The IILM Innovation Lab (IILM Entrepreneurship Foundation) is a state-of-the-art incubation centre established under the School of Management at IILM University, Gurugram. Registered as a Section 8 not-for-profit company, IILM Innovation Lab catalyses the fostering of innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.
Strategically positioned within a globally focused academic institution, the Incubator is committed to nurturing a dynamic ecosystem where students, faculty members, and aspiring entrepreneurs from the community can ideate, innovate, and build scalable ventures that solve real-world problems.
With a clear emphasis on inclusivity and impact, the IILM Innovation Lab offers an array of support services that include:
In alignment with IILM University's vision to nurture future-ready leaders, the IILM Innovation Lab serves as a launchpad for impactful startups that aspire not only to achieve commercial success but also to make meaningful contributions to society.
Through a structured incubation process and access to government-recognised startup benefits (DPIIT and Startup India), IILM Innovation Lab is poised to be a premier entrepreneurial hub in the region.
In a time defined by disruption and digital transformation, the IILM Innovation Lab emerges as a catalyst for purpose-driven entrepreneurship within IILM University, Gurugram. Guided by the belief that innovation and entrepreneurship are not merely economic levers but instruments of inclusive and sustainable progress, the Lab is designed to nurture ideas that matter.
The initiative is being driven under the visionary leadership of senior management and key institutional partners, who have been instrumental in both the establishment and the continued growth of the Innovation Lab. Their combined expertise bridges academic excellence with national innovation agendas, ensuring a strong foundation for impactful entrepreneurship.”
At its core, the IILM Innovation Lab is committed to empowering students, faculty, and community innovators to translate bold ideas into tangible, scalable ventures. Built on a strong academic framework, backed by institutional agility, and supported by a diverse ecosystem of mentors and partners, the Lab serves as a launchpad for early-stage innovators seeking to build impactful and resilient startups.
To establish a robust innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at IILM University, Gurugram, that promotes grassroots innovation, fosters sustainable enterprise, and creates measurable societal impact through student, faculty, and community-driven ventures.
Entrepreneurship is not simply about building businesses; it’s about shaping mindsets, redefining possibilities, and tackling challenges with creativity and purpose. At the School of Management, we believe that education must go hand in hand with enterprise, and that theory becomes truly transformative when applied through innovation.
The IILM Innovation Lab is a testament to this belief. Designed as a platform where passion meets process and mentorship meets market readiness, the incubator has quickly become a vital component of our academic and entrepreneurial ecosystem. From FinTech and AgriTech to PropTech and Social Impact Startups, the diversity and calibre of ventures nurtured here are nothing short of inspiring.
I invite all students, faculty, and partners to engage deeply with IILM Innovation Lab, not just to launch ideas, but to build legacies.
Director, School of Management
IILM University, Gurugram
Every great venture begins with a spark, an idea that dares to challenge the ordinary. At IILM Innovation Lab, we believe that these sparks, when nurtured with the right guidance, resources and determination, have the power to transform industries, communities, and the world around us.
Our mission is not just to incubate startups, but to inspire changemakers, individuals who dream big, act boldly, and lead with purpose. With our carefully designed programmes, global partnerships, and a thriving culture of innovation, we aim to ensure that every founder who walks through our doors leaves with not just a venture but a vision that can create lasting impact.
The journey ahead is filled with opportunities. To our students, faculty, and partners, I say this:
CEO
IILM University, Gurugram
Now is the time to dream louder, innovate deeper, and build braver. Together, let us shape an ecosystem where ideas soar, ventures thrive, and innovation truly defines the future.
The Foundation Day of IILM Innovation Lab, held on 29th January 2025 at IILM University, Gurugram, marked the official launch of the incubator and set the tone for a future rooted in innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The event, attended by over 150 students, faculty, investors, and ecosystem leaders, featured a high-impact roundtable discussion on “How to Secure Funding in 2025,” bringing together thought leaders from Google, Real Time Angel Fund, Sanchi Connect, and more. Conversations delved into navigating the funding winter, the evolving role of mentorship, founder-market fit, sweat equity, and emerging opportunities in DeepTech and PropTech. Designed as more than a ceremonial launch, the day became a knowledge-sharing platform that offered attendees practical insights on building lean, investor-ready startups while underscoring IILM Innovation Lab’s role as a launchpad for purpose-driven ventures in India’s dynamic startup ecosystem.
