What The Program Did
Entrepreneurs-in- Residence (EIR) Programme is one of the programs introduced under National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) to inspire the best talents to be entrepreneurs, to minimise the risk involved in pursuing start- ups, and to partially set off their opportunity costs of high paying jobs. The NIDHI-EIR programme provides tremendous opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs to expand their networks and get critical feedback on their ventures in order to promote their entrepreneurial career goals and aspirations. The program has been introduced by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.
Selected candidates received Rs 30,000 per month for 12 months.
Outcomes & Impact:
- Capital deployed: Rs 36 lakhs across 11 startups
- Follow-on capital raised by cohort: Rs 6.49 Cr
- Jobs created: 67
- Patents filed: 3
- Revenue generated by portfolio: Rs 60 lakhs
- Notable graduations / exits: Nidhi Eir
Portfolio Companies Supported
1
Anjamma Healthcare
Medical and Diagnostic
Non-invasive technology for the detection of the blood glucose level.
2
Alt Carbon
Environmental Services
Alt Carbon - Permanent Carbon Removal via Enhanced Rock Weathering.
3
Wonder Yonder
Ed-tech
Making science accessible and engaging for all through visual storytelling, rekindling interest and curiosity in science through well-crafted quirky science merchandise.
4
ZARIN
Fisheries
To build a platform for trout fish farmers.
5
Ecofar
Tea Processing
Micro Start Up Traditional Method Tea Processing Unit.
6
Tracko
IoT
Tracko - World’s smallest GPS tracker for pets with
the longest battery life.
7
Gullakaari
Handicrafts
Gullakaari: Reviving dying art forms of India and making art an artisan self-sustainable
8
FlexiServe
AI and SAAS
FlexiServe is a No-Code server less platform to deploy ML models with ease.
9
Froker
Mobile Food Services
World’s first social quick commerce to provide benefits to 3 key stakeholders – Merchants, Influencers and Customers.
10
QuantumQuests
AR
TreaXuRes is an augmented reality platform that enriches and gamifies tourism through interactive quests, enabling users to discover cultural treasures based on their interests while also revitalising local economies.
11
Bomb Drinks
Food and Beverages
Flavored vitamin water
Featured Success Stories
1: Wonder Yonder
Problem → Wonder Yonder is making science accessible and engaging through visual storytelling and quirky science merchandise. The team was looking to refine its business model and strengthen its go-to-market approach.
PIEDS Support → PIEDS connected the founders with an experienced mentor who worked closely with the team on business model refinement, customer positioning, and go-to-market strategy.
Outcome → With structured mentorship and strategic guidance, Wonder Yonder gained better clarity on market positioning and built a stronger roadmap for scaling its science-driven brand.
2: Tracko
Problem → Tracko is building the world’s smallest GPS tracker for pets with long battery life. The team needed access to advanced lab facilities and technical expertise for GPS and signal-related prototyping work.
PIEDS Support → PIEDS connected the startup with relevant labs and faculty members at BITS Hyderabad, enabling the team to work on prototype development and technical validation. PIEDS also supported the startup in hiring interns to strengthen the product development team.
Outcome → With access to technical infrastructure, expert guidance, and talent support, Tracko accelerated its prototyping journey and strengthened its product development capabilities.
Cohort Timeline
NIDHI EIR Call 5 (2023) — 11 Startups
NIDHI EIR Call 6 – Coming Soon
Funding & Partners
