FutureSites Innovation Program by CII CIES

The FutureSites Innovation Program, run by the CII Centre of Excellence for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Startups (CIES), is a joint initiative with DPIIT Startup India and a major Oil and Gas corporate retail unit. It aims to fast-track retail technology solutions by letting startups solve real-world operational challenges in live retail settings. The program zeroes in on three focus areas: agentic store operations, modernized and observable store and head office infrastructure, and AI-enabled customer 360 personalization platforms. Selected startups get to validate, pilot, and scale their solutions with an enterprise partner, paving the way for quicker market access, business validation, and revenue channels. There are no fees to apply or participate.

This program is perfect for startups ready to scale and prove their measurable business impact. Participants enjoy structured validation, mentorship from CXO-level experts, and opportunities for nationwide rollout.

• Grant-based funding with no application or participation fees.
• Joint initiative by DPIIT Startup India, CII CIES, and a leading Oil and Gas retail corporate.
• Focus on 3 challenge areas: agentic store ops, modernized infrastructure, AI customer 360.
• Pilot within 1–3 months in a live retail environment.
• CXO-level mentorship and opportunity for nationwide rollout.
• Open to international startups that can deploy pilots in India.

• Stage: Startups should have a product that is tested or in early deployments, with the ability to run a pilot within 1 to 3 months.
• Industry: The startup must be building scalable technology solutions for retail, directly addressing one or more of the program's challenge areas.
• Age: Startup age must be less than 10 years.
• Founders: Founders or core team members should have relevant domain expertise.
• Scalability: The solution must be technically, operationally, and commercially scalable.
• Location: International startups are eligible if they can deploy pilots in India.
• No DPIIT/MSME requirement is specified.

FutureSites Innovation Program by CII CIES is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for FutureSites Innovation Program by CII CIES closed on 15 Feb 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

• Funding: The amount varies (not specified). This is a grant, so no equity is taken.
• Enterprise Validation: Opportunity to test, pilot, and scale solutions with a leading Oil and Gas retail partner.
• Mentorship: CXO-level guidance and expert evaluation.
• Acceleration: Structured validation and acceleration phase.
• Network Access: Connections with enterprise stakeholders via Demo Day and beyond.
• Market Entry: Faster access to market and revenue pathways; chance for nationwide rollout.

FutureSites Innovation Program by CII CIES is offered by CII Centre of Excellence, a non-profit foundation. It is delivered directly by CII Centre of Excellence as a grant. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

1. Online application submission during the call for applications.
2. Screening and shortlisting of eligible startups.
3. Founder discussions and evaluation rounds with experts.
4. Final selection and onboarding into the acceleration phase.
5. Participation in pilots, mentorship, and validation activities.
6. Demo Day showcasing solutions to enterprise stakeholders.

Before you apply to FutureSites Innovation Program by CII CIES, 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.