ABOUT PRE-INCUBATION
The Ideate Create Program at PIEDS is curated to enable aspiring entrepreneurs to discover their potential and provide them with a pathway to convert ideas into a product and then into a company.
The program is a mentor-driven, curated and customized pre-incubation program. It aims to identify and promote early-stage startups/entrepreneurs and provide them with quality support in terms of mentorship, access to labs, technology credits, funding and industry partnerships to ensure their growth as an enterprise.
At A Glance
Ideate Create Mumbai Edition is designed as a 6-month program that focuses on nurturing and scaling startups of BITS Mumbai Campus students across different sectors. The program will offer a curated blend of knowledge sessions, 1-0-1 biweekly mentorship sessions, tech credits and networking opportunities to facilitate the growth and success of the selected startups.
What You Get
- - Non-financial support — mentorship, ideation workshops, prototyping lab access, IP guidance, business model coaching
- - Network — BITS Pilani faculty, alumni founders, peer cohort, exposure to investor and corporate networks
- - Financial support — grants up to ₹5 lakh for prototyping, user research, and proof of concept
Eligibility
- - BITS Pilani Mumbai Campus Students & entity registration not mandatory at this stage
- - Validated problem statement with early user research
- - Sector-agnostic
- - No prior external funding
How To Apply
- 1. Submit application with idea brief
- 2. Initial screening by PIEDS team
- 3. Onboarding into the cohort
Key Dates
Applications open: 7 August 2026
Next cohort begins: 27 August 2026
Portfolio Highlights
Startups that began in pre-incubation and graduated.
1
Prototype
Lantana & Co.
Lantana & Co is a sustainable luxury stationery brand that transforms invasive plants like Lantana camara into premium handmade paper products. By converting harmful biomass into heirloom-quality goods, we restore ecosystems while creating livelihoods for artisans and tribal communities.
2
Prototype
Ascent
Ascent is a board game studio reimagining climate storytelling through play. Our flagship 3D survival RPG lets players race up the last mountain above rising seas, blending dice-roller mechanics, dynamic terrain, and narrative choices to turn the climate crisis into an immersive, strategy-driven adventure for young adults.
3
Prototype
Theralog
Theralog is a digital platform that makes therapy and mental wellness measurable, engaging, and habit-driven, connecting users and therapists for better progress and accountability.
4
Prototype
Lifeline Bharat
Lifeline Bharat is a unified digital health platform that brings doctor consultations, hospital bookings, tests, pharmacy, insurance, and ambulance services into one place. By connecting citizens, government, and private players, it makes healthcare seamless, accessible, and transparent for all.
5
MVP
Raahat
Aqua Cool makes affordable, water-powered cooling vests that protect India’s outdoor workers from heat stress.
6
Prototype
Iterate
Iterate is an AI-powered design exam companion that provides personalized questions, instant feedback, and improvement guidance for UCEED, NID, and NIFT aspirants.
7
PoC
Fitnyx
Fitnyx is a comprehensive fitness platform that helps users track goals, manage data, discover resources, and enables providers to expand digitally and manage operations seamlessly.
8
Prototype
FlipSide
FlipSide is an app that curates diverse perspectives into clear, concise summaries to bridge political divides and promote informed thinking.
FAQs
Tentative Program Schedule
| S. No | Session Name | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Program Launch | Early September |
| 2 | Primary Research | September |
| 3 | Design in Entrepreneurship | October |
| 4 | From Idea to MVP: Building Your First Prototype | October |
| 5 | Business Model | January |
| 6 | 1-1 Mentoring | January |
| 7 | Pitch Deck Preparation | February |
| 8 | Innovation & Insights | February |
| 9 | Demo Day | March |
