What KIIT-TBI does

KIIT-TBI (KIIT – Technology Business Incubator) is a non-profit Section 8 company established in 2009 at KIIT Deemed University in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. The organization operates as a government-supported technology business incubator providing end-to-end incubation and acceleration services to early-stage technology startups across biotechnology, medtech, digital health, electronics, AR/VR, defence, aerospace, agritech, and social innovation. Its core service platform comprises multiple funding scheme partnerships (BIRAC's BIG, BIG North East, LEAP Fund, SEED Fund, SIIP, SPARSH, ETA; DST's NIDHI EIR, PRAYAS, SSS, Accelerator; MeitY's TIDE 2.0 suite, GENESIS, SAMRIDH, SASACT; Defence's iDEX, Boeing BUILD; and Startup India's SISFS), complemented by 130,000 sq. ft. of built-up infrastructure including 40,000 sq. ft. of premier laboratory space (NABL-certified analytical facility, cell culture facility, bioprocess lab, DST CoE Prayashala Fab Lab) and the Thermo Fisher-supported Centre of Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics.

KIIT-TBI monetizes primarily through grant-in-aid from central and state government ministries (MeitY, DST, DBT, BIRAC, MSME, TDB, DFID UK, Startup Odisha), with secondary revenue from equity-based returns on portfolio investments under BIRAC LEAP, DST NIDHI SSS, and MeitY TIDE 2.0 Scale Up Investment Fund, plus programme participation fees and facility usage charges. The organization has incubated 482+ startups, commercialized 153+ products, generated 210+ IPs, created 10,000+ technical jobs, and supported INR 1,600 Cr in external capital raised by portfolio companies. Distribution is direct via competitive application processes at its Bhubaneswar campus, MTI Hub Manipur, and mobile outreach camps across Eastern and Northeastern India.

Recognition includes the National Award for TBI (2017), National IPR Award 2021 (Best Incubator for IP), AABI Incubator of the Year 2023, AABI Best Asia Incubator 2024, No. 1 Bioincubator in India's private sector (BioSpectrum 2019 & 2020), DST Centre of Excellence in Incubation (2020), and iDEX Incubator Partner status (Ministry of Defence). Leadership includes CEO Dr. Mrutyunjay Suar and board member Dr. Krishna Ella (Founder, Bharat Biotech). Operating geographies are concentrated in Eastern and Northeastern India, with international engagement through UK-India Healthtech Bootcamp, Enprendia (EU), and DWIH (Germany).

Name

KIIT-TBI

Legal name

KIIT - Technology Business Incubator

Website

https://kiitincubator.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

KIIT-TBI is a non-profit technology business incubator in Bhubaneswar, India, supporting early-stage technology startups across biotech, deeptech, medtech, and social innovation sectors with funding, lab infrastructure, and mentorship programs. Founded 2009.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Business Incubation Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Educational Support Services (611710), Computer Training (611420), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud & DevOps Training (Cloud, Containers, CI/CD, SRE) (BPAEANAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

DevOps, SRE & Platform Engineering (CI/CD, IaC, Containers) (EDABAFAC)

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• Technology business incubation
• Biotech startup funding
• Innovation ecosystem support
• Research commercialization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bhubaneswar

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grant Funding: KIIT-TBI is a non-profit Sec (8) company generously supported by various Government bodies including MeitY, DST, DBT, MSME, TDB, DFID (UK), and Startup Odisha. The incubator acts as an implementation partner for multiple government startup support schemes and receives grant-in-aid funding to operate its incubation programs.
2. Incubation Services and Program Fees: KIIT-TBI provides incubation facilities including office space, seating, equipment, testing labs, and prototyping labs to startups. Revenue is generated through program participation fees and facility usage charges. The built-up space of 130,000 sq. ft. and 40,000 sq. ft. of premier laboratory space serves as the infrastructure base for these services.
3. Investment Returns from Startup Portfolio: As an equity-based investor in startups through programs like BIRAC LEAP Fund, DST NIDHI SSS, and MeitY TIDE 2.0 Scale Up Investment Fund, KIIT-TBI generates returns on its equity investments in promising portfolio companies. The total valuation of startups in the ecosystem has grown significantly, and startups have raised INR 1,600 Cr of external investment funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

KIIT-TBI is a non-profit technology business incubator that nurtures early-stage technology startups from ideation through commercialization. It provides funding programs (BIRAC, DST NIDHI, MeitY TIDE 2.0, Startup India Seed Fund), world-class laboratory and prototyping infrastructure, mentorship, technology transfer and IP management, and acceleration services. It operates across sectors including biotechnology, digital health, medtech, defence, aerospace, AR/VR, IoT, agritech, and clean tech.

