Khatam Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

What Khatam Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship does

Khatam Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (مرکز نوآوری و کارآفرینی دانشگاه خاتم) is a Tehran-based, university-affiliated innovation center established in 2021 as the executive arm of Khatam University, itself part of the Pasargad Financial Group. The center operates a six-stage incubation and acceleration pathway — student teams, pre-seed, seed, pre-growth, growth, and mature companies — disbursing staged funding and non-cash services (mentoring, training, workspace, legal support) ranging from 70 million Tomans (student stage) to 2,000 million Tomans (growth stage). It does not charge startups; rather, it serves as a non-profit support entity funded through university budget and Pasargad Group allocation.

Operationally, the center is built around eight specialized facilities: an Industry 4.0 Living Lab, a Digital Reality Center supporting VR (used by the Rihano rehabilitation startup), a Robotics and AI Center, a Cyber-Physical Systems Cybersecurity Lab, a Blockchain and Decentralized Technologies Lab, an Advanced Computer Networks and Cloud Computing Lab, a Nanotechnology and Quantum Computing Lab, and a Risk Lab. It draws on 98 faculty members from Khatam University (which itself runs 66 academic programs and 11 advanced laboratories) and on strategic partners including Bank Pasargad, Pasargad Insurance, Fanap, Nasim Salamat Pasargad, Gostaresh Energy, and MIDHCO. The portfolio spans ten or more startups across industrial automation (Teknofan), healthcare/rehabilitation (Rihano), energy (Smart Pulse Energy), agriculture (Aelyar), tourism (Azinsoo), retail technology (Fesgheli Center), advanced materials (Ay Tech Kala), and autonomous transportation (RAHI Platform), with additional student-stage investments in C-Trade, Squad, and SIVAYT.

The center's go-to-market model is community-led rather than commercial: it recruits via its idea-submission portal, demo days, startup weekends, and university channels; selects teams through evaluation committees and mentorship review; and onboards them into the staged pathway. Distribution to industrial customers is achieved through the Pasargad Group's portfolio of subsidiaries, providing pilot opportunities and downstream channels. Marketing and outreach are content-driven, anchored by a Persian-language blog covering innovation methodology, AI in startups, and program announcements, supplemented by events and the annual Khatam University Research and Innovation Festival where portfolio startups have received "Faroohar Bartar" recognition.

Name

Khatam Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Legal name

Khatam Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (مرکز نوآوری و کارآفرینی دانشگاه خاتم)

Website

https://khatam-innovation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Khatam Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship is a Tehran-based university innovation center, the accelerator arm of Khatam University (Pasargad Financial Group), running a six-stage incubation program that provides up to 2,000M Tomans in staged funding, mentorship, and lab access to student and early-stage startups across Iranian industry verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation & Acceleration Services

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC), Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

Keywords

• Startup incubation
• Startup acceleration
• Venture funding
• Innovation ecosystem
• University entrepreneurship

Headquarters

HQ city

Tehran

HQ country

Iran

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Incubation and Acceleration Support Services: As a university-affiliated innovation center, Khatam Center operates as a non-profit support entity. It provides financial grants and non-cash services (mentoring, training, workspace, lab access) to startup teams at various maturity stages. Revenue is not generated from startups; rather, the center disburses funding to qualifying teams. The center's operations are funded through university budget, the Pasargad Financial Group, and partner organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Khatam Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship operates a six-stage startup incubation and acceleration program that accepts university-affiliated and open innovation teams and supports them from idea through to mature company. Admitted teams receive staged cash grants (ranging from 70M Tomans for student/open teams up to 2,000M Tomans at the growth stage) alongside in-kind services including business consulting, mentoring, co-working space, technical and lab infrastructure access, legal support, training, and networking events. The center also runs 11 specialized labs covering Industry 4.0, VR/digital reality, robotics & AI, cybersecurity, blockchain, cloud computing, nanotechnology & quantum computing, and risk.

Product overview

Khatam Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship operates as a university-based startup accelerator supporting student and faculty ventures through a structured incubation program with multiple funding stages. The center's portfolio consists of accelerated startups across diverse sectors including industrial automation (TechnoFen), healthcare and rehabilitation (Rihano), energy management (Smart Pulse Energy), agriculture technology (IELYAR), tourism (Azinsoo), children's retail (Fesgheli Center), advanced materials (Ay Tech Kala), and autonomous systems (RAHI Platform). The center provides staged acceleration programs offering cash and in-kind support ranging from pre-seed (70M Toman) to growth stage (2 billion Toman), along with mentorship, training, workspace, and networking services. The ecosystem includes specialized facilities such as Industry 4.0 Living Lab, Digital Reality Center, Robotics and AI Lab, and Blockchain Lab to support technology development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RAHI Platform (راهی): A platform focused on developing intelligent autonomous guidance systems and providing infrastructure for companies and teams working on automated and smart systems.

