Bengal Business Accelerator Cohort 2 Concludes; 25 Startups Become Investment-Ready

Kolkata, March 03, 2026: The Bengal Business Accelerator Programme – Cohort 2 concluded with a Demo Day and Valedictory Ceremony at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta campus, with 25 early-stage startups emerging as investment-ready ventures.

The programme is a Government of West Bengal initiative implemented in collaboration with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) and supported under the World Bank-aided RAMP Scheme. It aims to bridge the gap between early-stage ventures and investor readiness through structured mentoring, market validation support and access to capital networks.

The Demo Day featured pitch sessions before investors, bankers and entrepreneurs, offering participating startups strategic feedback and opportunities to initiate funding discussions. At the valedictory ceremony, the startups received certificates of recognition from the Government of West Bengal and IIMCIP in the presence of senior officials and ecosystem stakeholders.

The Bengal Business Accelerator Programme is designed to help founders move from concept validation to investor engagement within a defined timeframe, with focused mentoring and business model refinement.

Dr. VK Rai, CEO, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, said, “Our objective with the Bengal Business Accelerator Programme goes beyond teaching business fundamentals, it is about building a comprehensive support system that enables ventures to strengthen their business models, access new markets, and connect with the right investors. The significant strides made by Cohort 2 companies reflect both the founders’ dedication and Bengal’s maturing entrepreneurial environment, which continues to reinforce the state’s broader business ecosystem.”

A senior official from the MSME & T Department, Government of West Bengal, stated, “Bengal has always been a land of visionaries and pioneers. Through the Bengal Business Accelerator Programme, the Government is reaffirming its commitment to reclaim the state’s rich entrepreneurial legacy, empowering promising enterprises with the resources, networks, and guidance they need to drive sustainable socio-economic growth. Our partnership with IIMCIP reflects our belief that institutional collaboration is key to building an innovation-driven future.”

With 25 startups now positioned for investor engagement and scale, the completion of Cohort 2 marks a step forward in strengthening West Bengal’s innovation ecosystem and supporting entrepreneurship-led economic growth.