The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), in collaboration with the SBI Foundation—the CSR arm of the State Bank of India—has officially launched the Startup Innovations for Social Good initiative. The programme was announced at a launch event held at the IIT Kanpur Outreach Centre in Noida, with support from SBI DFHI Limited and SBI Ventures.
This initiative, under the SBIF Innovators for Bharat umbrella, is designed to support 30 impact-driven startups—24 early-stage and 6 growth-stage—working in AgriTech, Healthcare, and CleanTech. Spanning over 18 months, the programme will provide structured incubation, continuous mentorship, domain-specific support, and rigorous performance monitoring.
The launch was attended by eminent dignitaries including Prof. Amey Karkare, Dean of Resources and Alumni, IIT Kanpur; Prof. Deepu Philip, Professor-in-Charge, Innovation & Incubation, FIRST IIT Kanpur; Shri Sanjay Prakash, MD & CEO, SBI Foundation; and several others from academia, industry, and public service.
Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, noted, “With IIT Kanpur’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and the strategic support from SBI Foundation, this programme is poised to make a significant social and economic impact.”
The initiative will also create opportunities for startups to access investments and networks through curated workshops and roadshows, aiming to foster indigenous innovation while addressing urgent societal challenges.
Highlighting the programme’s broader vision, Shri Sanjay Prakash stated, “SBI Foundation’s Innovators for Bharat identifies and empowers startups tackling India’s critical development issues. This collaboration with IIT Kanpur will help incubate breakthrough solutions across key sectors.”
FIRST IIT Kanpur, the host incubation centre, has a successful track record with over 400 startups and aims to expand this legacy through the new initiative.
