ISB I-WIN Accelerator for Women-Led Startups (Cohort 5)

I-WIN (Women in Innovation) is a flagship accelerator from ISB I-Venture, built specifically for women founders who have moved beyond the idea stage and are tackling scaling challenges. Cohort 5 applications are now open.

The program runs for four months entirely online, so it fits around a founder's schedule. It begins with a structured gap analysis to pinpoint each startup's main growth blocker—whether that's go-to-market strategy, fundraising readiness, revenue quality, or team building. Based on this analysis, tailored support is then delivered across those specific areas.

Founders get expert-led live sessions covering growth, unit economics, organisational structure, and compliance; one-to-one mentorship from industry veterans and experienced founders; brand and performance marketing labs; structured market access pathways; and investment readiness preparation including pitch clinics and a curated Demo Day to connect with investors. The peer cohort is deliberately kept small for high-quality interactions, and selected founders gain access to ISB I-Venture's wider alumni network.

I-WIN is ideal for founders who already have paying customers but are stuck on inconsistent growth, fundraising prep, or distribution. It is sector-agnostic and open to startups at pre-seed through pre-Series A stages. A program fee of ₹25,000 + GST applies, and I-WIN takes a 2% success fee on any investments sourced through its network—no equity stake is taken.

• Fully virtual, 4-month accelerator specifically for women-led startups with revenue or users.
• Structured gap analysis to identify growth bottlenecks, followed by tailored support.
• 1:1 mentorship, expert-led sessions, brand/marketing labs, and market access support.
• Curated Demo Day to connect with investors – no equity taken by I-WIN.
• Program fee ₹25,000 + GST; 2% success fee on investments raised through I-WIN network.
• Sector-agnostic: open to SaaS, HealthTech, AgriTech, consumer, enterprise, and more.

This accelerator is open to women-led or women-co-founded startups where a woman founder or co-founder holds at least 25% equity and plays an active decision-making role. The startup must have a live product with early traction—such as revenue, users, pilots, or partnerships—and be at the pre-seed to pre-Series A stage, actively looking to scale. All sectors are welcome, including D2C, HealthTech, SaaS, AgriTech, Climate, AI, and more. The program is fully virtual, so founders from anywhere in India can apply. Accepted entity types are private limited companies and LLPs. MSME registration is not required.

ISB I-WIN Accelerator for Women-Led Startups (Cohort 5) is open to startups at the product and revenue stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India. Applicants should be registered as private limited and llp.

The most recent application window for ISB I-WIN Accelerator for Women-Led Startups (Cohort 5) closed on 25 Jun 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

ISB I-WIN does not offer direct grant funding. The core value comes from the structured 4-month program: a gap analysis, 1:1 mentorship, expert-led live sessions, and a curated Demo Day where founders pitch to investors. A 2% success fee applies on any investments raised through I-WIN's network, but I-WIN itself does not take any equity.

ISB I-WIN Accelerator for Women-Led Startups (Cohort 5) is offered by ISB I-Venture, an academic institution. It is delivered directly by ISB I-Venture as a equity. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

• Online Application: Apply at i-venture.org/iwin.
• Screening: From May to June 2026, the ISB I-Venture team screens and evaluates applications.
• Founder Interview: Shortlisted founders are interviewed and assessed for fit, traction, and scaling readiness.
• Cohort Selection & Onboarding: Final cohort is selected and notified; the acceleration phase begins in January 2027.
• 4-Month Program & Demo Day: Founders participate in the accelerator, concluding with a curated Demo Day for investor introductions.

Before you apply to ISB I-WIN Accelerator for Women-Led Startups (Cohort 5), keep these documents ready — note the program-specific requirements at the top:

• Certificate of incorporation showing your startup is registered as private limited and llp
• 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.

ISB I-WIN Accelerator for Women-Led Startups (Cohort 5) is best suited for product and revenue-stage startups in India seeking an equity investment. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.