Technology Business Incubator - IIT Mandi Catalyst

IIT Mandi Catalyst

Time Machine

2016

Foundation Year

Launch of IIT Mandi Catalyst: IIT Mandi establishes Himachal Pradesh’s first Technology Business Incubator (TBI), focused on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.
Infrastructure Setup: Operations began at Mandav Building, featuring an incubation center and essential facilities for startups.
Initial Funding: Secured funding from key sponsors including the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

2017

Establishing Roots

Recognition as a Technology Business Incubator: Catalyst receives official TBI status from DST.
Launch of Himalayan Startup Trek (HST): Catalyst's flagship event, HST 2017, debuts at IIT Mandi, attracting early-stage startups and ecosystem players.
Incubation Programs: Initial incubation programs launched, supporting seven startups and introducing intensive mentoring.
Exploration Program and Community Engagement: Kicked off with workshops and boot camps, including the MVB BootCamp methodology.
TEDx Dharamshala Participation: Catalyst engages with the community through TEDx, promoting entrepreneurship in the region.

2018

Scaling Up

Board of Governors’ Inaugural Meeting: Startups present their ideas to Catalyst's Board, providing high-level visibility and guidance.
HST 2018: Second edition of HST held, further establishing it as a major event for regional and national startups.
Government Support: Catalyst is recommended for the DST Seed Support System, receiving INR 10 Crores to support startups over five years.
Awards & Achievements: Catalyst-incubated startups win significant awards, like the HP State Entrepreneurship Award and Startup Yatra Himachal's Womenpreneur prize.

2019

Expanding Impact

New Initiatives: Launch of the Himalayan Innovation Challenge, focusing on solutions for the unique challenges of the Himalayan region.
HST 2019: Third edition sees increased participation, solidifying HST’s place in the national startup ecosystem.
Design Thinking Workshop: Catalyst introduces workshops on design thinking and innovation to guide startups in refining product ideas.
National Recognition: Catalyst startups win accolades at events like the Maharashtra AI Innovation Summit and ASSOCHAM Startup Pitch Series.

2020

Adapting and Growing Amidst Challenges

National Recognition for IIT Mandi: IIT Mandi ranks 7th nationally in ARIIA, showcasing the institution's commitment to innovation.
Virtual HST 2020: HST adapts to the pandemic, going fully virtual and attracting participation from across India.
Launch of EIR Program: Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) launched to support budding entrepreneurs.
Seed Fund Program: DST India announces up to INR 50 lakhs in seed funding for Catalyst startups.
Startup Achievements: Notable startups, including Ésah Tea and Biofi Med, gain media coverage and launch successful products.

2021

Consolidating Success

5-Year Milestone Celebration: Catalyst marks five years of impact with a startup showcase attended by Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister.
Expansion in Startup Support: Catalyst selects eight startups under the Him Startup Yojana, distributing INR 2 Crores in support.
HST Grand Challenge: HST introduces a competitive Grand Challenge, focused on areas such as sustainability and regional development.
National Technology Award: Catalyst-incubated startup RAR Engineering wins the prestigious National Technology Award.

2022

Driving Entrepreneurial Culture

100 Startups Incubated in One Year: Catalyst achieves a major milestone by incubating over 100 startups in a single calendar year.
Entrepreneurship Practicum: New initiative for IIT Mandi students to foster a startup culture on campus.
HST 2022 Returns to Campus: After two years, HST resumes in person, graced by the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister.
Infrastructure Growth: Catalyst inaugurates new coworking spaces and the Prayas Shala lab for hardware prototyping.
Strategic Partnerships: MoU signed with Himachal Pradesh’s Department of Industries for environment-focused startups.

