After a year marked by deep founder engagement and expanding international exposure, Atal Incubation Centre – BIMTECH (AIC BIMTECH) has closed 2025 as a defining chapter in its growth journey, entering 2026 with a sharpened focus on global collaboration and institutional capacity building.
Throughout 2025, AIC BIMTECH anchored a series of high-impact national and international initiatives aimed at strengthening founder capabilities and widening ecosystem access. Key engagements included Google AI Day with Google for Startups, Startup Chile for the launch of its accelerator-led BIG program, the UAE–India CEPA Startup Series, and its flagship Gen Next Founder Connect initiative. During the year, AIC BIMTECH onboarded over 121 startups into its portfolio and supported the disbursement of ₹6.7 crore in funding, reinforcing its position as a founder-first incubation platform.
Building on this momentum, AIC BIMTECH opened 2026 with a strategic engagement alongside Expert Dojo, a leading global early-stage accelerator, as part of its India investment tour. Expert Dojo has outlined plans to deploy an initial $15 million fund within its first year in the region. The session, “How to Build a Unicorn,” led by Brian Mac Mahon and Ashutosh Kumar Jha, brought together over 70 founders, offering practical insights into investor alignment, global scaling, and accelerator-driven growth.
As India marks a decade of the Startup India initiative, Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, has emphasised the role of incubation centres in building global innovation bridges through active international partnerships. Aligned with this vision, AIC BIMTECH has strengthened cross-border startup integration through collaborations with Bhutan, Chile, and the United Arab Emirates, enabling international exposure and market access for Indian founders.
A key milestone in January 2026 was the launch of a six-day Startup Ecosystem Development & Acceleration Program for a Bhutanese delegation, conducted from January 19–24, 2026. The program focused on institutional capacity building, accelerator design, funding frameworks, and cross-border ecosystem development.
The initiative coincided with AIC BIMTECH’s 9th Foundation Day on January 20, 2026, marking nearly a decade of ecosystem-building efforts. As part of the celebrations, AIC BIMTECH recognised its alumni startups for their contributions to capacity building and accelerator training initiatives undertaken in collaboration with the Royal Government of Bhutan, underscoring the centre’s growing role in cross-border ecosystem development.
Dr. Prabina Rajib, Director, Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), highlighted the institute’s academic vision and long-standing commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. She noted the impact of AIC BIMTECH’s work since 2017 and its increasing national and international recognition.
Reflecting on the journey, Surya Kant, CEO, AIC BIMTECH, said, “As we move into 2026, our focus is on building institutional capacity and long-term partnerships that strengthen startup ecosystems beyond borders.”
The programme concluded with a valedictory session graced by Vivek Sharma, IRS, Managing Director of the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), who highlighted the importance of global collaboration, policy alignment, and structured capacity building in scaling startup ecosystems across regions.
With sustained founder engagement, global partnerships, and ecosystem capacity building at its core, AIC BIMTECH continues to expand its footprint as a catalyst for innovation—translating entrepreneurial potential into scalable, globally relevant ventures.
The programme featured eminent ecosystem leaders, including:
Dr. Punita Duhan (DSEU), Prof. Sanjeev Govil (BIMTECH), Jorge Andres Loyola Castro (Republic of Chile), Dr. Sunil Sekhawat (Sanchi Connect), Ojasvi Babber (Amity Ventures), Nemesisa Ujjain (Hunch Venture – The Circle FC), Pankaj Anand, Mohit Nagpal (Runway TBI), Rajeev Suri (Bluegreen Ventures), and Satish Kumar (Ministry of MSME, Government of India).
About AIC BIMTECH:
Based in Greater Noida, AIC BIMTECH is a leading incubation centre supported by Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog), Startup India, MeitY Startup Hub, the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, and Start-In-UP. Since inception, it has supported 550+ startups, enabled 5,000+ jobs, facilitated 200+ industry and global partnerships, and provided founders with access to mentorship, funding, corporate linkages, and international exposure across sectors including agritech, healthtech, fintech, sustainability, and social enterprise.