Products and services

• Multi-Stage Startup Incubation and Acceleration Program A six-stage startup incubation and acceleration program that admits university-affiliated and open innovation teams and supports them through Student/Open Teams (up to 1 month, 70M Tomans in-kind), Pre-Seed (up to 2 months, 200M Tomans: 100M cash + 100M in-kind), Seed (up to 4 months, 450M Tomans: 250M cash + 200M in-kind), Pre-Growth (up to 6 months, 900M Tomans: 500M cash + 400M in-kind), Growth (up to 9 months, 2,000M Tomans: 1,200M cash + 800M in-kind), and Mature Innovation Companies (up to 2 years, extendable to 3 years). All financial support amounts are denominated in Iranian Tomans (IRR), and no revenue is charged to startups.
• Specialized Technology Lab Access Access to 11 specialized laboratories covering Industry 4.0 Living Lab, Digital Reality/VR Center, Robotics and AI Center, Cyber-Physical Systems Cybersecurity Lab, Blockchain and Decentralized Technologies Lab, Advanced Computer Networks and Cloud Computing Lab, Nanotechnology and Quantum Computing Lab, and Risk Lab, supporting development and testing of startup products.
• Mentoring and Business Advisory Service Mentoring, business consulting and advisory services delivered by business mentors, faculty members, and external advisors to help startup teams validate ideas, build business models, and scale operations.
• Co-Working Workspace and Training Programs On-site co-working space at the center's Tehran facilities combined with formal training, workshops, and skill-development programs (including a 68-hour innovation and entrepreneurship course) provided to admitted startup teams.
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship Course (68-hour workshop program) A specialized 68-hour structured course on innovation and entrepreneurship launched to train students and founders in innovation methodology, lean canvas, product-market fit, AI in startups, and business skills. The course was launched on 15 Azar (corresponding to a date in the Iranian calendar); specific Gregorian launch date not explicitly given in source.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10 startup teams admitted and supported
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Monshan Accelerator (شتاب‌دهنده منش)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Monshan Accelerator, led by Ms. Katayoun Sepehri, participated in a collaborative brainstorming session with the center on October 1, 2025, to explore joint initiatives for supporting student startups and expanding innovative collaborations.
• Fanap (فناپ)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Fanap (فناپ) is listed among the center's strategic operational partners. As a major Iranian technology company, Fanap likely provides technology integration, software development, and potentially cloud/infrastructure services to startups within the center's ecosystem.
• Nasim Salamat Pasargad (نسیم سلامت پاسارگاد)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Nasim Salamat Pasargad is a healthcare services company affiliated with the Pasargad Financial Group. The partnership likely enables health-tech startups and provides domain expertise in the healthcare sector for innovation projects.
• Khatam Pasargad Innovation and Technology Development Institute (موسسه توسعه نوآوری و فناوری و کارآفرینی خاتم پاسارگاد)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The development institute serves as a key strategic partner in co-developing the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. It likely co-invests in startups and provides operational support to the center.
• Khatam University (دانشگاه خاتم)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Khatam University is the parent institution of the center. The center serves as the executive arm of the university's Deputy of Plan and Program in innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry liaison. The university provides academic staff, research infrastructure, and institutional legitimacy.
• Gostaresh Energy (گسترش انرژی)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Gostaresh Energy is an energy sector company affiliated with the Pasargad Group. The partnership likely provides energy-tech startups with industry expertise, pilot projects, and market access in the energy sector.
• MIDHCO (میدکو)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021MIDHCO is a major industrial and mining company within the Pasargad Group. The partnership supports industrial, mining, and manufacturing startups with industry connections and potential deployment opportunities.
• Iran Management Association (انجمن مدیریت ایران)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The Iran Management Association supports the center with management expertise, professional networks, and potential consulting resources for startups in business development and organizational management.
• Pasargad Insurance (بیمه پاسارگاد)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Pasargad Insurance is an insurance company within the Pasargad Financial Group. The partnership likely supports startups with risk management solutions and insurance products tailored for tech ventures.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Y Combinator: Global benchmark for staged startup acceleration with cash-for-equity funding, mentorship, and demo days; comparable in accelerator mechanics though Khatam operates as a non-profit.
• IIT Bombay SINE (Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship): University-affiliated technology business incubator offering multi-stage funding, mentorship, and lab infrastructure to deep-tech founders; structurally analogous as a university innovation center.
• Stanford StartX: University-affiliated global benchmark for student/faculty startup acceleration; comparable in university-anchored model and staged support, though operating at materially larger scale.

Emerging players

• AVA Innovation Factory: Iranian startup hub offering accelerator programs, mentorship, and industry connections to early-stage founders; comparable as a domestic startup support platform.
• Foudri Innovation Factory: Iranian private-sector innovation and startup hub providing workspace, mentorship, and corporate partnerships; overlaps with Khatam's acceleration and corporate-connect functions in the same domestic market.

Direct peers

• Sharif University of Technology Technology Incubator: Iran's flagship university-linked startup incubator operating a similar multi-stage acceleration model tied to a major technical university; comparable in mission, structure, and target founder base.
• Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT) Science and Technology Park: Iranian university-affiliated technology park providing incubation, acceleration, and lab resources to deep-tech and engineering startups; competes for the same founder pool.
• University of Tehran Science and Technology Park: University-affiliated technology park and incubator offering staged programs, lab access, and industry linkages to Iranian student and faculty startups; directly comparable in scope and ecosystem role.
• Iran University of Science and Technology Science & Technology Park: University-based technology park and incubator supporting student-led ventures with similar staged acceleration programs and corporate partnership channels.

Regional players

• Persian Gulf University Science and Technology Park: Regional Iranian university-linked tech park and incubator; comparable in mission but focused on the southern Iran ecosystem rather than Tehran.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/azinsoocom?igsh=ZXB4empneGJodzM3
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/khatam-innovation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Khatam Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship