Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society

What Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society does

PIEDS (Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society) is the official Technology Business Incubator of BITS Pilani, established in 2013 as an autonomous not-for-profit society registered under The Rajasthan Societies Registration Act, 1958. Headquartered at the Rakesh Kapoor Innovation Center (RKIC) on the BITS Pilani campus in Pilani, Rajasthan, PIEDS operates a comprehensive incubation ecosystem comprising co-working spaces, specialized innovation labs (IoT, fabrication, computer vision, biotechnology), and meeting facilities, supported by a network of 150+ mentors. It serves student, alumni, and external entrepreneurs across India, having nurtured 400+ startups since inception.

PIEDS does not produce a single product but rather runs 20+ flagship programs spanning pre-incubation (Ideate Create), acceleration (Samvardhan healthcare hardware, Aarogyam digital healthcare, Sustainability Accelerator), and government-funded schemes (TIDE 2.0, NIDHI EIR/SSS/PRAYAS, SISFS, SAMRIDH, SIDBI iDEX). Sector-specific programs target climate-tech, women-led startups, defense-tech, and Tier II/III founders. The underlying "platform" is a managed pipeline combining co-working infrastructure, mentor matching, prototype development grants, and demo-day investor access.

PIEDS is funded primarily through government grants (DST, MeitY, BIRAC, SIDBI, DPIIT) and CSR contributions (Aditya Birla Capital Foundation, HDFC, ICICI, etc.), with select programs taking small equity stakes (e.g., 2% on Samvardhan). It does not charge direct fees from startups. GTM is event-driven and community-led, leveraging BITS Pilani's academic network, IGNITE pitching competitions, Demo Days, and partnerships with investors (Peak XV, 3one4 Capital, Titan Capital, 100X.VC, Inflection Point Ventures) and cohort accelerators (Studio Carbon, SusMafia, Villgro, Social Alpha).

Name

Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society

Legal name

Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society

Website

https://pieds-bitspilani.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

PIEDS is the official Technology Business Incubator of BITS Pilani, operating 20+ incubation and acceleration programs for startups with government grants, CSR funding, and mentorship from a 150+ mentor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation and Acceleration Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (61171)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• Technology business incubator
• Acceleration programs
• Seed funding schemes
• Entrepreneurship development

Headquarters

HQ city

Jhunjhunu

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Incubation and Acceleration Program Fees: As a not-for-profit society registered under The Rajasthan Societies Registration Act, 1958, PIEDS does not charge direct fees from startups. Programs are primarily funded through government grants, CSR funding, and institutional support to provide free or subsidized services to startups.
2. Government and Institutional Grants: Funding received from government agencies (DST, MeitY, BIRAC, SIDBI, MSME) and institutional partners to operate various startup support programs and accelerator schemes.
3. Startup Equity and Success Fees: Some programs like Mookerji Innovation Fund and Samvardhan involve small equity stakes (e.g., 2% equity split between Studio Carbon and PIEDS for Samvardhan), generating potential returns upon startup exits or follow-on funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PIEDS is a Technology Business Incubator at BITS Pilani that operates structured pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration programs for technology-driven startups. It offers co-working infrastructure, specialized labs (IoT, fabrication, computer vision, AI/ML), mentorship from a 150+ mentor network, seed and equity funding through multiple government-backed schemes (TIDE 2.0, NIDHI, SISFS, SAMRIDH, SIDBI iDEX), and sector-specific accelerators in healthcare, climate, defense-tech, and women-led startups. The Startup Equity and Grant Program infrastructure is delivered through the Rakesh Kapoor Innovation Center (RKIC) across Pilani and Mumbai campuses.