2023

Scaling New Heights

EIC and Atal Innovation Mission Program: Catalyst receives EIC designation, the first in Himachal under the Atal Innovation Mission.
HST 2023 Milestone: Record-breaking 1500+ applications, 200+ founders, and 25+ investors at the largest HST to date.
Catalyst Convene: Launch of Catalyst Convene, a demo day program, marking Catalyst’s first outstation event.
Sustainability Initiatives: HDFC Smartup Parivartan grant introduced for startups in environmental and sustainability sectors.
Unconference on Incubation Practices: Catalyst hosts ISBA Unconference, bringing together incubators from across India to share best practices.

2024

Advancing Towards a Startup Valley in the Himalayas

New National Initiatives: RISE and GENESIS IIT Mandi Catalyst joins hands with the MeitY through RISE and GENESIS programs, boosting its resources to support startups.
Bio-Innovation and BIRAC Partnership Strengthening its focus on biotechnology and life sciences, Catalyst collaborates with BIRAC and BioNEST to advance the development of bio-innovation in the region, catering to the unique challenges and opportunities within the Himalayan ecosystem.
Catalyst Convene Expands to Mumbai Building on the success of its flagship event series, Catalyst Convene makes its way to Mumbai, reaching a broader entrepreneurial audience and creating new connections with the financial and innovation hubs of India.
Catalyst Kaksha Reaches New Horizons Catalyst Kaksha, an educational initiative aimed at nurturing young entrepreneurs, extends its outreach across India, bringing entrepreneurship and innovation programs to the borders of the nation.
Bio-Innovation Added as Fourth Theme for HST Grand Challenge Recognizing the need for advancements in biosciences, IIT Mandi Catalyst introduces Bio-Innovation as a new theme for the HST Grand Challenge, encouraging groundbreaking solutions in the life sciences and biotechnology sectors.
HST 2024 – Record-Breaking Participation The Himalayan Startup Trek 2024 stands as the largest in Catalyst's history, attracting the highest number of ecosystem enablers and investors.

Stay Updated

News & blog Updates

Himachal Pradesh has emerged as the top performer in fostering a robust startup ecosystem in the States' Startup Ranking 2022.

This recognition comes as a result of the state's dedication, hard work and high touch engagement with all ecosystem enablers, including incubators, accelerators, mentors, and startups. Furthermore, the Department of Industries has played a pivotal role in bolstering the startup ecosystem through its dedicated initiatives for startups and successfully implementing impactful awareness campaigns.

Catalyst Kaksha Workshop at GNSU

IIT Mandi Catalyst recently conducted a transformative 2-day Catalyst Kaksha Workshop at Gopal Narayan Singh University (GNSU), Sasaram, Bihar. The event empowered participants with sessions on entrepreneurship, business planning, and innovation strategies, coupled with hands-on activities to refine their startup ideas. Day 2 buzzed with mentorship, networking, and business plan development, leaving participants inspired and ready to take their ventures forward. This workshop highlighted the potential of young innovators, laying the foundation for impactful startups. A heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to this success—together, we’re shaping a brighter future for the Indian startup ecosystem!

Himalayan Startup Trek 2024: A Celebration of Innovation and Collaboration

The 8th edition of the Himalayan Startup Trek (HST), hosted by IIT Mandi Catalyst, concluded successfully, reaffirming its position as one of India’s most influential platforms for innovation and entrepreneurship. Held from November 15-17, 2024, in the picturesque Kamand Valley, the event brought together 200+ startups, 50+ mentors, 30+ investors, government dignitaries, and industry leaders to create a thriving ecosystem of innovation.

IIT Mandi Catalyst organized Catalyst Convene 2024 in Mumbai

IIT Mandi Catalyst organized Catalyst Convene 2024 Mumbai edition on January 12, 2024, our latest initiative that aims to bring together the friends of Catalyst at the Business Capital of the country. The session commenced with a comprehensive introduction, providing attendees with an overview of IIT Mandi Catalyst. The highlight of the event was an inspiring keynote address delivered by Yukti Kapoor Mehandiratta. Her insights delved into the realms of individual and team growth, drawing from her personal entrepreneurial journey.