Kotak BizLabs Season 3 to Support 100+ Startups Across India

Mumbai, August 25, 2026: Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (KMBL) has announced the third season of its Kotak BizLabs Accelerator Programme, which will support more than 100 early-revenue-stage startups across India between August 2026 and October 2027 through mentorship, ecosystem access and catalytic funding.

Season 3 has added IIM Calcutta Innovation Park as an incubation partner, taking the total number of partners to five. The other partners are CIIE Initiatives (IIMA Ventures), IIMBI/NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore, T-Hub and FITT at IIT Delhi. The expanded network is expected to strengthen the programme’s reach across eastern and north-eastern India.

“Season 3 takes high-calibre support to regions where entrepreneurs with promising ideas often lack access to structured ecosystem support. Our partnership with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park extends our reach across eastern and north-eastern India and connects Kotak BizLabs with a wider network of regional startup hubs. Our goal is to give every participating startup access to the mentorship, networks and funding support it needs to take its next step,” said Himanshu Nivsarkar, Head – CSR & ESG, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.

Since its launch, the Kotak BizLabs Accelerator Programme has received more than 4,500 applications from startups across India. It has accelerated over 125 ventures and awarded grants to more than 100 startups, supporting founders working on innovative and impact-driven solutions.

Season 3 will focus on sectors including Agritech, Climate tech, Fintech, Sustainability, Healthtech, Edtech, Clean energy, Waste management and Sustainable manufacturing, with a special focus on deep-tech. Startups selected through the five incubation hubs will receive mentorship, industry connections and growth support, while the respective incubators will manage cohort selection and acceleration.

The programme is a CSR initiative of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited. Applications for Season 3 are open to DPIIT-recognised startups through the Kotak BizLabs Season 3 application process.