The Atal Incubation Centre at the Rabindranath Tagore University (AIC-RNTU) and the Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) have launched a joint ‘Incubation Programme for Start-ups 2019-20’ to groom change leaders who show commitment to create a sustainable change in the society through their innovative enterprises. The programme is supported by Atal Innovation Mission of the NITI Aayog.

Talking about the Joint Incubation Programme, Mr. Ronald Fernandez, CEO AIC-RNTU Foundation said, “Our primary objective here is to create a startup ecosystem and familiarize the visionary brains with the business aspects of an idea and provide them a platform with necessary resources – culture, opportunities and amenities – to grow their startup units into business enterprises.”

The applications for the programme are invited under three categories – Ideate, Discover and Growth. The candidates need to have a venture idea with proof of concept to be eligible for the programme. They should also have a wish to grow their venture as well as create a sustainable impact in the marketplace/society.

Candidates selected for this programme will be provided co-incubation support, including co-working space, mentorship, network support, trainings, workshops, continuous review & monitoring as well as co-incubation opportunities with technology and business incubators.

Talking about the need for the programme, Prof Satyajit Majumdar, Professor of Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, School of Management and Labour Studies, TISS Mumbai, said, “There has been a remarkable growth in the number of first generation social entrepreneurs in the country over the years. Through this joint Incubation Programme, we are looking to train and support these budding entrepreneurs to help them create impactful and lasting solutions along with strengthening the startup ecosystem in the country.”

After submitting the applications, candidates will be given an opportunity to pitch their startups and venture ideas to the Jury comprising of members from both RNTU and TISS. Based on the pitches, the Jury will select the startups for the programme.

Application Deadline: 22^nd April 2019

Registration Link: http://www.aicrntu.com/apply

About AIC-RNTU

AIC-RNTU was set up with the support of the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog. It aims to nurture innovative startups in their pursuit to become scalable and sustainable enterprises by offering them state-of-the-art infrastructure, fund support, management support, mentorship and relevant training.

The Rabindranath Tagore University (RNTU), formerly known as AISECT University Bhopal, was established in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh in 2012 as India’s first skills university. In a short span of time, RNTU has established itself as the leading educational and research hub of Central India. The University seeks to provide overall cognitive development to its students by laying an equal focus on soft skills, personality grooming, entrepreneurship incubation, liberal & performing arts as well as sports and cultural activities.

About TISS The Tata Institute of Social Sciences was established in 1936 as the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work. In 1944, it was renamed as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Since its inception, the vision of TISS has been to be an institution of excellence in higher education that continually responds to changing social realities through the development and application of knowledge, towards creating a people-centered, ecologically sustainable and just society that promotes and protects dignity, equality, social justice and human rights for all.

  AIC-RNTU, entrepreneurs, Incubation Programme, start-ups, TISS