TEJASVINI Initiative - IIM Mumbai

Welcome to

TEJAS
Talent, Empowerment & Journey Advancing Startups

Do you have an innovative idea, a startup dream, or a passion to create meaningful impact?

Whether you're building a business, solving a social challenge, developing a breakthrough technology, or creating opportunities for your community.

TEJAS is here to help you turn your vision into reality.

Structured Support

End-to-end incubation & acceleration

Mentorship Network

IIM Mumbai faculty & industry experts

Capital Connect

Direct pathways to VCs & angel investors

TEJASVINI Track

Focused initiative for women founders

Apply Now
IIM Mumbai Campus Building
Idea Support

Demystifying the Incubation Journey at IIM Mumbai

Providing complete clarity, stage-specific guidance, and transparent pathways from day one.

01. Stage Assessment

Transparent Evaluation

We assess every startup's exact stage to match them with appropriate resources and expectations.

02. Tailored Pathways

Stage-Specific Support

Customized mentoring, infrastructure, or capacity-building aligned with your current readiness.

03. Continuous Journey

Long-Term Partnership

Guiding your entrepreneurial progression through structured milestones and feedback loops.

We Invite
Innovators. Changemakers.

Impact Creators.

For-Profit Ventures & Startups

Building scalable businesses with strong market potential.

Rural & Community Enterprises

Addressing grassroots challenges and creating inclusive growth.

Social Enterprises & Impact Ventures

Creating meaningful and measurable social impact.

Not-for-Profit Initiatives

Driving sustainable change through purpose-led solutions.

Research & Technology Innovations

Transforming research, technology, and ideas into real-world solutions.

Environmental & Sustainability Innovations

Developing solutions for a greener and more sustainable future.

Student & Faculty Ventures

Empowering academic innovations and entrepreneurial ideas.

Community-Centric Ideas

Creating solutions that strengthen communities and improve quality of life.

Other Innovative Ideas

Any promising idea with the potential to create economic, social, environmental, or community impact.

We welcome individuals and teams working on ideas and ventures that create economic, social, environmental, or community impact.

Who Can Apply

We assess startup readiness and align specialized pathways for every zone.

Green Zone

Immediate Start
  • Startup has a validated idea / MVP, clear team commitment, and readiness to begin incubation immediately.
  • Fast-track onboarding with priority mentoring, infrastructure access, and business support.
Action: Onboard Now (Priority Support)

Yellow Zone

Near-Ready (Start in 3-6 Months)
  • Startup shows strong potential but requires limited improvements such as prototype refinement, customer validation, or team strengthening.
  • Structured guidance and milestone-based support will be provided before incubation entry.
Action: Start After Few Months (With Ongoing Support)

Blue Zone

Deferred (Intensive Support Required)
  • Startup is at an early idea or concept stage and needs substantial work on product development, market validation, business model, or team formation.
  • Placed in a structured pipeline with mentoring, training, and periodic reviews for future incubation readiness.
Action: Deferred – Build & Prepare (Pipeline Support)

Red Zone

Not Accepted At Present
  • Startup does not currently align with program objectives, eligibility criteria, or demonstrates insufficient feasibility.
  • Applicants will receive constructive feedback and may reapply in the future if significant changes or progress are achieved.
Action: Not Accepted (Feedback Provided)

From idea to impact – a structured path to build, validate, and scale your venture.

Phase 1

Idea Validation &
Legal Setup

Incorporation, IP landscape assessment, and problem discovery validation.

›
Phase 2

Prototype & Lab
Development

Maker lab access, MVP build, technical validation, and initial testing.

›
Phase 3

Go-to-Market
Strategy

Customer acquisition models, corporate pilot trials, and unit economics validation.

›
Phase 4

Investor Demo
Day

Pitch preparation, financial structuring, and matchmaking with VC partners.

Innovate. Validate. Grow. Inspire.

Ready to Turn Your Idea into Reality? Join TEJAS at IIM Mumbai today.

Apply Now →
Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about applying and incubating at TEJAS.

Students, faculty, alumni, aspiring entrepreneurs, founders and startups can apply. TEJAS welcomes applicants from different sectors and communities with innovative ideas or ventures.

TEJAS is sector-agnostic. Ideas may come from technology, AI, deep-tech, sports, education, healthcare, sustainability, agriculture, FinTech, social innovation, women-led entrepreneurship, grassroots innovation, research/IP and other emerging areas.

Yes. You can apply at different stages, including the idea stage. TEJAS will understand whether the venture is at the idea, prototype, MVP, revenue or growth stage and assess it accordingly.

Yes. TEJAS welcomes social-impact and community-focused ideas. The application should clearly explain the problem, proposed solution, beneficiaries, feasibility, potential impact and pathway for sustainability or scale.

The process broadly follows:

Application → Screening → Shortlisting → Interview/Interaction → Assessment → Selection → Support Pathway → Incubation

Applicants will be informed about the next steps at the relevant stage.

Based on the assessment of your idea, team, progress, potential and readiness, you may be placed in one of four pathways:

🟢 GREEN – READY : Ready to start incubation immediately with structured support.

🟡 YELLOW – ALMOST READY: The venture has potential but needs to address some identified gaps. Targeted mentoring and support will be provided, with the aim of moving into incubation within 3–6 months, subject to progress.

🔵 BLUE – NEEDS DEVELOPMENT: The venture needs more development before full incubation. Mentoring, training and guidance will be provided, and the applicant will be placed in the TEJAS Future Pipeline for structured development and periodic review.

🔴 RED – NOT A FIT NOW: The venture is not suitable for the programme at the present stage. Constructive feedback will be provided, with the possibility of reapplying in the future.

Depending on the needs of the venture, support may include mentoring, business-model development, product development, technology support, legal/IP guidance, company registration, marketing and branding, investor connect, grant support, co-working and networking.

Support may be virtual, physical or hybrid, depending on the programme and requirements.

No. TEJAS follows a stage- and need-based approach. Support will be structured according to what the venture needs to move to its next stage of development.

Selection into TEJAS does not automatically guarantee direct funding. TEJAS may help eligible ventures become investment-ready and facilitate investor connections, grant opportunities and access to relevant funding ecosystems, depending on the venture's stage and requirements.

Yes. TEJAS can support eligible applicants through a virtual or hybrid incubation pathway. If physical infrastructure is not required, mentoring, training, expert sessions, business support, networking and other relevant services can be provided virtually. Physical support can be accessed where required and feasible.

Not being selected at the present stage does not necessarily mean the journey ends. Where appropriate, applicants will receive structured feedback on areas that need improvement. Ventures requiring further development may be placed in the TEJAS Future Pipeline, where mentoring, training and guidance can continue.

Applicants can then improve, develop and reapply for a future opportunity, subject to the applicable criteria.

Start Your Journey Today

Have questions or ready to launch? Reach out to our team at TEJAS, IIM Mumbai.

Address IIM Mumbai Campus, Vihar Lake Road, Powai, Mumbai - 400087

Submit an Enquiry

Fill out the form and our team will connect with you.