When Banasthali Vidyapith, near Jaipur, spun off Greenathon Technologies, the idea was simple: turn academic research into real-world impact. Incubated at the local Atal Incubation Centre (AIC), the startup has developed Biozyme – a patented, microbial-based green technology that helps textile units treat wastewater, cut pollution and recycle water.
Another example is Ecoil, a woman-led venture that has built a nationwide supply chain to collect used cooking oil from food businesses and convert it into biodiesel. The fuel is sold to aviation companies, creating a closed-loop sustainability model. Supported by AIC funding, Ecoil has raised over ₹25 crore so far.
These startups are part of a wider incubation push. There are about 72 AICs operational across India under the Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog, together supporting more than 3,500 startups and generating thousands of jobs across manufacturing, energy, healthcare, agriculture, education and deep science.
From Numbers to Outcomes
Yet the ecosystem is uneven. Several incubators struggle with limited infrastructure, lack of advanced prototyping facilities and a shortage of seasoned mentors who can help startups scale beyond the early stage.
“The objective of AICs is to build a world-class innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem – and the programme has played a vital role in that,” said Abhishek Pareek, CEO of AIC–Banasthali Vidyapith. The centre has carved out a niche by focusing on women-led startups in science, technology and deeptech. Over eight years, it has supported 181 women-founded ventures and helped create more than 3,000 jobs. “Our aim is to evolve into a national centre for women entrepreneurship,” Pareek said.
Many AICs are now following similar paths, specialising in specific sectors rather than trying to do everything. Pareek believes stronger corporate participation could be a game changer. “If corporates engage more deeply with incubators, startups can access test beds – and companies can become their first customers,” he said. State governments, he added, could also act as conveners, bringing industry, academia and startups together to solve region-specific problems.
That shift – from numbers to outcomes – is already visible at some centres. “India’s incubation ecosystem is entering a more outcome-driven phase,” said Ismail Akbani, assistant professor at Mahindra University, Hyderabad. “The real question now is whether incubators are helping founders build businesses that create jobs, innovate and contribute to regional growth.”
At AIC Mahindra, tailored support and openness to collaboration have delivered results. Harvested Robotics, founded by two engineering students, received ₹18 lakh in seed funding to build its first prototype. Within 15 months, it raised its first institutional round from Arali Ventures, with Anand Mahindra coming in as an angel investor.
Another student-led startup, EXtrive Innovations, has secured grants from the Department of Science and Technology, Maruti Suzuki and Boeing. With ₹5 lakh in seed funding from AIC Mahindra, it is now piloting its product with Maruti Suzuki, L&T and others.
Embedding the Maker Culture
AICs linked to universities are also helping embed entrepreneurship into academic culture. The AIC at MIT Art, Design & Technology University has supported over 70 startups, generating nearly 550 jobs and revenues of around ₹80 crore. Mohit Dubey, pro vice-chancellor at MIT ADT, argues that impact can be expanded further by encouraging experimentation earlier. “Dedicated failure funds at school and college levels can help build a maker culture instead of a rote-learning mindset,” he said, adding that young students need greater exposure to IP-driven research.
In central India, the Bhopal-based AIC–Rabindranath Tagore University Foundation has emerged as a key startup hub. It has supported more than 500 startups, backed by a mentor network of over 80 industry experts. Among its successes is Wanderlooms, which raised ₹1.6 crore from Pune Angels and Shantanu Deshpande’s Barbershop, followed by funding on Shark Tank in 2025. Medyseva, a telemedicine startup, raised ₹4 crore from Unicorn India Ventures.
“Our focus now is on deepening outcomes, not just increasing startup counts,” said Ronald Fernandez, CEO of AIC–RNTU Foundation. The centre is prioritising follow-on funding for high-potential startups, launching sector-specific acceleration programmes and bringing in high-net-worth individuals and strategic investors who offer both capital and market insight.
As AICs mature, the challenge is clear: move beyond incubation as a numbers game and build ecosystems that consistently turn ideas into scalable, job-creating businesses.