– Global Head of VC & Startups, Google
– Founding Partner, Real Time Angel Fund
– CEO, Sanchi Connect
– Founder & CEO, D’Artist Talent Ventures
– Founder & CEO, Aeria
– Founder, Plenaire
Celebrated over two days, Udyamotsav 2025 honoured National Startup Day by uniting students, faculty, and founders to celebrate entrepreneurship. The first day featured a virtual session on IPR by Dr. Raghavender GR from DPIIT, emphasising the importance of legal protection for startups. The second day transitioned to an engaging in-person format, with real-life startup journeys from founders of SkillSync and Aadat. The event also saw the induction of the IILM Innovation Lab Entrepreneurship Club Council for 2025–26 and showcased IIC’s annual report. With participation from 50+ students and faculty, the event promoted design thinking, leadership, and startup ecosystem awareness.
ENTRECON 2025, hosted in collaboration with GK Consulting and Venture Capital Foundation, was a flagship two-day event packed with panels, masterclasses, and networking opportunities. Topics ranged from AI-driven diagnostics and FinTech trends to sustainable business practices and IP protection. Notable sessions included Green IT, Business Building from Zero, and a strategic MoU signing with GK Consulting. Attended by a vibrant mix of students, faculty, and entrepreneurs, ENTRECON 2025 empowered participants with a 360° view of the modern startup landscape.
Held on campus, the Ideathon 2025 workshop provided 50 students with foundational tools to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey. Led by guest speaker Mr. Gaurav Aggarwal, the session focused on resilience, ideation, and real-world problem-solving. Students were introduced to the YI HEROES initiative, encouraging youth-led ventures. The workshop combined mentorship, motivation, and interactive discussions, and successfully bridged classroom learning with startup readiness.
Designed to bring entrepreneurship to life, Budget Biz Expo engaged students in experiential learning by allowing them to create and operate their business stalls with minimal investment. 11 teams participated in a variety of stalls, from food to games to handmade jewellery. Interactive zones like the Startup Insights Desk and Profit Board tested business acumen and idea generation. With 100+ student visitors and a lively atmosphere, the expo served as a real-time entrepreneurship lab that celebrated innovation, strategy, and community participation.
Commemorating World Creativity and Innovation Day and culminating on World IP Day, IGNITE WEEK 2025 was a six-day celebration of entrepreneurial learning. Sessions led by domain experts like Mr. Naman Kothari (MeitY-NASSCOM), Mr. Ram Bende (TDA), and Ms. Gayatri Sriram (Bacardi) addressed topics from ideation and business development to IP and legal frameworks. The final day featured a comprehensive IP session by Dr. Thiyagaraja Guptha, Deputy Controller, Indian Patent Office. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from 100+ attendees and provided a launchpad for aspiring innovators.
A one-day intensive FDP on “Startup Ecosystem & Entrepreneurship Development” was held to empower 20+ faculty members to integrate innovation into academics. Expert-led sessions included Mr. Naman Kothari (MeitY-NASSCOM) on innovation, Mr. Manoj Kaushik (SCERT) on faculty as change agents, and Mr. Praveen Kapoor (BeBoss Technology) on funding and government support. Faculty left with strategic insights on curriculum innovation, policy awareness, and mentorship frameworks, reinforcing IILM Innovation Lab’s commitment to building a campus-wide entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Commemorating World Creativity and Innovation Day and culminating on World IP Day, IGNITE WEEK 2025 was a six-day celebration of entrepreneurial learning. Sessions led by domain experts like Mr. Naman Kothari (MeitY-NASSCOM), Mr. Ram Bende (TDA), and Ms. Gayatri Sriram (Bacardi) addressed topics from ideation and business development to IP and legal frameworks. The final day featured a comprehensive IP session by Dr. Thiyagaraja Guptha, Deputy Controller, Indian Patent Office. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from 100+ attendees and provided a launchpad for aspiring innovators.
On 21st July 2025, IILM University hosted the UAE–India Start-up Series and MoU Signing Ceremony, a landmark initiative organised by the IILM Innovation Lab in collaboration with the UAE–India CEPA Council (UICC). The event aimed to deepen cross-border engagement between the two nations’ startup ecosystems, aligning with the vision of the UAE–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The day featured keynote addresses by Dr. Ravi Kumar Jain and Dr. Padmakali Banerjee, a special address by Dr. Nikhil Aggarwal (FITT, IIT Delhi), and a detailed overview of the CEPA Start-up Series by Mr. Ahmed Aljneibi (Director, UICC). A formal MoU was signed between IILM University and UICC to promote incubation, mentorship, student exchange, and UAE market access. The programme concluded with a startup showcase where UAE delegates engaged with student entrepreneurs at IILM Innovation Lab, reinforcing the global relevance of IILM’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and opening doors to new opportunities for innovation and international collaboration.