Product overview

PIEDS (Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society) is a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) at BITS Pilani, established as an autonomous not-for-profit society in 2013. Rather than a single software product, PIEDS operates as a comprehensive incubation ecosystem offering infrastructure, programs, and services. The core infrastructure includes the Rakesh Kapoor Innovation Center (RKIC) with co-working spaces, specialized innovation labs (IoT, fabrication, computer vision), and meeting facilities. The society runs 20+ flagship programs spanning pre-incubation (Ideate Create), acceleration (Samvardhan, Aarogyam, Sustainability Accelerator), government-funded schemes (TIDE 2.0, NIDHI EIR/SSS/PRAYAS, SISFS), sector-specific programs (Womenpreneur For Bharat, Susventures Climate Residency), and seed funds (Alumni, Mookerji, Rajkumari Jain). Services include mentorship from 150+ mentors, investor access, and government grant navigation. The portfolio includes 400+ startups across diverse sectors including AI/ML, IoT, clean tech, healthcare, aerospace, and electric mobility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TIDE 2.0 MeitY-supported scheme offering up to ₹7 lakh funding and incubation for early-stage technology startups in AI, IoT, Blockchain, Robotics, AR/VR, and Fintech. Includes Entrepreneur-in-Residence (₹4 lakh), Grants (₹7 lakh), and investments up to ₹40 lakh for later-stage startups.
• NIDHI EIR (Entrepreneur-in-Residence) DST-funded program offering ₹30,000 per month fellowships for 12 months (₹3.6 lakh total), mentorship, and support for innovators to transform research ideas into startups, with focus on deep-tech and emerging areas.
• NIDHI SSS (Seed Support System) DST program providing up to ₹1 crore equity funding, expert mentorship, and access to BITS Pilani startup ecosystem for proof of concept, product trials, market entry, and commercialization.
• NIDHI PRAYAS DST program offering up to ₹10 lakh grants, mentorship, lab access, and IP support for early-stage hardware startups in robotics, EVs, renewable energy, and related emerging technologies.
• Genesis EiR Program supporting Tier II/III founders with up to ₹10 lakh funding, mentorship, and physical incubation at BITS Pilani to validate and develop technology-driven startup ideas.
• SAMRIDH Accelerator MeitY-initiated accelerator offering up to ₹40 lakh investment, mentorship, and growth support for tech startups in AI/ML, IoT, Blockchain, and emerging technologies.
• SISFS (Startup India Seed Fund Scheme) Startup India program facilitated by PIEDS offering up to ₹50 lakh funding for prototype development, proof-of-concept, market entry, and commercialization of innovative startup solutions.
• Samvardhan Healthcare Hardware Accelerator 6-month design-focused accelerator co-created with Studio Carbon offering ₹10 lakh funding, 100+ hours of design consultations, and BIRAC-backed support for healthcare hardware startups to scale prototypes into market-ready products.
• Sustainability Accelerator 6-month program co-designed with SusMafia offering ₹10 lakh funding, mentorship, and industry access for early-stage climate and sustainability startups.
• Womenpreneur For Bharat Program empowering women-led startups in smaller Indian cities with up to ₹15 lakh funding, mentorship, incubation, and strategic support to drive inclusive innovation.
• Aarogyam Digital Healthcare Accelerator DST NIDHI-funded accelerator supporting digital healthcare startups with 1:1 mentorship, investor access, clinical guidance, up to $50K tech credits, and demo day grants up to ₹10 lakh for top startups.
• Susventures Climate Residency One-month in-person residency in Bangalore for five early-stage climate founders with mentorship, field visits, and grants up to ₹15 lakh for top teams.
• SIDBI iDEX Startup Seed Fund SIDBI and iDEX partnership offering up to ₹1.5 crore seed funding for defense-tech startups to support prototyping, trials, and market entry.
• NIDHI Accelerator DST-supported accelerator helping high-potential tech startups scale through mentorship, funding, networking, and strategic support in deep-tech and health-tech sectors.
• Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha MSDE and PIEDS initiative to transform NSTI technical skills into startups through mentorship, innovation support, and incubation for students of National Skill Training Institutes.
• Srishti (Hardware Prototyping EiR) Hardware prototyping program offering grants, mentorship, lab access, accommodation, and follow-on funding for innovators building solutions in robotics, EVs, renewable energy, and related sectors.
• Ideate Create Pre-Incubation Program Mentor-driven pre-incubation program offering 6-month support including mentorship, lab access, tech credits (AWS, MongoDB, cloud), funding up to ₹50K, and co-working space for early-stage entrepreneurs at BITS Pilani and BITS Mumbai campuses.
• Mookerji Innovation Fund Equity funding of ₹5-50 lakh and mentorship from Silicon Road Ventures for startups with at least one BITSian co-founder (Mookerji Innovation Fund managed by PIEDS).
• Smt. Rajkumari Jain Seed Fund for Innovation Seed fund supporting BITS Pilani startups with up to ₹50 lakh funding for innovations in AI, semiconductors, sustainability, and emerging sectors.
• Alumni Startup Seed Fund Funding support of ₹5-10 lakhs for BITSian founders to help build, launch, and scale innovative startup ideas.
• Rakesh Kapoor Innovation Center (RKIC) State-of-the-art innovation and incubation hub at BITS Pilani providing co-working spaces, prototyping labs, domain-specific labs, mentorship rooms, and event halls to support entrepreneurs and student innovators.
