India’s startup ecosystem is thriving, yet the road to success remains challenging—especially for early-revenue startups striving to scale up. Recognizing this gap, Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched the Kotak BizLabs Accelerator Programme, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to provide startups with the strategic support, mentorship, and funding needed to sustain long-term growth.
In an exclusive conversation with TheCSRUniverse, Mr. Himanshu Nivsarkar, Senior Executive Vice President and Head – CSR & ESG, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd., delves into the vision behind this programme and how it aligns with Kotak’s broader commitment to fostering innovation, job creation, and economic empowerment. He also sheds light on how the initiative prioritizes startups from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, catalyzes sustainable innovation in critical sectors like agritech, fintech, edtech, and climate tech, and strengthens collaborations with leading incubators such as NSRCEL, IIMA Ventures, and T-Hub.With a focus on impact-driven entrepreneurship, Kotak BizLabs is more than just an accelerator—it’s a platform to fuel India’s startup ambitions.
Read on as Mr. Nivsarkar shares exclusive insights into the programme’s roadmap, funding strategies, and its role in shaping the future of India’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Q. What inspired Kotak Mahindra Bank to conceptualize the Kotak BizLabs accelerator programme? How does it align with your broader CSR strategies?
A. India is expected to become a $30 trillion economy by 2050. This multi-fold growth in the economy is not possible without significant contribution from startups. India's startup ecosystem has transformed into the world's third-largest hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, with over 1.59 lakh startups recognised by DPIIT.
1. Through its flagship initiative ‘Startup India’, the Indian government has supported building of a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country. Over the years, the government and private sector have helped set up over 1000 incubators in India At the same time, more than 90% of startups in India fail within a decade of incorporation.
2. Thus, while there is significant effort and investment being made towards ideation and early-stage development and incubation, there is a dearth of programmes that focus on ensuring longer-term sustenance.
To address this gap, we have launched the Kotak BizLabs accelerator programme, a unique initiative that addresses the challenges faced by early-revenue to growth stage startups in India. Startup owners who are brimming with innovative ideas typically grapple with hurdles of go-to-market strategies, expansion and customer acquisition. Many even struggle to secure the necessary funding to scale their operations. That’s where Kotak Bizlabs accelerator programme steps in. It offers these startups customised support coupled with traditional incubation and grant funding.
The programme is an amalgamation of tailored mentorship, strategic partnerships and hands-on workshops, all woven together to create a pathway to success. We have chosen sectors that are critical for longer-term growth of the economy such as agritech, climatech, fintech, healthcare, edtech, and sustainability. Some of these are also sectors that are typically not favoured by venture capital for early-stage investment. This programme embodies the commitment of Kotak Mahindra Bank to foster innovation, nurture job creation, and drive economic prosperity through entrepreneurship. We at Kotak envision a thriving ecosystem for startups, particularly those driven by a social impact focus, fuelling aspirations of India’s self-employed segment.
Q. Many accelerator programs exist in India. What sets Kotak BizLabs accelerator programme apart, and how does it address gaps in the startup ecosystem, particularly for early-revenue stage startups? With a focus on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, how do you plan to identify high-potential startups in these regions?
A. While there are several incubation programmes, there are not many accelerator programmes specifically for early-growth companies. In the early stages of a start-up’s journey, access to the right resources and support is crucial for a successful start. However, many early-revenue startups struggle to get the right help and mentorship they need. That is where Kotak Bizlabs accelerator programme comes in. By collaborating with leading incubators like IIM A Ventures, T-Hub and NSRCEL, the Kotak Bizlabs accelerator programme will provide startups with the guidance and support they need to grow and scale. From expert mentorship to market access and investor readiness, our programme is designed to help startups overcome the most significant challenges they face. We are also bridging the funding gap with catalytic grants, providing entrepreneurs with the capital they need to take their businesses to the next level. We're not just focused on metro cities; we believe that innovation is happening across India, not just in select cities. That's why we're rolling out a robust outreach strategy in Tier-2 cities like Indore, Warangal, Surat, Jaipur, Vizag, and many more. Through roadshows, pitch events, and workshops, we identify high-potential startups and integrate them into a broader ecosystem for growth and scale. Our goal is to create a vibrant startup ecosystem that is inclusive, supportive, and empowering. With Kotak BizLabs accelerator programme, we intend to make it happen - one startup at a time.
Q. How does the programme tailor its offerings, such as mentorship and thematic workshops, to meet the unique needs of startups from diverse sectors?
A. The Kotak BizLabs accelerator programme is designed to guide early-revenue stage startups through their unique challenges with a structured and thoughtful approach. The journey starts with a rigorous selection process, during which the most promising startups will be shortlisted. These chosen few will then undergo diagnostic panels, where their specific pain points will be meticulously identified. With this knowledge, a personalized journey will be curated for each startup, ensuring that their unique needs are directly addressed. A cornerstone of this programme is mentor mapping. With a diverse and extensive pool of experienced mentors, each startup will be paired with an ideal guide. Over the course of 6 to 9 months, these mentors will provide consistent guidance and support, helping the startups navigate their growth journey. But the support will not stop there. Based on insights gathered after identifying the cohort, curated workshops and custom-designed sessions will be planned. These workshops will address the growth challenges and opportunities specific to each startup, ensuring that the programme is not just effective, but transformative. Through this structured and personalized approach, the Kotak BizLabs accelerator programme will be a beacon of support and growth for startups, helping them overcome obstacles and seize opportunities in their entrepreneurial journey.
