Mumbai, July 23, 2026: Groww Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Groww, has announced the first cohort of its INV.ENT programme, supporting 19 innovation projects by 35 students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. The initiative aims to help young innovators transform early-stage ideas into viable solutions through financial support, mentorship and infrastructure.
The selected projects were chosen from nearly 400 submissions across disciplines and include innovations in areas such as climate technology, healthcare, agri-tech, robotics, defence, assistive technology, retail, education and artificial intelligence. Among the selected ideas are a marketplace for pottery crafted by Dharavi artisans, a wearable device for physiotherapy guidance, a platform that converts carbon dioxide into edible protein, and an AI-powered counter-drone system for critical infrastructure protection.
The first cohort is divided into two tracks. Three student teams have been selected as the inaugural Grand Challenge Fellows, making them eligible for milestone-based funding of up to ₹25 lakh annually. The remaining 16 teams have been inducted into the Proof of Concept (POC) Support Track, each receiving a grant of ₹30,000.
In addition to financial support, participants will receive mentorship and access to the newly established 15,000 sq. ft. Groww Innovation Space at IIT Bombay's Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship (DSSE). The facility is intended to help students develop prototypes, validate ideas and engage with potential users.
Speaking about the initiative, Kalpana Swaminathan, Head of Groww Foundation, said, "At Groww Foundation, our mission since day zero has been to empower India's youth with opportunities to learn, build and innovate. INV.ENT is a program born out of that belief. We see this as a launchpad, the place where young innovators get the mentorship, financial support and trust to take their first real shot, long before the world is watching. We're excited to work closely with this cohort of innovators as they turn their conviction into something real, and we hope to look back one day and call this the starting point for some of India's most impactful builders."
Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, said, "At IIT Bombay, we believe that the distance between an idea and its impact is often determined by whether someone believes in it early enough. Our partnership with Groww Foundation through INV.ENT is built on that shared conviction. Young innovators deserve the freedom, resources, and encouragement to test bold ideas before the world expects results. Together, we are creating an ecosystem where students do not have to wait for permission to build. They can test, fail, learn, and move forward. That is how enduring innovation ecosystems are built."
According to Groww Foundation, the programme aims to support more than 100 student teams annually, providing early-stage funding and mentorship to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.
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