• Innovation Labs Specialized labs including Postman Innovation Labs, RKIC IoT Lab, BITS Technology Enabling Centre, Nidhi Prayas Fabrication Lab, and Kiran S Bhat Computer Graphics Computer Vision Lab for prototyping and development.
• Co-Working Space & Startup Offices Fully equipped workspaces for budding entrepreneurs and student-led ventures at RKIC, including ideation and collaboration zones for cross-disciplinary work.
• Meeting Rooms Conference and meeting facilities at RKIC including the Vinati Organics Mini Conference Room (48 people), Board Room (10 people), and Conference Room (16-18 people) with video conferencing and presentation equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ startups nurtured since inception
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SusMafiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SusMafia co-designed PIEDS x SusMafia Sustainability Accelerator program, focusing on climate entrepreneurship ecosystem development with 6-month founder-first acceleration.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS provides technology credits to PIEDS pre-incubated startups through the Ideate Create program, enabling startups to build, test, and scale their products at reduced costs using cloud infrastructure.
• YourStoryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYourStory is a media partner for PIEDS, providing coverage and visibility for startup ecosystem activities and program announcements.
• TiEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) network partners with PIEDS for mentorship, networking, and startup ecosystem development.
• VillgrominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVillgro, an Indian social enterprise incubator, partners with PIEDS for ecosystem collaboration and mentorship support.
• Social AlphaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Alpha partners with PIEDS for supporting deep-tech and impact startups through mentorship and ecosystem connections.
• India AcceleratorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndia Accelerator partners with PIEDS for acceleration program collaboration and startup support.
• BITS PilanicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBITS Pilani is the parent institution of PIEDS, providing academic ecosystem, research facilities, faculty mentorship, student talent, and institutional backing for all incubation activities.
• Rajasthan TIEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTiE Rajasthan chapter collaborates with PIEDS for regional entrepreneurship development and startup ecosystem activities.
• Studio CarboncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Carbon co-created Samvardhan healthcare hardware accelerator with PIEDS, providing 100+ hours of design consultations and intensive design sprint support. Takes 1% equity alongside PIEDS.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Villgro Innovations Foundation: Villgro is an India-focused social enterprise incubator funding healthcare, cleantech, and agriculture startups. Already a PIEDS partner; comparable as a sector-specialized Indian incubator with grant-based funding.
• CIIE.CO at IIM Ahmedabad: CIIE.CO is IIM-Ahmedabad's technology business incubator, offering seed funding and accelerator programs. Comparable in operating structure (institution-backed TBI) and target founders.
• SINE (Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, IIT Bombay): SINE is the official TBI of IIT Bombay, providing incubation, seed funding, and investor access to startups. Same university-incubator model with similar government scheme implementations and sector-agnostic portfolio.
• T-Hub (Hyderabad): T-Hub is one of India's largest startup catalysts, running multiple accelerators and innovation programs. Comparable as a multi-program, government and corporate-backed incubator ecosystem.
• Social Alpha: Social Alpha supports deep-tech and impact startups through incubation and seed funding. PIEDS partner; comparable mission and operating model in the Indian deep-tech incubator space.
• India Accelerator: India Accelerator runs cohort-based acceleration programs for early-stage Indian startups. Already a PIEDS channel partner; comparable in accelerator format and startup-stage focus.
• IIMA Ventures (formerly IIMA-CIIE): IIMA Ventures is the venture arm of IIM Ahmedabad supporting early-stage startups with seed and early-stage capital. Comparable as an academic institution-linked fund and incubator providing capital to portfolio startups.
• NSRCEL (IIT Bangalore): NSRCEL is the technology business incubator at IIT Bangalore, operating deep-tech and sector-specific accelerators. Directly comparable as a university-affiliated TBI running multiple government and corporate-backed programs.
• IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC / RTBI): IITMIC and RTBI are the incubation arms of IIT Madras running pre-incubation to acceleration programs with government scheme partnerships. Comparable as a deep-tech focused university incubator.

Broad incumbents

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) / Atal Incubation Centers: AIM is a flagship government initiative establishing Atal Incubation Centers across India. PIEDS partners with AIM-adjacent schemes; AIM represents the broader incumbent ecosystem of government-backed incubators.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BITS_PIEDS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PIEDS-BITSpilani
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pilani-innovation-entrepreneurship-development-society-pieds-bits-pilani
• Instagraminstagram.com/pieds_bitspilani
• Facebookfacebook.com/PIEDSBITS

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society