IHH Catalyst Program – Fortis IndiaEdition
Hospital pilot program for healthcare startups with hospital-ready solutions.
- Funding amount
- Varies by program
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- IHH Healthcare (Corporate)
- Application deadline
- Closed (8 Mar 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
The IHH Catalyst Program – Fortis India Edition is a healthcare innovation initiative that helps startups validate and deploy their solutions in real hospital environments. The program is anchored within the Fortis Healthcare network in India and delivered in collaboration with IHH Healthcare. It is powered by Plug and Play APAC and supported by Startup India under DPIIT. The goal is to identify startups that can improve clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, and patient experience.
Selected startups get to pilot their solutions within Fortis's operational hospital systems, working closely with clinical leaders, administrators, and innovation teams. The program focuses on oncology, chronic disease management, preventive and predictive care, multidisciplinary care coordination, and patient journey optimisation. Startups receive mentorship on regulatory readiness, healthcare data standards, cybersecurity, and interoperability. They also get access to decision-makers within Fortis and IHH.
A key outcome is the Demo Day in Gurgaon, where startups pitch to hospital leadership and partners. Successful pilots may lead to scaling across IHH's international markets.
Highlights
- Startups get to pilot hospital-ready solutions within the Fortis Healthcare ecosystem.
- Focus areas include oncology, chronic disease management, and patient journey optimisation.
- Backed by Plug and Play APAC and Startup India under DPIIT.
- Opportunity to present at a Demo Day in Gurgaon and potentially scale across IHH Healthcare's international markets.
- Knowledge partners provide mentorship on regulatory readiness, data standards, and cybersecurity.
Who can apply
Startups must show traction beyond the ideation stage—evidence like early revenue, pilot deployments, letters of intent, or a clear commercialization plan is required. The solution must be hospital-ready or have a credible roadmap for enterprise-grade deployment. Use cases should fall under oncology, chronic disease management, preventive/predictive care, multidisciplinary care, or patient journey optimisation. Founders need to demonstrate capability for short-cycle POCs within hospitals. They should be aware of healthcare regulatory requirements, data privacy, and interoperability. Prior healthcare experience is beneficial but not mandatory, provided the team understands hospital workflows. An operational presence in India or a clear plan to establish one is expected.
IHH Catalyst Program – Fortis IndiaEdition is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
The most recent application window for IHH Catalyst Program – Fortis IndiaEdition closed on 8 Mar 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
The funding benefits are not specified in the source. However, the program offers a hospital pilot opportunity, mentorship from healthcare leaders and Plug and Play experts, access to hospital decision-makers, and the chance to present at a Demo Day in Gurgaon for potential enterprise partnerships.
About the provider
IHH Catalyst Program – Fortis IndiaEdition is offered by IHH Healthcare, a corporate programme. It is delivered directly by IHH Healthcare as a grant. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to IHH Catalyst Program – Fortis IndiaEdition, 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IHH Catalyst Program – Fortis India Edition?
It is a healthcare innovation program that allows startups to pilot their solutions within the Fortis Healthcare network in India. It is run in collaboration with IHH Healthcare and hosted by Plug and Play APAC, with support from Startup India under DPIIT.
Who can apply for the program?
Startups that are beyond the ideation stage, with evidence of traction such as early revenue, existing pilots, or letters of intent. Their solution must be hospital-ready or have a clear plan to achieve enterprise-level deployment. The startup should also have an operational presence in India or be willing to establish one.
What types of solutions are they looking for?
The program focuses on digital health solutions in oncology, chronic disease management, preventive and predictive care, multidisciplinary care coordination, and patient journey optimisation.
Does the program provide grant funding?
The program is a grant-based initiative, but the exact amount of funding is not specified. The primary benefits are the pilot opportunity, mentorship, and access to hospital networks.
Do I need DPIIT or MSME registration to apply?
The eligibility criteria do not explicitly require DPIIT or MSME registration. However, the program is supported by Startup India under DPIIT, indicating that DPIIT registration may be beneficial.
What documents are needed to apply?
The specific document checklist is not provided in the source. Typically, you would need a deck, traction data, and a description of your hospital-ready solution.
How do I apply?
The application link is available on the Plug and Play APAC website under the IHH Catalyst program. You can find the URL in our high-level overviews.
What is the deadline to apply?
The deadline mentioned is 8 March 2026.
How are startups selected?
The selection process details are not fully provided. Typically, applications are reviewed based on solution relevance, traction, and alignment with the program's focus areas and the clinical needs of Fortis and IHH Healthcare.
Does the program take equity?
The information does not indicate that the program takes equity. Grant-based innovation initiatives usually do not dilute founders' equity.
Who offers IHH Catalyst Program – Fortis IndiaEdition?
IHH Catalyst Program – Fortis IndiaEdition is offered by IHH Healthcare, a corporate programme. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
Alternatives to IHH Catalyst Program – Fortis IndiaEdition
Not sure IHH Catalyst Program – Fortis IndiaEdition is the right fit, or already applied? These are other grants open to Indian startups that founders shortlist alongside it.
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