The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) incubated 104 startups during the 2024–25 financial year, marking the highest number of startups incubated by the institute in a single year. Over 50 percent of these ventures were founded by faculty, students, researchers, staff, or alumni of IIT Madras, while the remainder were started by external entrepreneurs.
According to IIT Madras, the incubated companies span sectors such as manufacturing, robotics, automotive technologies, battery systems, construction, defence, shipbuilding, aerospace, UAVs, health tech, biotech, pharmaceuticals, space technologies, and quantum computing. These startups were supported through IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC) and sector-specific incubators such as Pravartak, Bioincubator, HTIC MedTech, and RTBI, along with the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
“Initiated on 1 April 2024, the ‘Start-up Shatam’ challenge set a goal of incubating 100 startups in one year. We have met this target with 104 startups,” said V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras. He also noted that 417 patents were filed during the same financial year.
Among the newly incubated ventures is Inbound Aerospace, co-founded by IIT Madras PhD alumni. “Our mission to push the boundaries of space-tech has been made possible through the unwavering support and vision of the IIT Madras entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said co-founder Abhijit Bhutey. Another startup, Matterize, founded by BTech 2024 graduate Sarthak Saurav, is focused on AI-powered 3D printing. Saurav stated, “The network, mentorship, and resources at IITMIC have been instrumental.”
Dr. Tamaswati Ghosh, CEO of IITMIC, said that incubating over 100 startups in one year marked a significant increase from the previous average of around 60. She added that the institute is focusing on scaling existing companies and expanding international outreach, including welcoming startups from East Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
The School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship supports pre-venture teams through its Nirmaan pre-incubator, which currently hosts 129 teams across early-stage programs. Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal, Head of the School, said future efforts will include strengthening mentoring and go-to-market strategies.
IIT Madras Incubation Cell has incubated 457 deep-tech startups over the last 12 years. These ventures have collectively raised investment valued at over INR 500 billion. Notable companies emerging from this ecosystem include Ather, Agnikul, Hyperverge, and Galaxeye.
IIT Madras is an academic and research institution based in Chennai, India. It hosts a range of startup incubation and research programs focused on science, engineering, and emerging technologies.