About the Program
The Chitkara AgriXcelerator Program 2025 hosted by Chitkara Innovation Incubator Foundation under NIDHI Accelerator Program of the Department of Science & Technology, is a high-impact initiative tailored for Agritech startups ready to scale. With a structured accelerator journey, the program empowers ventures with market validation, expert mentorship, and access to strategic networks.
Why Choose Chitkara Xcelerator Program?
- Access CIIF’s extensive network of investors, mentors, and industry experts.
- Leverage advanced customer-validation frameworks to refine your business model.
- Prepare your startup for investment and exponential growth.
Program Objectives
- Accelerate Growth: Equip startups with essential tools and strategies for rapid scaling.
- Build Networks: Forge connections with subject matter experts, mentors, and angel investors.
- Ecosystem Strengthening: Act as a regional innovation hub linking startups with industries, investors, and academia.
- Promote Efficiency: Encourage a "fail-fast" approach for startups to pivot effectively.
Program Highlights
- Duration: August 2025 to December 2025
- Opportunities: Direct access to VCs and angel investors, prize pool of INR 10 Lakhs, and funding pool of INR 20 crore*.
- Milestone: Exclusive Demo Day for pitching to top-tier investors.
- Cohort Size: 20 startups
Key Benefits
- Fast track structured programme helping ideas get accelerated to the next level
- Introduction to entrepreneurial development & identifying business opportunities
- Validate product ideas
- Engage with potential customers
- Building a scalable business model
- Building upon MVP/POC
- Manage team dynamics
- Pitching sessions to investors
- Prize Money – INR 10 Lakhs to Top 3 start-ups
Eligibility Criteria for Chitkara Xcelerator Program
- The applicant (Founder/Director) must be an Indian citizen
- The applicant (Founder/Director) age should be above 18 years.
- The company should be recognized as a “Startup” by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
- The startup should be operational in Agriculture or allied areas.
- Shareholding by Indian promoters in the start-up should be at least 51% at the time of application to CIIF for the scheme, as per Companies Act, 2013 and SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2018
- The period of existence of the start-up company should not be greater than 5 years
- The start-up must have a working MVP/POC with a Minimum TRL of 5 which is market fit, viable commercialization, and scope of scaling
- The start-up should be using technology in its core product or service, business model, distribution model, or methodology to solve the problem being targeted
Focus Sectors: Agritech
Selection Process
- Call for Applications
- Initial Screening: Applications reviewed for innovation, scalability, and market potential.
- Detailed Assessment: Shortlisted startups undergo a rigorous evaluation of scientific strength, commercialization potential, and sustainability.
- Onboarding: Selected startups are inducted into the accelerator program.
- Mentor Assignment: The startups will be assigned mentors based on their stage & need.
Timelines
- Application Opens: 15th December 2024
- Application Deadline: 31 May 2025
- Program Start: First week of August 2025 (Tentative)
- Program End: Third week of December 2025 (Tentative)
Demo Day: Third week of January 2026 (TBD)
