Kolkata, 13th July 2026: IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) announced the launch of Prakriti Incubation Launchpad for the second cohort, a 12-month sustainability-focused incubation programme. The program aims at nurturing early-stage and early revenue startups, building sustainable and circular economy solutions in the North East, implemented in partnership with Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF).
The success of the first edition set a strong precedent. From 36 shortlisted ventures, 12 circular economy startups were selected through a jury-led process and supported through the year-long programme. The top 6 startups received reward grants totalling ₹70 lakh.
Prakriti Incubation Launchpad is designed to identify and accelerate startups working across four core domains: green manufacturing, waste management and recycling, cleantech and environment-friendly solutions, and sustainable and indigenous products.
The programme comes at a time when the North Eastern region is witnessing growing environmental and developmental challenges arising from rapid urbanisation, changing consumption patterns, and limited waste management infrastructure, leading to inefficient resource management and pollution. By supporting entrepreneurs developing innovative, scalable and market-ready solutions, the programme aims to contribute to environmental conservation, resource efficiency, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth in the region.
The call for Applications for the programme is currently live, and the last date for submitting applications is July 31, 2026. The selected cohort is expected to be onboarded for incubation and mentoring support by August 2026. The top 6 startups will be identified in December 2026, with the programme culminating in a Final Summit in March 2027. The top 6 startups will receive reward grants of up to ₹15 lakhs, in addition to a fellowship grant extended to all cohort members.
Interested startups can apply at: https://iimcip.org/prakriti-cohort-2/
Programme Highlights
The programme will support 12 startups with the goal of scaling ventures that create triple bottom-line impact across social, economic and environmental dimensions. Selected startups will benefit from a comprehensive support package, including one-on-one mentorship from IIMCIP, customised capacity-building bootcamps and webinars, guidance on business model development, go-to-market strategy, financial management and investor pitching, as well as access to market connections, buyer interactions and ecosystem networking.
Eligibility
The programme is open to startups from the North Eastern Region of India. Eligible ventures should be in early-stage, early-revenue or MVP stage and working in sustainability and circular economy space. Eligible ventures must be focused on sectors including waste-to-value solutions, recycling, green manufacturing, cleantech, environment-friendly innovations, and sustainable indigenous products. Applicants must be Indian citizens.
Mr. Ajay Jain, Chairman of IIM Calcutta Innovation Park Board, said, “With more than a decade of experience and knowledge of the North East
startup ecosystem, it is our responsibility as a leading national incubator to bridge the gaps that limit the untapped entrepreneurial spirit and
potential existing in this region. With its rich indigenous knowledge, biodiversity and traditions serving as a natural foundation for sustainability-led innovation, we are determined to deliver the benefits of Prakriti Incubation Launchpad 2.0 in nurturing a new generation of enterprises that harness the unique regional strengths to build scalable, market-ready solutions.”
Over the years, IIMCIP has emerged as one of India’s leading entrepreneurship support organisations, with a strong focus on technology-enabled innovation and social impact. Through its incubation and acceleration programmes, the organisation has mentored thousands of entrepreneurs and supported startups across diverse sectors, facilitating funding, market access, and ecosystem partnerships.
About IIM Calcutta Innovation Park
The IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) is a not-for-profit (Section 8) company established under the aegis of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in India. Recognised by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, IIMCIP’s mission is to nurture innovative, socially impactful entrepreneurs who can drive inclusive growth.
Its core offerings span structured mentoring, capacity building, seed funding and access to markets and investors. To date, IIMCIP has supported over 2,000 startups and seed-funded 136 ventures, which have collectively raised more than ₹2,000 crore and built a cumulative portfolio valuation of nearly ₹8,000 crore.
IIMCIP also works closely with government bodies, corporates and academia to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem, foster high-impact collaborations and promote women’s entrepreneurship, with a special focus on underserved regions of the country.
About Pernod Ricard India Foundation
Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF), a Section 8 company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, is the wholly owned CSR arm of Pernod Ricard India, created to advance the company’s commitment to inclusive social, economic, and environmental development in communities around its operations and beyond. All CSR initiatives are implemented in alignment with Section 135 of the Companies Act and Schedule VII, within India, and are designed to benefit marginalised and disadvantaged communities while supporting national development priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Guided by Pernod Ricard India’s CSR Vision 2030 — “Transforming communities and accelerating local development”, PRIF is working to positively impact 1 million lives by 2030 through its unified CSR strategy, “Pravah”. The foundation drives sustainable, inclusive, and measurable change by combining innovation, community engagement, and ecosystem partnerships across India.
