DST–GDC I-NCUBATE Program Cohort 10

An 8-week hybrid program by DST and GDC, IIT Madras, supporting deep-tech innovators and early-stage startups to commercialize STEM research through structured learning, mentorship, and customer discovery.

The DST–GDC I-NCUBATE Program, Cohort 10, is a joint initiative by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, and the Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GDC) at IIT Madras. This intensive, practice-oriented program is designed to identify and nurture promising deep-tech startups and research teams based on STEM innovations from Indian universities and labs.

Launched with a vision to catalyze STEM research into scalable ventures, the program aims to transform lab-based inventions into high-impact startups that address India's complex socio-economic challenges. It provides participants with a transformative learning experience focused on developing an entrepreneurial mindset, enhancing business acumen, and mastering customer discovery methodologies. The program emphasizes a structured learning and validation journey, moving innovations from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3-5 towards market readiness.

Throughout the 8-week boot camp, participants engage in a hybrid learning model, combining in-person workshops at IIT Madras with weekly online webinars, one-on-one office hours with instructors, and mentorship sessions with business experts. A significant component involves extensive customer discovery exercises, requiring teams to conduct numerous stakeholder interactions to validate their assumptions and refine their value propositions. This program reflects a deep commitment from both DST and GDC to fostering technology-inspired entrepreneurship and accelerating India's path to becoming a developed nation.