Alstom, a provider of smart and sustainable mobility, and NSRCEL, the start-up hub at IIM Bangalore, are launching the second cohort of its Sustainability Incubation Program. This initiative is aimed at supporting innovative start-ups committed to combatting climate change and addressing various sustainability challenges.
The program is dedicated to fostering the development, scaling, and market integration of technology solutions that replace high-emission, energy-intensive, and non-recyclable incumbents.
The Sustainability Incubation Program aims to help start-ups build sustainable technology, create favorable policy environments, and establish scalable go-to-market and revenue models that prioritise climate-centric solutions. It is designed to assist start-ups in their early revenue stages and will focus on innovations in areas such as green manufacturing, mobility infrastructure, energy and renewable energy, climate technology, alternative fuels, and vehicle technology.
Olivier Loison, managing director at Alstom India, stated, “Following the success of the first cohort, we are excited to expand the scope of the program to include sustainability more holistically. The second cohort is aimed at positively impacting India’s climate challenges, and we look forward to seeing the solutions achieve their full potential.”
“We are delighted to unveil the second cohort of the Sustainability Incubation Program in partnership with Alstom. This program reflects our commitment to nurturing and supporting initiatives aimed at making a positive impact in the climate tech space. Together, we're sowing the seeds of a greener, more prosperous tomorrow," added Anand Sri Ganesh, CEO of NSRCEL.
Sharing her experience about the program, Niharika Kolte Alekar, founder and CEO of Volar Alta said that it connected her with “top-notch mentors, valuable resources, and crucial tools. From business development to marketing, the program's modules effectively addressed all my entrepreneurial requirements. The exceptional support and guidance, understanding my challenges, and connecting me with the right mentors and industry experts were instrumental in overcoming obstacles and achieving my goals.”
The selected 23 ventures have been shortlisted from a pool of 344 applications, based on the viability of their ideas and their proposed solutions to the problems at hand. These shortlisted ventures will proceed to a pre-incubation program, which will reinforce their foundational business fundamentals and provide mentorship based on their specific needs.
Subsequently, these ventures will enter a six-month incubation phase, during which they will develop prototypes and refine their pitches presented to the screening committee.
The program is designed to enhance knowledge and expertise among ventures in the sustainability space, enabling them to analyze their product-market fit for various contexts. It offers interactive capacity-building workshops, contextual mentorship, and valuable ecosystem connections for start-ups.
The program's content is customised to meet the unique requirements of each participating start-up. Throughout the program, start-ups will receive guidance on navigating the ecosystem, understanding policies, and complying with regulations. A funding grant pool of Rs. 1.5 crores have been allocated to support start-ups with the highest potential for creating a meaningful impact.
Throughout the first cohort of the Sustainability Incubation Program, NSRCEL shortlisted and nurtured ten ventures out of a total of 20 start-ups. These ventures have collectively generated a monthly revenue of Rs 31,105,000 and received a total funding of Rs 221,400,000 from prominent venture capitalists. Notably, the program has attracted an impressive client roster, including industry leaders such as SEG Automotive-Mahindra Electric, Zypp Electric, Tata Elxsi, Shell Foundation, and Bounce, underscoring its significant impact within the industry.
