AIC-IIITH Foundation

What AIC-IIITH Foundation does

AIC-IIITH Foundation is a non-profit technology incubator housed within the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad campus in Hyderabad, India, established in 2017 under the Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog. It operates as the social-tech arm of the broader Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) IIITH ecosystem, which has been active since 2008 and has facilitated 400+ startups and engaged 10,000+ entrepreneurs. The foundation runs three incubators (Deep Tech, Ojas Medtech, and AIC Social Tech) and four vertical-specific Avishkar accelerators (Deeptech, Medtech, Mediatech, Mobility), plus the Akash EPAM Social Impact Innovation Program (ESIIP) focused on climate-tech startups using AI, IoT, and robotics across carbon capture, circularity, smart mobility, green construction, and climate financing.

The foundation's core service stack includes seed grants (₹5 lakh per selected ESIIP startup), access to IIIT Hyderabad laboratories and test beds (CIE Labs, Research Connect), mentorship from EPAM Systems engineers and resident mentors, and business coaching structured across idea, build, and growth stages. Underlying infrastructure is the IIIT Hyderabad research base — faculty expertise, PhD researchers, and student talent — combined with a patron network of Indian government schemes (DST NIDHI, MEITY TIDE 2.0, BIRAC, NITI Aayog, FICCI FLO) and corporate partners (EPAM, META XR, IHUB DATA). The platform is explicitly research-led, with programs like CV Labs, RootNode, Research Cafe, and DeepTech Co Workz connecting startups to active research projects.

The business model is non-commercial: the foundation does not charge startups for participation and generates no traditional revenue. Operating capital flows in the form of government grants and corporate sponsorship (notably EPAM's co-funding of ESIIP), which is then disbursed downstream as seed grants and in-kind lab access. Portfolio outcomes — ₹6 crore invested directly into 30 startups, 2,500+ jobs created, and 800 crore+ in portfolio valuation — reflect economic impact rather than foundation revenue. Customer acquisition is community- and event-driven (bootcamps, demo days, mentor cafes) and gated by competitive cohort applications.

Name

AIC-IIITH Foundation

Legal name

AIC-IIITH Foundation

Website

https://aic.iiit.ac.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AIC-IIITH Foundation is a non-profit technology incubator at IIIT Hyderabad that runs multi-vertical accelerator programs in deep-tech, MedTech, social/clean-tech, media-tech, and mobility, providing seed grants, lab access, and mentorship to early-stage Indian startups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• Technology accelerator programs
• Deep tech incubation
• Social impact innovation
• Seed grant funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Hyderabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Incubator Support Services: As a technology incubator under IIIT Hyderabad, the AIC-IIITH Foundation does not generate traditional revenue. It provides funding and support to selected startups through grant programs. The organization is supported by government schemes (DST Nidhi, MEITY TIDE, BIRAC) and corporate partners (EPAM Systems).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AIC-IIITH Foundation operates as a non-profit startup incubator and accelerator at IIIT Hyderabad, providing early-stage technology ventures with seed grants (₹5 lakh per startup in programs like ESIIP), access to university research laboratories and test beds, mentorship from corporate experts, and structured programs across Idea, Build, and Growth stages. It supports startups working in deep tech, medtech, social tech, mediatech, and mobility sectors, with a particular focus on climate solutions aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 13.

Product overview

CIE IIITH (Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IIIT Hyderabad), operating through AIC-IIITH Foundation, is a multi-incubator and accelerator ecosystem supporting technology startups across Deep Tech, Med Tech, Social Tech, Media Tech, and Mobility sectors. The portfolio includes three core incubators (Deep Tech, Ojas Medtech, and AIC Social Tech), four Avishkar Accelerator programs (Deeptech, Medtech, Mediatech, Mobility), the Akash EPAM Social Impact Innovation Program for climate-focused startups, and access to CIE Labs and research facilities. Programs are structured across Idea Stage, Build Stage, Growth Stage, and Research Connect pathways, providing funding, mentorship, lab access, and business coaching to early-stage ventures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deep Tech Incubator

