Kolkata, January 19, 2026: IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) has announced a strategic partnership with Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH), Visakhapatnam, to create a structured co-incubation pathway for market-ready and revenue-generating startups from Andhra Pradesh.
The collaboration is designed to move beyond ideation and early traction, focusing on execution, scale, and measurable business outcomes. Under the partnership, selected startups will receive structured co-incubation support, hands-on execution guidance, and access to capital of up to ₹2 crore, enabling founders to transition confidently from early market validation to scalable growth.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Ravi Eswarapu, CEO, RTIH Visakhapatnam, and Dr. V.K. Rai, CEO, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park. The agreement reflects a shared objective of building fundable, scalable, and nationally visible startups with the potential for global competitiveness.
As part of the partnership, IIMCIP and RTIH will collaborate across three core areas: structured co-incubation with defined milestones and outcome tracking; capital access of up to ₹2 crore for selected startups; and hands-on execution support spanning product development, market access, governance, and scale readiness. The model combines IIMCIP’s national incubation experience and institutional networks with RTIH’s strong regional presence and startup pipeline in Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking on the collaboration, Ravi Eswarapu said, “This partnership is all about creating real impact. By combining RTIH’s innovation ecosystem with IIMCIP’s proven incubation expertise, together, we aim to empower startups from Andhra Pradesh to scale nationally and globally.”
Dr. V.K. Rai added, “There is a strong entrepreneurial energy in Andhra Pradesh. Our role is to help convert that energy into fundable, scalable businesses with structured support and by connecting founders to the right networks, mentors, and markets. IIMCIP’s partnership with RTIH is about turning regional entrepreneurial potential into scalable, fundable enterprises with national impact.”
The initiative aligns with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park’s broader mission of strengthening entrepreneurship in emerging and under-represented regions. By prioritising execution, capital enablement, and visibility, the partnership aims to establish a repeatable model for converting regional innovation into scalable enterprises.
Shortlisted startups from the first pitching edition under this co-incubation programme are expected to be announced shortly. The selected cohort will enter a structured incubation and scale-up journey supported by mentorship, market and network access, and capital facilitation.
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