and communication skills.
- Funding Opportunities: Exceptional ventures receive the Runway Ignition Grant of ₹1 lakh, with potential for additional equity-based funding.
Support for start-ups doesn’t end with the program. Post-incubation services include:
- Advisory Services: Continuous guidance for scaling, market entry, and strategic planning.
- Funding and Growth: Assistance in securing further funding, exploring partnerships, and accessing industry networks.
- Resource Access: Continued availability of co-working spaces, labs, and UPES resources.
UPES DST-iTBI
Introduction to iTBI Program
The Inclusive Technology Business Incubator (iTBI) at UPES, sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), nurtures deep-tech start-ups through structured mentorship, funding access, and state-of-the-art facilities. Leveraging UPES’s academic expertise and industry partnerships, iTBI supports entrepreneurs from ideation to market entry, powering innovation and economic growth.
By integrating DST’s support with UPES’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, iTBI drives job creation and societal impact, reinforcing the role of public-private partnerships in strengthening India’s start-up landscape.
Focus Areas
- Deep Tech: Startups in quantum computing, robotics, advanced materials, and IoT, requiring significant R&D investment but offering groundbreaking innovations.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Leveraging machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision to transform healthcare, finance, cybersecurity, and automation.
- Machine Learning (ML): Advancing predictive analytics, fraud detection, and automated decision-making through data-driven models.
- Agri Tech: Enhancing agricultural productivity with precision farming, crop monitoring, and supply chain optimisation for sustainable food security.
These startups align with the UPES iTBI mission, driving disruptive innovations that solve industry challenges.
Partnerships
Established industry leaders have the opportunity to collaborate with the next generation of problem-solvers, accelerating innovation in an ever-evolving world. By supporting new ideas, organisations contribute to the growth of future businesses and a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. Engaging with emerging start-ups provides fresh insights that inform strategic decision-making and drive technological advancement.
Runway partner with key players from the industry, academic and government space, who play a crucial role in nurturing innovation and supporting start-up success.
- Department of Science and Technology (DST): Provides a grant of ₹4 crore to support startups in AI-ML, Agri-Tech, and Sustainability-Clean Tech domains, enhancing their innovation capabilities and generating revenue.
- BIRAC: Supports health-tech startups with a grant of ₹4.02 crore under the BIRAC Sparsh program, enabling advancements in healthcare innovation.
- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): Grants ₹2.5 crore to promote community innovation in underserved regions, nurturing grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship.
- MeitY Genesis: Offers a grant of ₹2 crore to support startups in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, boosting their innovation potential and market reach.
- Government of Uttarakhand: Ecosystem partner facilitating regional entrepreneurial growth and providing essential resources for startup development.
- Startup Uttarakhand: Recognised as a nodal agency and incubator, it offers grant support and partnerships for boot camps and startup grand challenges to strengthen the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Indian Angel Network (IAN): Provides mentorship and investment opportunities to startups, enhancing their scalability and market readiness.
- Headstart: Acts as an ecosystem partner, promoting startup growth and community engagement through networking and mentorship programs.
- Uttarakhand Startup Council of WICCI: Supports women entrepreneurs and fosters inclusivity in the startup ecosystem by offering mentorship and networking opportunities.
- Techstars: Ecosystem partner and Techstars Startup Weekend, driving innovation and entrepreneurial growth within the community.
- IIT Ropar: Provides co-incubation support and access to IIT Ropar’s grants and funds for incubated startups, fostering advanced technological innovation.
- TiE Dehradun: Institutional partner promoting startups and the entrepreneurial ecosystem within UPES, providing mentorship and networking support.
- Zoho: Offers credit access to incubated startups, enabling them to leverage Zoho’s tools and platforms for business growth.
- HDFC Bank: Provides a grant of ₹60 lakh under the Parivartan initiative to support startups, focusing on impactful and sustainable projects.
- AIC Nalanda: Offers support under the ACIC NITI Aayog initiative, enhancing the incubation environment with resources and mentorship.
- Global University Systems (GUS): With over 60,000 students across six countries and a global online presence, GUS offers extensive resources and collaboration opportunities through institutions like The University of Law, LSBF, Arden University, and more.
- Pearl Academy: India’s leading creative education institution, Pearl Academy is the incubation academic partner of UCIE, providing creative expertise and fostering innovation through its acclaimed programs.
