Best Startup Accelerators in India in 2025
India's startup ecosystem is booming in 2025. From climate tech to consumer apps, more founders are launching bold ideas than ever. While VC funding plays a vital role, startup accelerators offer something more structured — mentorship, access to capital, and expert guidance that help early-stage companies go from zero to one.
In this article, we highlight the top startup accelerator programs in India helping pre-seed and seed-stage founders succeed.
Quick list of top startup accelerators in India
- Y Combinator India – Global accelerator with a strong India cohort
- 100X.VC – iSAFE-based early-stage accelerator with 130+ deals
- Sequoia Spark (Surge) – Sequoia-backed scale-up program for early-stage startups
- UIncept – Edtech and impact-focused startup builder
- T-Hub – Hyderabad-based innovation hub with incubation and scale programs
- NSRCEL (IIM Bangalore) – Academic accelerator for student and early-stage startups
- IIMA Ventures (formerly CIIE.CO): IIM Ahmedabad-backed accelerator and pre-seed investor
- GINSERV – Bangalore-based tech accelerator for product-stage founders
- Techstars Bangalore – Global accelerator with strong B2B and SaaS network
How to find the right accelerator in India
When choosing a startup accelerator in India, keep the following in mind:
- Stage Fit: Are you still validating, building, or post-MVP?
- Equity Model: Some accelerators provide grants; others take equity.
- Mentorship Quality: Who are the mentors? Do they have operator or investor backgrounds?
- Sector Alignment: India has deep programs in fintech, healthtech, agri-tech, and climate.
- Post-Program Support: Do they help with follow-on fundraising or investor intros?
Use Papermark's database to explore accelerators by region, sector, and stage.
How to send your pitch deck to startup accelerators in India
To stand out when applying to India's best accelerators, don't just email a PDF. Use trackable links that show engagement and protect your IP.
- Get notified when investor view your deck
- Track how long they were on each page of your deck
- Capture emails of investors who viewed your deck
- Protect your IP using watermark, screenshot protection and other link permissions
- Securely send data room with multiple documents
1. Y Combinator India
Global accelerator with a strong network of Indian startups including Meesho, Razorpay, and Khatabook.
- Focus: Agnostic
- Website: https://www.ycombinator.com
2. 100X.VC
India's first iSAFE note-based accelerator. Invested in over 130 early-stage startups since 2019.
- Focus: Early-stage, Agnostic
- Website: https://www.100x.vc
3. Sequoia Spark (Surge)
Surge is Sequoia India's early-stage scale-up program providing funding, mentorship, and support.
- Focus: Consumer, Fintech, SaaS
- Website: https://www.surgeahead.com
4. UIncept
Edtech-focused incubator with a strong presence in north India.
- Focus: Edtech, Impact
- Website: https://uincept.com
5. T-Hub
Hyderabad's leading accelerator and innovation hub, running sector-agnostic programs since 2015.
- Focus: Agnostic
- Website: https://t-hub.co
6. NSRCEL – IIM Bangalore
Academic accelerator supporting women-led startups, student ventures, and early-stage founders.
- Focus: Academic startups, Impact
- Website: https://www.nsrcel.org
7. IIMA Ventures (formerly CIIE.CO)
IIMA Ventures, formerly known as CIIE.CO, is the startup incubator and accelerator at IIM Ahmedabad. It supports early-stage startups through funding, mentorship, and access to a vast network of collaborators.
- Focus: Deeptech, digitization, climatetech
- Website: https://iimaventures.com
8. GINSERV
Govt-backed Bangalore accelerator supporting scale-stage tech startups.
- Focus: SaaS, AI, Healthtech
- Website: https://www.ginserv.in
9. Techstars Bangalore
The Indian chapter of the global accelerator supporting B2B, SaaS, and frontier tech companies.
- Focus: Agnostic, Global
- Website: https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/bangalore
Prepare for Demo Day: what India's accelerators expect
Most Indian accelerators end with a Demo Day — a pitch to investors and media. To succeed:
- Craft your story: Problem, solution, traction, and big vision
- Be concise: Keep it to 5–7 minutes
- Know your numbers: Investors will ask
- Track engagement: Use Papermark to know who opened your deck
Use Papermark to make sure your pitch lands with confidence.
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Final Thoughts
India is one of the world's fastest-growing startup ecosystems — and accelerators are fueling that growth. Whether you're a solo founder building in SaaS or a team launching climate tech, there's an accelerator ready to support you.
Make sure your pitch stands out and your fundraising is trackable. Tools like Papermark give you an edge.