Derbi Foundation

What Derbi Foundation does

DERBI Foundation (legally Dayananda Sagar Entrepreneurship Research and Business Incubation Foundation) is a Section 8 non-profit technology business incubator headquartered in Bangalore, India, founded in 2015 out of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre established at Dayananda Sagar Institutions in 2009. It is supported by India's Department of Science and Technology (DST), NSTEDB, and MeitY, and operates a three-stage startup support stack: PACE (3–4 month pre-incubation using Stanford Bio Design methodology), GALLOP (2-year incubation with regulatory, IP, and mentoring support), and EMERGE (acceleration for late-stage healthcare startups, with its second cohort pivoted to digital health). Beyond programs, DERBI administers multiple central-government funding schemes — NIDHI EiR, NIDHI PRAYAS, NIDHI SSS, MeitY Tide 2.0, Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), and MeitY Scale-up Investment — and provides physical prototyping infrastructure via the Prayas Shala Lab, Mouser Innovation Lab, Component Bank, and subsidized MathWorks and AWS access.

The foundation's business model is grant-funded rather than fee-based: eligible startups receive pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration services at no direct cost, with workshop fees ranging only nominally from Rs 100 to Rs 1,500. Cumulative revenue and funding attributed to leadership is approximately Rs 30 crores over a roughly 10-year horizon, with Rs 23 crores from Government of India projects. Revenue streams are therefore best characterized as government grants (DST/NSTEDB/MeitY/Startup India) plus incubation and acceleration program services. The customer base is broad — early-stage entrepreneurs, technology startups, late-stage healthcare ventures, and student innovators — with case-study examples spanning zBliss Technologies, Carbon Hub, Module Innovations, CoRover, and Makerinme across healthcare, environmental, tourism, and education technology verticals.

Strategically, DERBI's competitive position rests on its regulatory accreditation as a recognized Technology Business Incubator, a dense ecosystem of hospital partners (Sagar Hospitals), corporate backers (Mouser, MathWorks, AWS), investor networks (Indian Angel Network, Ankur Capital), and association partners (C-CAMP, IESA, SIHI), plus its 2021 designation as the SIHI India Hub. It has also begun taking investor positions directly, including a Rs 1 crore lead in wearable-health startup Neauphony in January 2022. The foundation operates exclusively within India, primarily in Karnataka, with some pan-India reach through programs like MedTechnovation across 18 states.

Name

Derbi Foundation

Legal name

Dayananda Sagar Entrepreneurship Research and Business Incubation Foundation

Website

https://derbifoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DERBI Foundation is a Bangalore-based, DST/NSTEDB-backed Section 8 technology business incubator that runs pre-incubation (PACE), incubation (GALLOP), and healthcare-focused acceleration (EMERGE) programs, administers government seed-fund schemes, and operates prototyping labs for early-stage Indian startups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation and Acceleration Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Startup incubation
• Technology business incubator
• Healthcare acceleration
• Seed funding schemes
• Prototyping lab access

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangalore

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Program Funding: DERBI Foundation is a non-profit Section 8 organization supported by Department of Science and Technology (DST) and NSTEDB. Revenue comes through various government schemes and funding programs including NIDHI, MeitY, and Startup India Seed Fund. Funding to the tune of approximately 30 crores generated, with projects from Govt of India worth Rs 23 crores.
2. Incubation and Acceleration Program Services: Providing pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration programs to startups with associated support services including mentorship, lab access, funding facilitation, and ecosystem connections

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DERBI Foundation is a Section 8 non-profit Technology Business Incubator that supports startups through three flagship programs: PACE (3-4 month pre-incubation), GALLOP (2-year incubation), and EMERGE (acceleration for late-stage healthcare startups). It facilitates government-backed funding schemes including NIDHI EiR, NIDHI PRAYAS, NIDHI SSS, MeitY Tide 2.0, and Startup India Seed Fund, and provides physical lab infrastructure (Prayas Shala Lab, Mouser Innovation Lab, PCB Design Studio, Component Bank) along with mentorship, prototyping, and clinical trial support.

Product overview

Derbi Foundation is a non-profit Section 8 organization and technology business incubator that operates a multi-stage startup support ecosystem. The foundation provides pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration programs for healthcare and technology startups, offering a portfolio of programs including PACE (pre-incubation), GALLOP (incubation), and EMERGE (acceleration) as its core flagship programs. Supporting these are various funding schemes including NIDHI EiR, NIDHI PRAYAS, MeitY Tide 2.0, NIDHI SSS, Startup India Seed Fund (SISFS), and MeitY Scale-up Investment. The foundation also provides physical infrastructure through its Prayas Shala Lab and Mouser Innovation Lab, along with services such as mentorship/coaching, workshops/training, lab and R&D support, design and prototyping, funding assistance, clinical trial support, and legal/financial advisory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PACE: Pre-Incubation Program - 3-4 months program providing platform to nascent entrepreneurs using Stanford Bio Design methodology
• GALLOP
• EMERGE
• BIONEST
• Prayas Shala Lab
• SISFS

