NIDHI EIR Program

NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence Programme

Get grant up to INR 30,000/ – per month for up to 12 months and incubation support at IIT Mandi Catalyst

Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR) is one of the programs introduced under NIDHI to inspire the best talents to be entrepreneurs, to minimize the risk involved in pursuing start-ups, and to partially set off their opportunity costs of high paying jobs.

This is an entrepreneurship/ grant in the form of a stipend to an aspiring or budding entrepreneur with a potential for pursuing a promising technology business idea.

Program Details

EIR Program IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EXTENSIVE SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS WORKING IN THE AREAS OF TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL IMPACT.

  • Get grant up to INR 30,000/ - per month for up to 12 months .
  • Guidance from mentors & experts on productization, commercialization, business concepts and market strategy.
  • Co-working spaces as per availability.

Program Timeline

Registration starts

19 Sep, 2023

Last date to submit application

25 Sep, 2023

Eligibility Criteria

  • The applicant should be a citizen of India. An Indian citizen is defined as one who is in possession of a government-approved proof of nationality such as a valid passport, voter’s id, etc.
  • The applicant should have completed
  • Minimum 4 years of formal full-time undergraduate/post-graduate education towards one or more degree programme. A basic degree or diploma should be in science or engineering.
  • OR
  • 3 years degree or diploma program and have 2 years full-time work experience post-degree or diploma. A basic degree or diploma should be in science or engineering.
  • The applicant is expected to be committed to exploring a business idea. Typical NIDHI-EIR needing the support is a first-generation innovative entrepreneur, who has no parallel source of income. NIDHI-EIR support recipients should not treat this support as a stop-gap arrangement to support them in their academic pursuits or transition between jobs.
  • NIDHI-EIR seeking support should demonstrate his ability to build a scalable technology business startup. The background of the NIDHI-EIR needs to be provided in a prescribed format.
  • NIDHI-EIR seeking support should have a formal business plan for the idea they intend to pursue and a business presentation including the investment proposal.
  • The NIDHI-EIR support recipient should propose one technology business idea in a prescribed format.
  • NIDHI-EIR support recipients are expected to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations full-time. NIDHI-EIR cannot be concurrent with any other remuneration or fellowship.
  • NIDHI-EIR support recipient cannot be the promoter or significant (>10%) shareholder/beneficiary of another company at the time of applying for and receiving the grant approval.
  • The NIDHI-EIR should be registered for the pre-incubation or incubation program at the TBI for the entire duration of NIDHI-EIR support.
  • Preference shall be given for a) technology business ideas with larger technology uncertainties and/ or long gestation periods, b) technology business ideas leveraging technology or IP from publicly funded research or academic organizations, c) technology business ideas with considerable potential for social impact.
  • Entrepreneurs pursuing business ideas with no or marginal technology innovation or those with a very short journey (i.e less than 6 months) to commercialization are discouraged to apply.
Apply Now

To know more, drop us an email at iitmandicatalyst@gmail.com, we would be happy to assist you!