AIP (Agri-Startup Incubation Programme)

The Agri-Startup Incubation Programme (AIP) is a key initiative by the Agri Food Business Incubation Centre (AFBIC) at IIT Kharagpur. This program is designed to provide crucial grant funding and comprehensive incubation support to promising agri-startups in India.

It specifically targets innovative ventures in the agriculture, food processing, and allied sectors. The AIP aims to foster growth and innovation within the agritech ecosystem by supporting startups that are either originating from West Bengal or have founders from the state.

As a non-dilutive grant program, AIP helps startups scale their products and services without giving up equity, making it an attractive opportunity for early to growth-stage companies.

• Grant funding up to ₹25 lakh for agri-startups.
• Non-dilutive support; no equity taken.
• Focus on MVP, beta, or expansion stage startups.
• Open to startups or founders from West Bengal.
• Includes mentorship and on-campus workshop at IIT Kharagpur.
• Application deadline for Cohort 3.0 is May 30, 2026.

To be eligible for the Agri-Startup Incubation Programme, startups must meet specific criteria:

• The venture should be at the Minimum Viable Product (MVP), beta, or expansion stage of its product or service development.
• Geographically, either the founder must be from West Bengal or the startup itself must originate from West Bengal.
• The startup must be actively working in agriculture, food processing, or allied sectors.
• Applicants should typically be a registered company, such as a private limited company or a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).

AIP (Agri-Startup Incubation Programme) is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for AIP (Agri-Startup Incubation Programme) closed on 30 May 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

Selected startups receive a substantial non-dilutive grant-in-aid of up to ₹25 lakh. This financial support is disbursed by AFBIC, contingent upon successful selection and a milestone-based performance evaluation.

Beyond funding, the program offers significant incubation benefits:

• One month of online mentorship to guide strategic development.
• A 15-day on-campus incubation workshop at IIT Kharagpur, providing intensive hands-on experience.
• Access to IIT Kharagpur's domain experts and advanced lab infrastructure.
• Integration into the wider AFBIC agri-startup network, fostering collaboration and growth opportunities.

AIP (Agri-Startup Incubation Programme) is offered by Agri Food Business Incubation Centre (AFBIC), IIT Kharagpur, an academic institution. It is delivered directly by Agri Food Business Incubation Centre (AFBIC), IIT Kharagpur as a grant. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

The selection process for the Agri-Startup Incubation Programme involves several distinct stages:

• Initially, applicants must submit the AFBIC Cohort 3.0 application form by the specified deadline.
• Following submission, AFBIC conducts an initial screening to verify eligibility and assess the startup's fit for the AIP track.
• Startups that are successfully shortlisted then proceed to a phase of training and performance evaluation.
• The final stage involves a recommendation by the AFBIC committee for the disbursement of the grant-in-aid, based on the evaluations and performance.

Before you apply to AIP (Agri-Startup Incubation Programme), keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

AIP (Agri-Startup Incubation Programme) is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹25L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.