The SPRINT North Edition – Haryana, under the flagship initiative 100 Startups 100 Days, was hosted at the IILM Innovation Lab, Gurugram in collaboration with IIT Ropar TIF (iHub-AWaDH), Annam.AI, and TBIF, bringing together over 200 leaders from industry, government, investors, entrepreneurs, and academia to strengthen the deep-tech startup ecosystem. The event featured addresses by Dr. Radhika Trikha (CEO, IIT Ropar TIF), Dr. Ravi Kumar Jain (Director, SOM, IILM University), and Dr. Mukesh Kestwal (CIO, IIT Ropar TIF), with Smt. Rekha Sharma (MP, Rajya Sabha) as Chief Guest, who lauded the efforts of IIT Ropar and IILM in fostering entrepreneurship. A key highlight was the recognition of 13 startups and 3 innovators under the GENESIS EIR programme, who received ₹25 lakh in grant support, reflecting strong backing from 50+ VC partners, 40+ incubators, and 130+ ecosystem stakeholders including MeitY Startup Hub, Startup India, and IndiaAI.
Strategic MoUs Signed:
Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) – IIT Delhi is a premier startup incubator established under the aegis of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Government of India. Hosted at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, AIC is dedicated to fostering innovation and supporting early-stage, technology-driven startups.
AIC–IIT Delhi offers world-class infrastructure, sector-specific mentoring, access to a vibrant research ecosystem, and funding support through government and private channels. It serves as a launchpad for deep-tech, health-tech, AI/ML, and sustainability-focused ventures, providing startups with the resources to go from idea to market.
As a strategic partner to IILM Innovation Lab, AIC–IIT Delhi enhances our startups' access to cutting-edge expertise, collaborative programmes, and investor networks, strengthening the pipeline from ideation to scalable innovation.
Sanchi Connect is a premier platform dedicated to fostering collaboration between startups, investors, corporates, and innovation enablers. As a key partner of IILM Innovation Lab, Sanchi Connect brings extensive industry expertise and a robust investment network to support early-stage ventures in scaling their ideas.
With a focus on DeepTech, SaaS, FinTech, and Sustainability, the platform connects high-potential startups with tailored mentorship, funding opportunities, and corporate pilot projects. Their ecosystem includes 2,000+ investors and corporate innovation leaders, making Sanchi Connect a critical enabler for market validation, growth strategy, and capital access.
Through this partnership, IILM Innovation Lab incubatees gain direct access to Sanchi’s accelerator services, demo days, investor roundtables, and resource-rich founder communities, accelerating their journey from ideation to impact.
IVY League Ventures is a forward-thinking startup accelerator and venture catalyst that supports early-stage founders in turning bold ideas into scalable businesses. With a strong network of investors, mentors, and industry experts, IVY League Ventures is committed to empowering India’s next generation of entrepreneurs through strategic mentorship, capital access, and deep ecosystem engagement.
As a key partner of IILM Innovation Lab, IVY League Ventures contributes to enriching the startup journey for our incubatees, offering curated pitch sessions, investor readiness bootcamps, and one-on-one mentoring. Their expertise in startup investment and market validation plays a critical role in helping founders navigate the complexities of early growth. Together, we’re building a stronger pipeline for innovation, investment, and impact.
As part of our mission to expand entrepreneurial opportunities, IILM Innovation Lab is proud to collaborate with the Startup Accelerator Chamber of Commerce (SACC), a leading not-for-profit organisation committed to empowering startups and entrepreneurs across India.
Founded by industry veterans, SACC operates as a high-impact startup enabler, offering incubation, mentoring, funding access, and networking support to early-stage ventures. With a robust presence across multiple states, SACC has played a pivotal role in nurturing over 500 startups through its accelerator programs, startup conclaves, and investor pitch platforms.
This partnership allows IILM Innovation Lab incubatees to tap into a larger ecosystem of investors, mentors, and fellow founders, enabling cross-regional collaboration and access to national-level growth opportunities.
Together, IILM Innovation Lab and SACC are driving the next wave of startup success stories by uniting innovation with infrastructure and vision with execution.
DBS Bank, headquartered in Singapore, is one of Asia’s leading financial services groups with a strong reputation for innovation, digital banking, and sustainable finance. With a presence in 18 markets, DBS is recognised globally for its forward-thinking approach, customer-centric solutions, and commitment to empowering startups and SMEs.
