India Accelerator, a seed-stage accelerator program, introduced i3 Launchpad, a programme, created to nurture and co-innovate the start-up ecosystem in India. The programme has been developed in collaboration with ICICI Bank and Infosys Finacle, which is part of EdgeVerve Systems (a wholly-owned product subsidiary of Infosys).

i3 Launchpad aims to support a community of entrepreneurs who are working to establish brands that can have a global impact. It is designed to help start-ups accelerate their success by leveraging mentorship, resources, and opportunities from Infosys Finacle, ICICI Bank and India Accelerator (IA). 

It is open to start-ups across all industries and aims to onboard two cohorts a year with a target of 12-18 start-ups in each. The first cohort will include fintech, enterprise tech and SaaS, prop tech, wealth tech, sustainability and green tech, and insurence tech. Founders can join a mix of remote and in-person group learning sessions. Start-ups, who wish to apply can learn more at the I3 Launchpad website.

Speaking on this new initiative, Deepak Nagpal, managing partner at IA, said, “Lack of guidance is one of the primary reasons why so many start-ups fail or are not able to carry out sustainable business for a longer period. This is where India Accelerator comes into play.” 

“Joining hands with Infosys Finacle and ICICI Bank will further add to our expertise. The i3 Launchpad program leverages the experience and strengths of India Accelerator, ICICI Bank, and Infosys Finacle in a structured manner to create meaningful and high-growth start-ups,” he added. 

Sajit Vijayakumar, senior vice president (SVP) and chief operating officer (COO) of Infosys Finacle, said, “India has taken global leadership in fintech innovation. Yet, there is so much more to achieve to unlock the country’s full potential. As the preferred technology partner to over 60 per cent of Indian financial institutions, we are constantly working with industry participants to inspire better banking.”

Balaji VV, chief technology officer (CTO) of ICICI Bank, said, “Digital initiatives have always been a part of ICICI Bank’s philosophy since its inception. We continue to look for opportunities to collaborate with start-ups to foster innovation and add value to all our stakeholders”