Sardar Patel Technology Business Incubator (SP-TBI)

What Sardar Patel Technology Business Incubator (SP-TBI) does

Sardar Patel Technology Business Incubator (SP-TBI) is a non-profit technology business incubator founded in 2015 and headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It operates as an initiative of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Sardar Patel Institute of Technology (SPIT) and is affiliated with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. SP-TBI serves early-stage technology entrepreneurs and student founders by providing plug-and-play office space, co-working facilities, meeting rooms, and the Prayas Shala prototyping laboratory, which houses IoT, AR-VR, digital, robotics, electronics, and mechanics labs equipped with CNC milling, 3D printers, CO2 laser cutters, reflow ovens, oscilloscopes, and PCB prototypers. Its core programmatic offerings include NIDHI PRAYAS (prototype grants up to INR 10 lakhs), NIDHI Seed Support Program, the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS, providing up to INR 20 lakhs in grants and INR 50 lakhs in investment), a general Incubation Programme, and a discounted Student Startup Programme, with the organization sanctioned to disperse INR 20 crores in government funding through these schemes.

SP-TBI monetizes indirectly through government grants, scheme administration, and a subsidized subscription model for incubation services, with revenue derived from public funding rather than from direct commercial billing of portfolio companies. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: applications are sourced through the SP-TBI website, DST/DPIIT referrals, and partner educational institutions, while startup engagement is sustained through monthly mentor sessions, Town Hall Meetings, NetWorthIn networking events, Investor Ready Sessions, and Demo Days. Customer segments are diversified across technology startups, student entrepreneurs, DPIIT-registered early-stage ventures, and individual innovators, with a stated mission to generate 500 new ventures and 10,000+ jobs.

The incubator's primary value proposition is ecosystem orchestration rather than proprietary technology: it bundles 500+ startup network access, 10+ VC/angel partner introductions, intern talent pipelines from SPIT, SPCE, SPJIMR, and Bhavan's, and a startup kit of credits from AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft for Startups, MathWorks, CometChat, MSG91, and HubSpot. Notable portfolio outcomes include WorkIndia's INR 97 crore Series B raise led by Aavishkaar Capital, Blue Phoenix Technologies' and Meine Electric's National Startup Awards 5.0 wins, and Lambert's Global Sustainability Open Innovation Challenge victory, validating SP-TBI's positioning as a credible institutional conduit between government funding, academic talent, and India's early-stage venture ecosystem.

Name

Sardar Patel Technology Business Incubator (SP-TBI)

Legal name

Sardar Patel Technology Business Incubator (SP-TBI)

Website

https://sptbi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SP-TBI is a Mumbai-based non-profit technology business incubator, affiliated with India's Department of Science and Technology, that supports early-stage startups and student entrepreneurs with prototyping labs, office space, mentorship, and access to government seed funding schemes such as NIDHI PRAYAS and SISFS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Computer Training (611420)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO)

Keywords

• Technology business incubation
• Startup support services
• Seed funding programmes
• Prototyping laboratory access
• Government grants administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

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

Revenue model

1. Incubation Services: SP-TBI operates as a non-profit technology business incubator providing subsidized office space, facilities, and support services to startups. Revenue is generated through government grants and scheme administration fees rather than direct revenue from incubated companies.
2. Government Scheme Administration: Administering government funding schemes including NIDHI-Prayas (up to INR 10 Lakhs prototype grant), NIDHI-SSP, and SISFS (up to INR 20 Lakhs prototype grant + INR 50 Lakhs investment) to eligible startups

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SP-TBI is a non-profit technology business incubator that provides early-stage technology startups with subsidized office space, co-working facilities, and access to a multi-lab prototyping facility (Prayas Shala covering IoT, AR-VR, electronics, robotics, digital and mechanics). It administers government seed funding schemes (NIDHI PRAYAS up to INR 10 Lakhs, NIDHI-SSP, SISFS up to INR 20 Lakhs prototype grant + INR 50 Lakhs investment), offers mentorship, talent pool access, and a startup kit of cloud and software credits. The incubator connects portfolio startups to 10+ VC/Angel partners, 500+ peer startups, and a network of institutional mentors.