Through its partnership with IILM Innovation Lab, DBS Bank brings valuable expertise in financial literacy, digital payments, and access to startup-friendly banking infrastructure. Its collaborative role enhances the support system for incubated ventures, enabling them to build stronger financial models, explore innovative funding solutions, and scale with confidence in competitive markets.
This partnership underscores IILM Innovation Lab’s mission to align with institutions that drive meaningful impact and provide real-world value to early-stage entrepreneurs.
As a strategic legal partner of IILM Innovation Lab, Singhania & Co. LLP brings decades of expertise in supporting startups, entrepreneurs, and high-growth businesses through their legal journeys. Renowned for their client-centric approach and deep domain knowledge, the firm offers end-to-end legal services spanning intellectual property rights, venture capital, commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, and corporate advisory.
With a legacy of serving innovation-led enterprises, Singhania & Co. is committed to empowering emerging startups with clarity, confidence, and compliance, ensuring they are legally equipped to scale and succeed. Their collaboration with IILM Innovation Lab enhances the incubation ecosystem by making high-quality legal counsel accessible to our founders. This partnership underscores our shared belief: great ventures deserve great legal foundations.
We are proud to announce our collaborative engagement with IIT Ropar iHub – AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub) under the SPRINT Haryana Program, an initiative designed to drive grassroots innovation and regional entrepreneurship.
Funded by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, iHub AWaDH is a Technology Innovation Hub established at IIT Ropar under the prestigious National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). The hub focuses on technological solutions in agriculture, water, and rural development, driving impact through cyber-physical systems (CPS), AI, and IoT applications.
This strategic collaboration is aimed at catalysing startup development in Haryana through a shared commitment to deep-tech mentoring, funding support, and inclusive innovation. Together, we aim to bridge academic excellence with entrepreneurial execution, making futuristic technologies accessible to rural and semi-urban innovators.
As India’s startup ecosystem increasingly looks beyond borders, the UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) emerges as a strategic enabler of international collaboration, market access, and innovation-led trade.
Established under the framework of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between India and the UAE in 2022, the UICC aims to create a high-impact platform for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and investors across both nations. It focuses on expanding bilateral economic opportunities in priority sectors like technology, healthcare, logistics, clean energy, and digital innovation.
For Indian startups and academic incubators like IILM Innovation Lab, the UICC presents immense potential for cross-border scaling, UAE market entry, and strategic investment partnerships.
As the global startup landscape evolves, partnerships like UICC serve as gateways, amplifying innovation, accelerating growth, and positioning India’s entrepreneurial talent on the global stage.
The Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) is the industry interface and innovation arm of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi). Established in 1992, FITT is one of India's premier technology transfer organisations, playing a pivotal role in transforming academic research into real-world applications.
As a valued partner of the IILM Innovation Lab, FITT supports our mission by offering mentorship, industry-academic collaborations, and access to startup acceleration opportunities through IIT Delhi’s extensive ecosystem. Its role in commercialising innovation, facilitating IP development, and nurturing early-stage ventures aligns seamlessly with our vision of building a future-ready entrepreneurial landscape.
Together, IILM Innovation Lab and FITT are committed to empowering startups through knowledge exchange, incubation support, and high-impact innovation.
The success of the IILM Innovation Lab is driven by a committed and visionary team dedicated to fostering a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. With a blend of academic leadership, operational expertise, and community engagement, the team ensures that incubatees receive the strategic guidance and support needed to thrive.
Spearheading the incubator’s developmental initiatives, Dr Trivedi bridges academia and enterprise to cultivate an enabling environment for startup growth.
Responsible for operational execution, incubation programme design, and mentor engagement, Mr Kale plays a pivotal role in daily operations and startup support.
Mr Bagchi leads community outreach, brand visibility, and media strategy, ensuring that IILM Innovation Lab’s impact is effectively communicated across platforms.
At IILM Innovation Lab, we believe innovation thrives when resources, mentorship and community come together. Whether you're an aspiring founder, student, mentor or partner, there’s a place for you in our growing ecosystem.
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What if your idea had wings?
What if your startup could grow faster, sharper, and smarter?
At IILM University, Gurugram, something bold is gaining momentum, a game-changing Acceleration Programme that’s built for speed, scale, and founder success. While details are still under wraps, here’s what we can tell you: it’s fast-paced, laser-focused on founders, and crafted to take innovation from pitch decks to real-world impact.
Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a social innovator, or a disruptive market thinker, you’ll want to be ready.
