IIM Calcutta, Ratan Tata Hub join hands to support AP startups
19 Jan 2026, 09:42 PMSelected ventures under the program will be provided funding of up to Rs 2 crore.
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IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH), Visakhapatnam, to offer a co-incubation program designed to back market-ready and revenue-generating startups from Andhra Pradesh.
Selected ventures under the program will be provided funding of up to Rs 2 crore while receiving guidance on product development, market entry, governance, and scaling operations, a statement said.
The first cohort under the program will be announced shortly, it added.
The partnership will draw on IIM Calcutta Innovation Park's extensive incubation experience and institutional connections while leveraging the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub's strong regional network and local startup ecosystem.
"By combining RTIH’s innovation ecosystem with IIMCIP’s proven incubation expertise, together, we aim to empower startups from Andhra Pradesh to scale nationally and globally," said Ravi Eswarapu (CEO, RTIH, Visakhapatnam).
VK Rai, CEO, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park noted that there is a strong entrepreneurial energy in Andhra Pradesh.
"Our role is to help convert that energy into fundable, scalable businesses with structured support and by connecting founders to the right networks, mentors, and markets," he added.
IIM Calcutta Innovation Park has supported over 2,000 startups throughout its existence. The ventures it has backed have collectively raised more than Rs 2,000 crore in funding and achieved a combined portfolio valuation approaching Rs 8,000 crore, it said.
Ratan Tata Innovation Hub is Andhra Pradesh's flagship initiative that seeks to transform the state into a global startup hub. Currently anchored by GMR Group and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel, it provides startups with access to corporate mentorship and market opportunities across manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology sectors.
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