CSJM Innovation Foundation

What CSJM Innovation Foundation does

CSJM Innovation Foundation is a university-affiliated, non-profit innovation and incubation body established in 2019 and operated under the governance of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak, the foundation targets students, researchers, and entrepreneurs connected to CSJMU, offering end-to-end startup support spanning ideation, incubation, mentorship, funding facilitation, and technology transfer. Its service portfolio is organized around three core offerings — Incubation Services, Intellectual Property & Technology Transfer, and a Startup Portfolio (incubated and pre-incubated ventures) — augmented by specialized labs in Drone/UAV technology, IoT, and Cyber Security, plus capacity-building programs and a professional UAV training curriculum.

The foundation's technology base is anchored by these specialized laboratories — most notably the Drone/UAV Lab, IoT Lab, Cyber Security Lab, and an Idea Development Innovation & Application (IDIA) Lab — established or enhanced through an international collaboration with Geoscan. Lab capabilities explicitly include UAV design, aerial mapping, GIS, LiDAR, and data analytics, alongside real-time attack and defense simulations in cyber security. Supporting the lab stack are formal technology and ecosystem partnerships with Zoho (software tooling), TiE UP (mentorship and networking in Uttar Pradesh), C3I HUB NTIHAC Foundation, the Institute Innovation Council, and StartinUp.

Commercially, CSJM Innovation Foundation operates as a non-revenue-generating, grant and institution-supported entity. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, the entity holds no external funding rounds, and its customer base consists of micro/small incubated startups (e.g., Srajan Data Analytics, SHISYA SOFT TECH India, SANGRAH INNOVATIONS, Pyreign Technologies). It markets primarily through its website, social media channels, and in-person events/workshops, and distributes incubation services directly through its campus-based facilities. With 16 employees and no disclosed commercial revenue, its near-term growth depends on expanding program reach, securing additional institutional or government grants, and scaling training offerings such as UAV piloting and data analytics.

Name

CSJM Innovation Foundation

Legal name

CSJM Innovation Foundation

Website

https://innovation.csjmu.ac.in

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CSJM Innovation Foundation is a non-profit university-affiliated incubator operated by Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University in Kanpur, India. It supports student and regional entrepreneurs with incubation, mentorship, IP and tech transfer, specialized Drone/UAV, IoT, and Cyber Security labs, and capacity-building programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Startup Incubation Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMAHAC

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Entrepreneurship & Business Enrichment

SECONDARYEDAHAHAH

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Business Schools & Management Institutes

SECONDARYEDAEAGAI

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYFSANAAAM

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated)

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Venture Capital Firms

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• University innovation foundation
• Technology transfer support
• Capacity building programs
• Entrepreneurship mentoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Kanpur

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

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 Services: The foundation provides incubation support to startups, which may include funding support and technology transfer services. Revenue generation mechanism not explicitly disclosed.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CSJM Innovation Foundation operates a university-based startup incubator that supports innovators and startups through incubation, mentorship, funding support, technology transfer, and capacity-building programs. It offers IP and tech transfer services, a startup portfolio with incubated and pre-incubated companies, and runs specialized technology labs in Drone/UAV, IoT, Cyber Security, and general innovation, along with professional training programs such as UAV piloting and aerial data processing.

Product overview

CSJM Innovation Foundation is an innovation and startup support organization operated by Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University. The foundation offers a unified platform combining Incubation Services, IP & Tech Transfer, and a Startup Portfolio. Supporting these core offerings are specialized labs (Drone UAV Lab, IoT Lab, Cyber Security Lab, and Idea Development Innovation & Application Lab) and Capacity Building Programmes. The foundation also runs a professional UAV Training Program for skill development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Incubation Services

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GeoscancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026International collaboration for advanced technology labs including Drone UAV, IoT, and Cyber Security. Includes expert-led international workshops, hands-on experience in UAV design, mapping, GIS, LiDAR, and data analytics.
• StartinUpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for startup ecosystem development and support.
• C3I HUB NTIHAC FOUNDATIONminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for innovation hub activities and technology initiatives.
• TiE UPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) Uttar Pradesh chapter for strengthening innovation ecosystem in the region through mentorship, networking, and startup support programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore: Indian Institute of Management Bangalore's startup incubator — operates as a broad incumbent in the same university-incubation category with a stronger national brand and access to seed capital.
• T-Hub: India's largest startup incubator/accelerator based in Hyderabad; a broad incumbent operating in the same incubation/acceleration category but at significantly greater scale and with broader corporate partnerships.
• SINE (Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship), IIT Bombay: One of India's most established university-affiliated incubators; a broader incumbent in the same university-incubation category with a significantly larger portfolio, mentor network, and capital base.

Direct peers

• SIDBI Innovation and Incubation Centre (IIT Kanpur): IIT Kanpur's SIDBI-backed incubation initiative — operates alongside SIIC and represents a same-city, same-segment direct peer for university-linked startup support.
• IIIT Allahabad Incubation Centre: Incubation arm of IIIT Allahabad, a comparable university-linked technology incubator in Uttar Pradesh with similar support offerings for student and regional founders.
• SIIC IIT Kanpur (Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre): University-affiliated incubation arm at IIT Kanpur, located in the same city as CSJMIF. Directly comparable as a deep-tech university incubator serving founders in Uttar Pradesh with lab access and mentorship.
• IIT Roorkee iHUB DivyaSampark: IIT Roorkee's Technology Innovation Hub — comparable university-linked deep-tech incubator with a sectoral specialization mandate, similar in structure to CSJMIF's deep-tech lab focus.

Regional players

• Startup Incubation Centre, IIT Guwahati: IIT Guwahati's incubation arm — a comparable university-linked deep-tech incubator, distinguished primarily by its Northeast India geography.
• BITS Pilani – Technology Business Incubator: BITS Pilani's on-campus incubator — operates as a comparable university-affiliated incubation model, though primarily serving founders in Rajasthan rather than UP.

Emerging players

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): Government of India flagship innovation program supporting university-level incubators (ATLs, AICs) — directly comparable as an ecosystem peer with overlapping support mechanisms for university-affiliated founders.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CSJMIF
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csjm-innovation-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/csjmif

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CSJM Innovation Foundation