- UPES: Provides matching grant support under the DST, ACIC, and MeitY Genesis schemes, along with internal ignition grants, infrastructure support, and access to labs and co-working spaces to bolster startup growth.
Startup Uttarakhand
Empowering Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Uttarakhand, known for its breathtaking natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, is rapidly emerging as a leading startup hub in India. The state government, in collaboration with various institutions and organisations, is committed to creating an environment that nurtures innovation, entrepreneurship, and business growth.
Startup Definition
- To qualify as a startup in Uttarakhand, an entity must:
- Be registered as a Pvt. Ltd. Company, Partnership Firm, or LLP.
- Operate from Uttarakhand with at least 70% local workforce.
- Be recognised as a startup for up to 10 years from incorporation.
- Have an annual turnover below INR 100 Cr in any financial year.
- Not be an extension of a family business or a reconstructed entity.
- Focus on innovation or improving products, services, or processes with job creation potential.
Grassroots Innovations with Rural Impact refer to the development of products and services by individuals, self-help groups, or community networks in rural and hilly areas, aimed at addressing pressing challenges in these regions. The government has established two Rural Business Incubators to guide, mentor, and provide capacity-building programs to grassroots innovators, offering financial assistance through seed funding.
Recognised Incubators
There are 15 recognised business incubators across Uttarakhand. As per the 2018 policy, there are 7 nodal agencies, including Runway Incubator (UPES), which plays a significant role in the state's startup ecosystem.
Partner Institutions
UPES provides crucial mentoring support to startups in Uttarakhand. With its broad expertise across various sectors, UPES offers technical support, mentorship at different stages of development, and organises entrepreneurial events to promote the startup culture in the state.
Some of the key services provided by UPES include:
- Mentorship and advisory services to startups.
- Access to resources such as 3D printers and licensed software for R&D in well-equipped labs.
ACIC
The Atal Community Innovation Centre (ACIC) at UPES Dehradun will become a pivotal initiative designed to empower the local communities of Uttarakhand by accelerating innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable solutions. As part of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) by the Government of India, this centre will provide a platform for individuals and startups to tackle regional challenges through localised innovations.
ACIC will focus on stimulating innovation at the grassroots level. Supporting community-driven solutions will help address key local issues such as agricultural productivity, water scarcity, healthcare access, and renewable energy. The center will provide essential resources like mentoring, infrastructure, and funding access, creating an ideal environment for aspiring entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into impactful solutions.
The ACIC will offer a wide range of training programs, workshops, and hands-on opportunities designed to equip the local population with the skills necessary for success in the evolving innovation ecosystem. This will include the push towards entrepreneurial thinking, enhancing technical expertise, and cultivating leadership skills. Special emphasis will be placed on ensuring that youth and women are actively involved in the innovation process, thus expanding the region's talent pool.
One of the defining features of ACIC at UPES will be its capacity to connect local innovators with industry leaders, government agencies, and academic institutions. By facilitating these collaborations, the centre will ensure that innovations are not only creative but also scalable and impactful. This interconnected network will be a key driver of both local and regional development.
ACIC will play a crucial role in addressing Uttarakhand’s unique challenges. From improving agricultural practices and water management to enhancing healthcare delivery and promoting clean energy, the centre’s focus on community-driven solutions will significantly contribute to the socio-economic development of the state. These innovations will be essential in addressing region-specific issues such as the challenges posed by hilly terrains and rural development.
By nurturing local startups and businesses, ACIC will directly contribute to the economic growth of Uttarakhand. The startups emerging from the center will generate employment opportunities, reduce rural-urban migration, and promote self-sustainability within local communities. As these businesses scale, they will create economic opportunities that extend beyond Dehradun, benefiting the entire state.
ACIC will actively encourage inclusivity by encouraging the participation of women, youth, and underrepresented groups in the innovation process. Through targeted programs and support, the center will ensure these groups not only have access to necessary resources but are also empowered to drive meaningful change within their communities, leading to broader societal development.
In the coming years, ACIC will play a transformative role in shaping Uttarakhand into a hub for innovation. By creating a culture of problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, the centre will enhance the region’s competitive edge. The ecosystem it nurtures will attract both talent and investment, positioning Uttarakhand as a leading state in creating innovative, community-driven solutions to regional and global challenges.