Quantifiable outcome

• 140+ entrepreneurs supported
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021DERBI Foundation established as SIHI India Hub - a fully self-financed country research hub for social innovation in health. Technical support from SIHI Secretariat in Philippines. DERBI led nationwide call for solutions and healthcare excellence awards.
• Dayananda Sagar Institutions (DSI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009DSI is the host institution for DERBI Foundation. The foundation originated from an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (IEDC) established for DSI in 2009, which later evolved into DERBI Foundation in 2015 with DSI's continued support as the host campus.
• Sagar HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSagar Hospitals is a key healthcare ecosystem partner providing clinical workflow insights, hospital connections, and CSR support for DERBI Foundation programs. Co-hosted EMERGE acceleration program and Social Tech Innovation Challenge.
• InnAccelmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare accelerator and incubator partner that co-hosted the EMERGE program launch event, providing expertise in healthcare startup development and ecosystem connections.
• Frost & SullivanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing market research data and business model curation support for EMERGE program participants through database access and expert sessions.
• Mouser ElectronicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMouser partnered with DERBI to create Mouser Innovation Lab for next-gen product development. Also partners for Proto Alpha platform for startups to test initial prototypes and component bank initiatives.
• MathWorksmajorTechnology or IntegrationProvides free MathWorks license access to SISFS program participants for simulation and design capabilities.
• Amazon (AWS)majorTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing cloud infrastructure credits and support for SISFS and Social Tech Innovation Challenge programs.
• Startup KarnatakamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment of Karnataka initiative partnering for capacity building workshops, startup ecosystem development, and innovation challenges.
• K-Tech Innovation HubmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerKarnataka's innovation hub partners for Bio Innovation to Marketplace master class and healthcare ecosystem development programs.
• C-CAMPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms partners on healthcare innovation initiatives including patent workshops and MedTechnovation program.
• India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association partners on MedTechnovation healthcare innovation event along with Texas Instruments, Micron, ARM, MathWorks, and Forus Health as technology partners.
• TIE BangaloreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Indus Entrepreneurs Bangalore chapter partners for ecosystem networking and startup support.
• TiE BangaloreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDr Lakshmi Jagannathan is a Charter Member of TiE Bangalore, enabling mentorship and networking connections for startups.
• BIORx Venture AdvisorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for Bio Innovations to Marketplace master class with Founder & CEO Mr Vishal Gandhi as lead faculty.
• IvyCampminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate innovation platform partner providing startup connect opportunities for SISFS program.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• C-CAMP (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms): Bengaluru-based biotech and healthcare incubator with deep ties to DST/Government of India. Directly comparable to DERBI because both run healthcare-focused pre-incubation and incubation programs with lab infrastructure, government scheme access, and overlap on partners like MedTechnovation and patent workshops.
• NSRCEL (IIT Bangalore): IIT Bangalore's startup incubator offering pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration programs for technology and social-impact ventures. Comparable to DERBI's PACE/GALLOP/EMERGE structure, Bengaluru footprint, and government-supported non-equity program model serving early-stage Indian founders.
• InnAccel Acceleration: India's leading healthcare-focused accelerator partnering with hospitals to commercialize medical technology. Directly comparable because InnAccel co-launched DERBI's EMERGE program and shares the same medical device/health-tech focus area, hospital-connect ecosystem, and late-stage acceleration model.
• Social Alpha: India-based innovation curation and venture incubation platform focused on health, agriculture, and livelihood sectors with deep philanthropic and government backing. Comparable to DERBI's social-innovation and healthcare focus (including SIHI India Hub work) and lab/mentorship-driven startup support model.
• CIIE.CO (IIM Ahmedabad): IIM Ahmedabad's technology business incubator running pre-seed and seed programs with government scheme access. Comparable to DERBI's PACE/GALLOP structure, India-wide founder sourcing, and non-equity/grant-driven incubation model.

Broad incumbents

• T-Hub: India's largest startup incubator based in Hyderabad with state-government backing and broad sector coverage including healthcare, fintech, and SaaS. Comparable to DERBI as a state-backed incubator running multi-stage programs but serves a much wider sector footprint and geography.
• IIT Madras Research Park: Academic-hosted deep-tech incubator with strong hardware and lab infrastructure including electronics, IoT, and biotech labs. Comparable to DERBI because it offers similar lab access, pre-incubation programs, and DST-backed funding schemes, but operates at significantly larger scale and across all deep-tech sectors.

Emerging players

• Forge (Bangalore): Bengaluru-based early-stage accelerator and seed investor focused on consumer and enterprise startups. Comparable to DERBI because both serve Indian founders in the Bangalore ecosystem with cohort-based programming, but Forge operates a for-profit equity model.
• 91springboard: Indian coworking and startup hub network offering mentorship, events, and investor connects to early-stage founders. Comparable to DERBI at the pre-incubation/community layer (workshops, mentor network, founder community) but does not provide equivalent lab infrastructure or government scheme delivery.

Regional players

• Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM): Kerala state government's flagship startup incubator with hardware labs, funding schemes, and pre-incubation/incubation programs. Comparable to DERBI's TBI structure, government backing, and hardware/electronics focus but geographically focused on Kerala rather than Karnataka.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/derbifoundati0n
• Facebookfacebook.com/derbifoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/derbifoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/derbi_foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments27 records

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Frequently asked questions about Derbi Foundation