Product overview

SP-TBI is a technology business incubator offering a comprehensive startup support ecosystem. The core offerings include five integrated programmes: NIDHI PRAYAS (prototype funding up to INR 10 Lakhs), NIDHI Seed Support Program (product development and commercialization funding), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (early-stage funding with grants up to INR 20 Lakhs and investments up to INR 50 Lakhs), the Incubation Programme (comprehensive startup support with infrastructure and mentorship), and the Student Startup Programme (discounted incubation for student entrepreneurs). These programmes are supported by Prayas Shala, a prototyping laboratory with access to IoT, AR-VR, digital, robotics, electronics, and mechanics labs. The incubator also provides startup kits with credits from AWS, GCP, Mathworks, CometChat, MSG91, and HubSpot to accelerate startup development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NIDHI PRAYAS An umbrella programme by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, administered by SP-TBI for nurturing innovative ideas into successful startups through prototype funding. Provides grants of up to INR 10 Lakhs for converting innovative ideas into tangible prototypes. Targeted at individual innovators and early-stage technology entrepreneurs.
• NIDHI Seed Support Program (NIDHI-SSP) An initiative by NSTEDB, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, administered by SP-TBI, providing financial assistance to technology-driven startups for product trials, market entry, and commercialization. Targeted at eligible technology startups seeking seed-stage capital.
• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) A Government of India initiative, administered by SP-TBI, providing seed funding and investment to early-stage startups. Offers a prototype grant of up to INR 20 Lakhs and investment of up to INR 50 Lakhs for market entry and scaling. Targeted at DPIIT-registered startups incorporated not more than two years ago with technology-driven business concepts.
• Incubation Programme A platform supporting entrepreneurs with infrastructure, plug-and-play office space, consultation, mentorship, business plan assistance, growth acceleration, product prototyping, and seed funding for technology-based businesses. Targeted at early-stage technology startups.
• Student Startup Programme A programme fostering entrepreneurship in students and faculties by offering discounted incubation services. Provides access to Prayas Shala, the startup toolkit, events, dedicated office space, tech labs, talent pool, and mentors. Targeted at students from Bhavans Campus and other collaborated colleges with startup ideas.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sanctioned INR 20 crores of funding to disperse to startups through government schemes
• +1 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

Integration6 records

AI capability13 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Science and Technology - Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSP-TBI is affiliated with DST, Government of India, enabling access to NIDHI programmes and national startup ecosystem
• Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Sardar Patel Institute of Technology (SPIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSP-TBI is an initiative of SPIT, providing institutional backing and access to talent pool of interns from the institute
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS credits provided in startup kit for incubatees to build and scale their technology solutions
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)coreTechnology or IntegrationGCP credits provided in startup kit for incubatees' cloud infrastructure needs
• Microsoft for StartupscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology credits and support provided to startup incubatees through Microsoft for Startups program
• MathWorkscoreTechnology or IntegrationMathWorks Accelerator Program included in startup kit for engineering and simulation needs
• Startup IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPIIT initiative enabling access to Startup India Seed Fund Scheme and national startup recognition
• SICOMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing industry connections and potential funding opportunities for startups

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Seedstars: Swiss-based emerging-markets startup accelerator and investor with active presence in India. Comparable to SP-TBI's early-stage, seed-funding-oriented incubation model, with a stronger international network and a different funding model.

Direct peers

• SINE (Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, IIT Bombay): IIT Bombay's technology business incubator supporting deeptech and tech startups with seed funding, mentorship, and lab access. Directly comparable to SP-TBI as a Mumbai-based institutional tech incubator; SINE has a stronger deeptech and academic IP pipeline through IIT Bombay.
• Villgro: India's oldest social-impact and science-tech incubator providing seed funding, mentorship, and prototyping support. Comparable to SP-TBI's focus on science-and-technology ventures and government-aligned funding flows, with a deeper impact-investing orientation.
• T-Hub: India's largest technology incubator based in Hyderabad, supporting early-stage startups with infrastructure, mentorship, and investor access. Directly comparable to SP-TBI as a tech-focused incubator offering prototyping facilities, funding scheme administration, and VC/Angel connect, but at significantly larger scale and pan-India reach.
• Axilor Ventures: Technology startup accelerator and seed fund founded by Infosys co-founders. Comparable to SP-TBI's combination of structured accelerator programmes, mentorship, and VC partnerships for early-stage tech founders.
• IIT Madras Incubation Cell: Tech incubator at IIT Madras supporting deeptech, hardware, and software startups. Comparable to SP-TBI's hardware-prototyping focus and academic-parent structure, though at a larger scale and with stronger deeptech credentials.
• NSRCEL (IIM Bangalore): IIM Bangalore's incubation centre supporting early-stage and social-impact startups with mentorship and seed funding. Comparable to SP-TBI as an institutional incubator providing structured programmes and investor access, with a broader sectoral mandate.
• 91springboard: India's coworking-led startup hub network providing plug-and-play office space, mentorship, and investor events. Comparable to SP-TBI's infrastructure-led value proposition (office space, networking, VC connect) across multiple Indian cities.
• CIIE.CO (IIM Ahmedabad): IIM Ahmedabad's technology and impact incubator offering seed funding and acceleration programmes. Comparable to SP-TBI's model of combining government-aligned funding with structured incubation and investor networks.

Broad incumbents

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) / Atal Incubation Centres: Government of India flagship programme establishing Atal Incubation Centres across universities. Directly comparable to SP-TBI's model of DST/government-affiliated incubation; AIM operates at national scale and competes for the same NIDHI/Startup India scheme funding flows.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sp-tbi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Sardar Patel Technology Business Incubator (SP-TBI)