DST–GDC I-NCUBATE Cohort 10 — Deep-Tech Boot Camp at IIT Madras — Frequently Asked Questions

It is an 8-week hybrid boot camp run jointly by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, and the Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GDC) at IIT Madras. Its focus is helping research teams and early-stage startups take deep-tech innovations out of STEM research and towards commercialisation. Cohort 10 is the current edition.

There is no direct grant or investment. The financial support offered is reimbursement of travel and stay costs for attending the mandatory in-person opening workshop at IIT Madras, provided as per GDC norms. The rest of the value comes as training, mentorship, customer discovery and networking support rather than cash.

No. The program takes no equity stake and makes no investment in your venture, so your ownership remains untouched. It is a non-dilutive support program — you get the training, mentorship and customer-discovery help without giving up any share of your company.

Research teams and early-stage startups built on STEM work from Indian universities and laboratories. Members are typically faculty, researchers, students or innovators. You should have a working prototype or proof of technology at TRL 3-5, a team of 3-4 people including at least one Faculty Lead or Principal Investigator and 2-3 Entrepreneur Leads, and a core group that has worked together for at least six months.

The innovation should fall between TRL 3, or initial prototype, and TRL 5. In practice that means the team should already have a working prototype or some form of proof of the technology rather than only a concept on paper.

It is intensive. Faculty Leads should plan for roughly 40 hours across the 8 weeks, covering workshops and webinars. Entrepreneur Leads need at least 50 hours of instruction and office hours, plus about half of their working hours every week for customer interviews and preparatory work, for the full duration of the program. Attendance at all sessions is 100% mandatory.

No. A registered patent or a publication is not a prerequisite. However, the team should either already hold valid registered intellectual property or be able to demonstrate the intent and capability to create IP based on the innovation.

Cohort 10 is scheduled to begin on 25 October 2026. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and specific deadlines are communicated once your completed form has been submitted and reviewed.

You apply by filling in the online application form with all the required details. Team GDC then reviews submissions and shortlists candidates. Shortlisted teams are called for an online interview, and those finally selected receive an official Selection Letter. After you accept it, you are formally onboarded into the upcoming cohort.

Participants move through a mix of in-person workshops at IIT Madras, webinars held online every week, one-on-one office hours with instructors and mentoring sessions with business experts. A large share of the effort goes into customer discovery exercises, where teams speak with many stakeholders to validate assumptions and sharpen their value proposition, alongside training in business tools and scaling strategy.

No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for DST–GDC I-NCUBATE Cohort 10 — Deep-Tech Boot Camp at IIT Madras, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.

DST–GDC I-NCUBATE Cohort 10 — Deep-Tech Boot Camp at IIT Madras is offered by GDC, IIT Madras, an academic institution. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.