Product overview

KIIT-TBI operates as a comprehensive technology business incubator platform offering multiple funding programs and acceleration services. The core offerings include BIRAC funding programs (BIG grants up to INR 50 Lakhs, LEAP Fund up to INR 50 Lakhs, SEED Fund up to INR 30 Lakhs), DST NIDHI programs (EIR fellowships, PRAYAS grants up to INR 10 Lakhs, SSS seed support up to INR 1 Crore, and Accelerator), MeitY TIDE 2.0 programs (EIR, Grant, Scale Up Investment), GENESIS EiR, SAMRIDH Accelerator, and Startup India Seed Fund. Additional services include a Centre of Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics with Thermo Fisher Scientific, NABL-certified lab facilities (analytical testing, cell culture, bioprocess), and the Social Innovation Immersion Program (SIIP). The platform nurtures over 482 startups across healthcare, agritech, biotech, IoT, AI/ML, and other deep-tech sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technology Business Incubator Platform Comprehensive technology business incubation services including funding support, mentorship, lab infrastructure, and acceleration programs for deep-tech and social startups from ideation to growth stage.
• BIRAC Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) India's largest early-stage biotech funding programme providing grant-in-aid up to INR 50 Lakhs for 18 months to ideas with commercialization potential in biotechnology and life sciences.
• BIG North East Special BIRAC call for North East India supporting startups and innovators from the region with up to INR 50 Lakhs grant for proof of concept.
• BIRAC LEAP Fund Equity-based investment up to INR 50 Lakhs for early-stage biotech and life sciences startups at TRL 7 or higher for pilot/commercialization.
• BIRAC SEED Fund Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development Fund providing equity-based investment up to INR 30 Lakhs for early-stage life science startups.
• DST NIDHI EIR Entrepreneur-in-Residence program providing monthly fellowship up to INR 30,000 for 12 months to support budding entrepreneurs.
• DST NIDHI PRAYAS Product development grant up to INR 10 Lakhs enabling translation of innovative ideas to prototypes for early-stage entrepreneurs.
• DST NIDHI SSS Seed Support System providing funding up to INR 1 Crore in soft loan, equity or equity-linked instruments for early-stage startup commercialization.
• DST NIDHI Accelerator 6-month structured accelerator program for growth and scale-up stage startups with deep mentoring, networking and investment opportunities.
• MeitY TIDE 2.0 EIR Entrepreneur-in-Residence program providing prototype development grant up to INR 4 Lakhs for 12 months for ICT/emerging technology startups.
• GENESIS EiR 2.0 MeitY-supported program for early-stage tech entrepreneurs from Tier II/III cities with up to INR 10 Lakhs grant for 12 months, focusing on deep-tech innovations.
• MeitY TIDE 2.0 Grant Grant program for developing and validating proof-of-concept (POC) with up to INR 7 Lakhs for 12 months for ICT startups.
• MeitY TIDE 2.0 Scale Up Investment Fund Investment grant up to INR 40 Lakhs for startups with validated products ready for commercialization and scaling up production.
• MeitY SASACT Scheme for Accelerating Startups around Post-COVID Technology Opportunities providing up to INR 40 Lakhs for 36 months.
• MeitY SAMRIDH Accelerator Startup accelerator with matching contribution up to INR 40 Lakhs providing customer connect, investor connect and internationalization services.
• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) Government scheme providing up to INR 20 Lakhs in grant and INR 50 Lakhs in debt/convertible debenture for DPIIT-recognized startups.
• Early Translation Accelerator (ETA) BIRAC-funded program funding up to INR 200 Lakhs per project for translation of academic discoveries (TRL 5+) to commercial ventures in healthcare, medical devices and diagnostics.
• Centre of Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics State-of-the-art molecular diagnostics facility established with Thermo Fisher Scientific support, equipped with Attune NxT Flow Cytometer, ProFlex PCR System, Qubit 4 Fluorometer and other advanced instruments, serving as a hub for molecular diagnostics innovation in Eastern and Northeastern India.
• Lab Facilities NABL-certified analytical testing facility, cell culture facility, bioprocess lab, and common instrumentation services for startups and external researchers.
• Social Innovation Immersion Program (SIIP) 18-month BIRAC fellowship program for social innovators with INR 0.5 Lakhs monthly fellowship plus INR 5 Lakhs mini kick start grant.

