Startup Acceleration Program

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

(3^rd July to 24^th July 2026)

Gujarat Student Startup and Innovation Hub (i-Hub), registered as a section 8 company under the Companies Act 2013, is envisioned to be a centre for all startup stakeholders to develop an end-to-end innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Gujarat.

Gujarat Student Startup and Innovation Hub (i-Hub Gujarat) invites applications from Startup Accelerators, Investment Funds, and ecosystem enablers to partner in designing and executing high-impact Startup Acceleration Programs in Gujarat. Through this Request for Proposal (RFP), i-Hub Gujarat seeks experienced organizations with a strong track record in startup acceleration, investment facilitation, mentorship, and ecosystem building to support high-potential startups with structured acceleration, expert guidance, investor connect opportunities, and growth enablement. Interested organizations are invited to submit their proposals and become a part of Gujarat's thriving innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

General Terms and Conditions

1. Organizations like Startup Accelerators/Investment Funds can apply.
2. Minimum session will be 20 out of which around 50% needs to be physical sessions.
3. The program will have 1 investment demo day and 2 days of physical bootcamp.
4. Around 15 Investment firms/Funds/Family offices/supporting organisations to be invited for the demo day.
5. Logistics, Accommodation, Mentors, Speakers, Design-Structure, Partners, and all the things related to execution will be the responsibility of the accelerator from the budget provided by i-Hub.
6. Accelerator will finalise Mentors/Speakers/Partners/Funds/Organisation and detailed design of the acceleration program in consultation with i-Hub.
7. i-Hub will provide a pipeline of startups for the program.
8. i-Hub will designate a team for on-site execution and smooth running of the program.
9. Each acceleration program budget cost will be INR 8,00,000/-which will include Mentorship fees, Travel, Accommodation of Experts/Investors, and Miscellaneous Expenses, etc.
10. i-Hub will pay 50% in advance to the onboarded agency and the rest of the payment will be done after completion of the respective accelerator program.

Note:

• The applicant should have a minimum of 3 years of experience in Startup Acceleration/Investment Facilitation.
• Preference will be given to organizations with ability to fund startups post government grant stage.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Past track record of supporting startups (Minimum 3 years of experience in funding or Acceleration)
2. Understanding about Gujarat Startup Ecosystem
3. Quality of mentors & investor pool you provide for demo day and mentoring
4. Any case study of your unique intervention & impact for supporting startup
5. Ability to provide forward integration & global ecosystem.
6. Experience of working with institutions in Academia for supporting startups

Application Deadline:

Applications open till 24th July, 2026