• What? Launch of New Cohort under IGNITE program
• Launched by: FITT (IIT Delhi) and IDFC First Bank
• Cohort Size: 15 startups
• Financial Support: Up to Rs.30 lakhs per startup
• Focus Areas: Climate tech, clean energy, healthcare, Agri-tech, mobility, education, and AI for social good

About IGNITE Program:
CSR Collaboration: The program is implemented as part of IDFC First Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, in partnership with FITT.
Focus: The IGNITE program is designed to bridge deep-tech research, funding, mentorship, and market access, helping startups scale solutions with potential and global impact.
Objective: It is a startup support initiative designed to nurture innovation-led early-to growth-stage startups in India by providing structured mentorship, funding support, and access to the ecosystem, helping them advance from proof-of-concept to market-ready commercialization.
About Cohort of IGNITE Program:
Focus Areas: The program aims to nurture high-potential startups focusing on areas such as climate tech, clean energy, healthcare, Agri-tech, mobility, education, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for social goods.
Funding for Startups: Under the program, each selected startup receives non-dilutive funding of up to Rs.30 lakhs, capacity-building workshops on tech development, business strategy, and investor readiness, mentorship from IIT faculty, industry experts, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) leaders of IDFC FIRST Bank.

• It also provides access to investor-connect sessions, demo days, and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)-FITT pitching opportunities to accelerate growth.

15 Startups Selected Under IGNITE Cohort:

About IDFC First Bank:
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – V. Vaidyanathan
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Establishment – 2018