Quantifiable outcome

• ₹5 lakh grant per selected startup in ESIIP 4th cohort
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• EPAM SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2026EPAM Systems is the corporate partner for the Akash EPAM Social Impact Innovation Program (ESIIP), now in its 4th cohort. EPAM provides mentorship from its technology experts, business coaching, and supports the program's climate solutions focus aligned with India's UN SDG commitments. Each selected startup receives a ₹5 lakh grant along with access to IIITH facilities and EPAM mentorship.
• Department of Science and Technology (DST) - NIDHIflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDST NIDHI is a flagship patron support program for CIE IIITH, providing government backing for the incubator's operations and startup support programs. NIDHI (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations) supports early-stage startups through various schemes including NIDHI PRAYAS (for prototyping).
• MEITY TIDE 2.0coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEITY TIDE (Technology Incubation Development and Engagement) 2.0 is a patron program supporting technology startups at CIE IIITH, providing funding and ecosystem support for early-stage ventures.
• BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIRAC supports biotech and life sciences startups through CIE IIITH's Ojas Medtech incubator, providing funding mechanisms and regulatory guidance for healthcare and biotechnology ventures.
• NITI AayogflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNITI Aayog supports the AIC-IIITH Foundation as a Atal Innovation Mission partner, providing national-level recognition and backing for the incubator's startup support activities.
• FICCI FLOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFICCI FLO (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry - Ladies Organization) partners with CIE IIITH for startup support, particularly focused on women entrepreneurs in the innovation ecosystem.
• IHUB DATAcoreTechnology or IntegrationIHUB DATA is a technology partner providing data-centric research capabilities and support for startups working with data-driven technologies at CIE IIITH.
• META (XR Startup Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETA's XR Startup Program partners with CIE IIITH to support extended reality startups, including accelerator programs, XR Grand Challenges, and ecosystem development for immersive technologies.
• IIIT HyderabadflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIIT Hyderabad is the parent institution of AIC-IIITH Foundation and CIE IIITH. The institute provides access to laboratories, research facilities, test beds, faculty expertise, and student talent for incubated startups.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• T-Hub: T-Hub is India's largest startup incubator based in Hyderabad, operating cohort-based programs across deeptech, healthtech, and sustainability — directly comparable to AIC-IIITH in geography, target stage, and government-backed structure.
• SINE (Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, IIT Bombay): SINE is an academic-anchored deep-tech incubator under IIT Bombay supporting early-stage ventures with lab access and seed funding — directly comparable to CIE IIITH's research-led incubation model at IIIT Hyderabad.
• CIIE.CO (IIM Ahmedabad): CIIE is a leading academic-anchored Indian incubator/accelerator providing seed funding, mentorship, and sector-focused programs for early-stage startups — comparable in academic affiliation, cohort-based selection, and early-stage focus.
• Social Alpha: Social Alpha is an India-based climate and social-impact focused incubator/accelerator providing lab access, seed capital, and mentorship to mission-driven startups — directly comparable to AIC-IIITH's climate-focused ESIIP program and SDG alignment.
• Villgro: Villgro is one of India's oldest social-impact incubators supporting rural health, agriculture, and clean-tech startups with seed capital and mentorship — comparable as a mission-driven early-stage incubator in India.
• SIIC (IIT Kanpur): SIIC is IIT Kanpur's deep-tech incubator supporting startups in AI, robotics, biotech, and clean energy with access to academic research infrastructure — comparable in academic-affiliated, deep-tech-focused incubation.
• C-CAMP (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms): C-CAMP is a Bengaluru-based life-sciences and biotech incubator providing lab facilities, mentorship, and seed funding to bio-entrepreneurs — comparable in scientific infrastructure-led incubation, particularly to the Ojas Medtech track.
• IIT Madras Research Park / HTIC Incubator: IIT Madras Research Park hosts deeptech incubators with strong research-facility access for startups in AI, robotics, and medtech — directly comparable in academic-affiliated, lab-anchored deeptech incubation.

Broad incumbents

• Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog): AIM is the parent government program of which AIC-IIITH is an Atal Incubation Centre; it supports a national network of incubators including AICs and ATAL Tinkering Labs — comparable as a broader umbrella of which AIC-IIITH is a node.
• NASSCOM 10,000 Startups: NASSCOM 10,000 Startups is an industry-led ecosystem program providing mentorship, funding access, and market connect to Indian startups — comparable as a broad incubator/accelerator targeting early-stage technology ventures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IiithAic
• Facebookfacebook.com/AICIIITH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aic-iiith
• Instagraminstagram.com/cieatiiithyd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AIC-IIITH Foundation