Avishkar Venture Studio by CIE-IIIT Hyderabad

The Avishkar Venture Studio is an intensive 6-month program designed to support and accelerate deeptech startups. It is spearheaded by the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at IIIT Hyderabad, a renowned institution dedicated to fostering innovation.

This program specifically targets early-stage ventures leveraging cutting-edge technologies, providing them with crucial support to develop and scale their innovative solutions. It aims to bridge the gap between groundbreaking research and market-ready products, nurturing the next generation of deeptech leaders in India.

Through its structured approach, the Avishkar Venture Studio helps founders refine their products, gain market traction, and prepare for future investment rounds, contributing significantly to India's startup ecosystem.

• Receive up to ₹10 lakh in non-dilutive grant funding.
• Participate in a 6-month intensive venture studio program.
• Focus on deeptech startups (AI, AR/VR, Robotics, ML, Computer Vision, Deep Tech, NLP).
• Program run by CIE-IIIT Hyderabad, a leading innovation hub.
• Open to India-registered startups with at least one full-time founder.
• Application deadline is April 27, 2026.

To be considered for the Avishkar Venture Studio, startups must meet several key criteria.

Applicants must be registered in India as a legal entity. It is essential that the startup includes at least one full-time founder dedicated entirely to the venture.

Ideal candidates will have already developed a basic Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and demonstrated some level of customer validation, indicating initial market acceptance or interest. The program has a strong focus on emerging technologies, requiring startups to be based on areas such as:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR)
• Robotics
• Machine Learning (ML)
• Computer Vision
• General Deep Tech
• Natural Language Processing (NLP)

It is important to note that this program does not accept applications from student founders.

Avishkar Venture Studio by CIE-IIIT Hyderabad is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for Avishkar Venture Studio by CIE-IIIT Hyderabad closed on 27 Apr 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

The Avishkar Venture Studio provides significant financial support to its participating startups.

Selected ventures are eligible to receive up to ₹10 lakh in seed funding. This funding is provided as a grant, which means it is non-dilutive; the program does not take any equity in the startup in exchange for the capital.

This grant funding is intended to help startups cover essential operational costs, further develop their technology, and achieve critical milestones during the 6-month program duration.

Avishkar Venture Studio by CIE-IIIT Hyderabad is offered by Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), IIIT Hyderabad, an academic institution. It is delivered directly by Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), IIIT Hyderabad as a grant. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Before you apply to Avishkar Venture Studio by CIE-IIIT Hyderabad, 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.

Avishkar Venture Studio by CIE-IIIT Hyderabad is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹10L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.