Q. Could you share insights into your collaboration with incubators like NSRCEL, IIMA Ventures, and T-Hub? How do their strengths complement Kotak’s vision? What role do partnerships with government bodies, industry leaders, and other stakeholders play in the success of this programme?
A. A vision to nurture India’s entrepreneurial spirit as a pathway to societal progress is at heart of Kotak Mahindra Bank’s ambition. Kotak Bizlabs accelerator programme is one of the key pillars of this vision, aimed at driving transformation in regions and social impact sectors where entrepreneurship holds potential for meaningful change. To deliver maximum impact, Kotak has aligned with incubators that have deep expertise and experience in supporting startups at the acceleration stage. We have partnered with three of the country’s leading incubators: NSRCEL, IIM A Ventures and T-Hub. These partners have a strong track record in incubation and acceleration, and their tailored curriculum, robust mentor network, and industry connections are vital for driving growth for the startups. The Kotak BizLabs accelerator programme aims to nurture early growth companies, many of which are expected to come from incubators supported or managed by state and central governments. By leveraging the groundwork laid by various government bodies, Kotak aims to amplify their efforts.
Q. Could you elaborate on the structure and disbursement of the grants, such as the ₹15 lakh provided to selected startups? How does Kotak ensure efficient allocation of resources to support 1,000 startups through community engagement and hybrid workshops?
A. The programme allocates a ₹15 lakh grant to 32 startups, following a milestone-based disbursement model. This means that funds will be released incrementally, tied to the achievement of predefined goals, ensuring responsible utilization and alignment with programme objectives. For the broader cohort of approximately 1,000 startups, while direct funding will not be provided, Kotak BizLabs accelerator programme will focus on delivering critical resources such as:
1. Expert mentorship: Guidance from seasoned professionals.
2. Skill-building sessions: Interactive workshops tailored to specific growth stages.
3. Networking opportunities: Mixers and events to connect with industry leaders and peers
4. Localized support: Events in Tier 2 cities to nurture regional innovation.
This approach emphasizes long-term value creation over financial grants, equipping startups with the tools and networks essential for sustainable growth.
Q. How does the programme leverage technology to support startups, especially those operating in emerging fields like AI, blockchain, or climate tech? Could you elaborate on the concept of the virtual knowledge centre? What kind of resources and tools will it offer to participating startups?
A. The Kotak Bizlab accelerator programme will offer tailored mentorship from top industry experts, empowering founders to refine their technology stacks and leverage cutting-edge innovations such as AI, blockchain, and sustainable tech. Participants will also gain access to a comprehensive Startup Kit, featuring tools and resources from over 100 tech partners, including Google, Microsoft, and AWS, to drive cloud infrastructure, AI/ML frameworks, and software solutions.
By focusing on tech incubation, NSRCEL addresses the pressing need for innovation-driven entrepreneurship in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The programme's collaborative ecosystem, which includes corporate partnerships, real-world validation, and market exploration opportunities, will enable startups to craft impactful and scalable solutions. This approach will reinforce the programme's vision of driving technology-enabled growth in emerging sectors.
IIMA Ventures will provide Kotak BizLabs cohort members with USD 500K worth of credits across domains such as cloud infrastructure, productivity tools, and payment gateways. These credits help startups integrate technology into their processes from the outset, establishing robust standard operating procedures. Additionally, startups will be matched with tech experts on an as-needed basis to enhance their products and achieve product-market fit quickly.
The Virtual Knowledge Centre is a dynamic online platform that will offer:
* An Online Startup School: A curated series of 6-8 focused sessions covering critical topics like business model development, funding strategies, and technology integration.
* Comprehensive guides, case studies, and toolkits to support various startup stages, including technology, entrepreneurship, business modelling, and product development.
* Virtual events to connect startups with mentors, investors, and peers, ensuring seamless access to expertise and learning across geographies, particularly in emerging fields.
Some potential session topics include:
- Creating unique value propositions
- Scaling, market sizing, and segmenting
- Safeguarding IP
- The art of pitching
- Funding for enterprise
- Managing new and small firms
This holistic approach will equip startups with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to thrive in a rapidly changing digital economy.
Q. With sustainability being a core focus, could you share more about how Kotak BizLabs accelerator programme supports climate-tech startups? How does this programme contribute to Kotak Mahindra Bank’s broader ESG goals and commitments?
A. At Kotak, we are dedicated to supporting programmes that positively impact the broader ecosystem in terms of sustainability. Last year, we partnered with IIT Kanpur to establish the Kotak School of
Sustainability, which aims to nurture talent, foster research, and develop technologies in the sustainability domain. Additionally, we have been working with IIT Madras to set up 10 centres across India to support decarbonization efforts for SMEs through energy efficiency. Aligned with our goals, the Kotak Bizlabs accelerator programme supports social impact sectors such as agritech and climate tech, driving economic growth, job creation, and community empowerment. Through strategic partnerships and robust governance, we aim to help these startups scale sustainably, reflecting Kotak’s commitment to societal impact and long-term value creation.
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