Quantifiable outcome

• 482+ startups incubated and nurtured over 15 years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIRAC, DBT, Government of India is one of the primary supporters of KIIT-TBI. The incubator is an implementation partner for multiple BIRAC programs including BIG (Biotechnology Ignition Grant), BIG North East, LEAP Fund, SEED Fund, SIIP (Social Innovation Immersion Program), SPARSH, BRTC, and ETA (Early Translation Accelerator). BIRAC provides grant-in-aid funding and technical oversight for these programs targeting biotech and life sciences startups.
• DST (Department of Science & Technology), Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDST, GoI provides recognition and support through multiple NIDHI programs including NIDHI EIR (Entrepreneur-in-Residence), NIDHI PRAYAS (Prototype Development), NIDHI SSS (Seed Support System), and NIDHI Accelerator. DST also granted Centre of Excellence status to KIIT-TBI in 2020. Additional programs include DST-TEC and the STI Innovation Hub for Tribals.
• MeitY (Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology), Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeitY, GoI supports KIIT-TBI through the TIDE 2.0 program (EIR, Grant, Scale Up Investment Fund, SASACT), SAMRIDH Accelerator, and the newly established GENESIS Center for deeptech startups. MeitY Startup Hub serves as the overarching program coordinator for these technology incubation initiatives.
• DBT (Department of Biotechnology), Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBT, GoI supports the incubator through BIRAC which operates under DBT. The BRTC (BIRAC Regional Techno-entrepreneurship Centre) and multiple biotech programs are funded through DBT-backed mechanisms.
• MSME (Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises), Government of IndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSME supports KIIT-TBI through MSME-BI (MSME Business Incubator) and SFURTI (Support to Tribal Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) scheme for rural clusters.
• Startup OdishacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup Odisha has empaneled KIIT-TBI as a Nodal Incubator and provides support through the Odisha Startup Policy, Food Testing Lab, and state-level startup ecosystem development initiatives.
• Thermo Fisher ScientificcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThermo Fisher Scientific partnered with KIIT-TBI and BCKIC to establish the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics. The facility is equipped with Thermo Fisher instruments including Attune NxT Flow Cytometer, ProFlex PCR System, Qubit 4 Fluorometer, Herasafe Biological Safety Cabinet, and Multiskan GO Spectrophotometer, serving as a hub for molecular diagnostics innovation in Eastern and North Eastern India.
• Boeing (BUILD Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIIT-TBI is the implementation partner for the Boeing University Innovation Leadership Development (BUILD) program. Boeing BUILD sensitization camps have been conducted across NIT Manipur, MIT, and VSSUT Burla. Boeing BUILD 4.0 and Boeing BUILD 5.0 programs are ongoing flagship initiatives targeting aerospace and manufacturing innovation among young entrepreneurs.
• Ministry of Defence (iDEX)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIIT-TBI is recognized as an Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Incubator by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, enabling it to support defence and aerospace startups through the iDEX program.
• Harvard Health Systems Innovation LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIIT-TBI collaborated with Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab and KIIT partners to host the HSIL Hackathon 2026, a global healthcare innovation initiative held at the India Hub in Bhubaneswar.
• UK Government / DFIDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFID UK supported the INVENT Incubator program along with TDB, GoI. The UK-India Healthtech Bootcamp 3.0 and RSN (Regional Startup Network) are additional UK-India collaboration initiatives.
• Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster Foundation (BCKIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCKIC serves as a knowledge partner for the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics and the STI Innovation Hub. It is an initiative of the Office of PSA to Government of India and collaborates with KIIT-TBI on healthcare innovation programs including the Hands On Workshop on Medical Informatics.
• European Union (SILICE Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union supported the SILICE program at KIIT-TBI in 2017-2018, providing international collaboration and cross-border startup support.
• Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKISS, Bhubaneswar partnered with KIIT-TBI for the STI Innovation Hub for Tribals, a project supported by DST, GoI that focuses on creating inclusive and sustainable development pathways for marginalized ST/SC communities in Odisha's districts of Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj.
• DWIH (German House of Innovation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIIT-TBI has been a partner for DWIH Innovator Connect Tandem in 2023 and 2025, facilitating international innovation collaboration between Indian and German startup ecosystems.
• Government of OdishacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Government of Odisha supports KIIT-TBI through Startup Odisha and the Odisha Startup Policy, providing state-level ecosystem backing for the incubator's regional startup development initiatives.
• US Consulate KolkataminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Consulate Kolkata supported the Regional Startup Network (RSN) initiative at KIIT-TBI, facilitating cross-border startup collaboration between India and the United States.
• JSW GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSW Group is listed as an ecosystem partner of KIIT-TBI, supporting the startup ecosystem through potential corporate collaboration and CSR initiatives.
• Bharat Biotech International LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Krishna Ella, Founder of Bharat Biotech International Ltd, serves on the Board of KIIT-TBI, providing strategic guidance and industry mentorship to the startup ecosystem.
• Enprendia NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnprendia is an international engagement partner of KIIT-TBI, facilitating cross-border startup collaboration and knowledge exchange through European startup networks.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• C-CAMP (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms): Bangalore-based BIRAC-supported bioincubator ranked alongside KIIT-TBI as one of India's top bioincubation facilities. Closest direct competitor on biotech/medtech incubation mandate, NABL-style lab services, and federal government funding partnership.
• T-Hub (Hyderabad): India's largest state-backed tech startup incubator based in Telangana, offering multi-stage incubation, mentorship, and government-linked funding access. Most comparable peer to KIIT-TBI in scale, government partnership depth, and pan-sector coverage.
• a-IDEA (NAARM Hyderabad): ICAR-NAARM's agribusiness incubator under the DST NIDHI network providing similar agri/medtech incubation, business mentoring, and PRAYAS / SSS seed funding administration. Closest comparable on federal PRAYAS seed-grant workflow and rural-innovation focus.
• IIT Bombay SINE: University-affiliated technology business incubator at IIT Bombay with similar Sec 8 / society governance, federal grants pipeline, and applied lab access for deep-tech startups. Comparable model on institutional backing, IP support, and infrastructure-for-equity model.
• SIIC IIT Kanpur: IIT Kanpur's Science Incubation and Innovation Centre offers university-affiliated tech incubation with government grants and industry mentorship. Most comparable on academic-to-startup translation, large lab infrastructure footprint, and multi-ministry empanelment.
• NSRCEL (IIM Bangalore): Business school-affiliated incubator with similar early-stage acceleration, women-led startup programs, and rural/social inclusion tracks. Comparable in cohort size, sector breadth, and government-scheme participation.
• IKP Knowledge Park: Hyderabad-based technology business incubator supporting deep-tech and life-science startups with lab facilities and grant program administration. Overlaps with KIIT-TBI in biotech funding administration (SAMRIDH co-investor), lab infrastructure, and BIRAC partnership model.
• CIIE (IIM Ahmedabad): IIM Ahmedabad's technology venture incubation arm offering early-stage funding, mentorship, and equity-style upside. Comparable on program structure and graduation pathways though differs by being institute- rather than university-affiliated.
• Villgro Innovations: India's pioneering social impact incubator focused on healthcare, agritech, and rural innovation startups. Comparable on social innovation programs (SIIP-equivalent), rural manufacturing cluster development, and 25+ rural cluster metric analogous to KIIT-TBI's footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) - NITI Aayog: Government-led national incubation umbrella with Atal Tinkering Labs and Atal Incubators across India. Not a direct competitor but a parallel national-scale entity shaping the policy and funding landscape in which KIIT-TBI operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kiit_tbi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kiittechnologybusinessincu1182
• Facebookfacebook.com/117003051728653
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/25a

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments18 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KIIT-TBI