ARTPARK · Venture Incubation Programme

What you get

Capital, infrastructure, and a network built for deep-tech scale-up.

01 — Capital

Up to ₹2 Cr direct investment

Seed-stage equity investment, sized to your round and structured around milestones. Standard term sheets; clear path to follow-on rounds via ARTPARK's investor network.

02 — Infrastructure

ARTPARK labs & IISc access

Dedicated workspace at ARTPARK with access to robotics, AI, sensor, and manufacturing facilities. Co-location with IISc research groups and industry partners.

03 — Mentorship

Operator + investor network

Ongoing engagement with founders-in-residence, sector operators, and ARTPARK's investor and customer network — focused on go-to-market, hiring, and commercial deployment.

04 — Customer access

Pilots & deployment partners

Warm introductions to enterprise, government, and public-sector pilots in manufacturing, health, agriculture, mobility, and defense — sectors where ARTPARK has active deployment partnerships.

05 — Follow-on capital

Series-A pathway

Structured introductions to ARTPARK's syndicate of deep-tech investors at the right stage. Demo-day showcase to a curated investor and customer audience.

06 — Outcomes

TRL 4 → TRL 7

From ARTPARK-demonstrated technology to field-deployed product with paying customers, scaled team, and the operational maturity to raise a Series A.

Timeline

From application to term sheet, in five clear steps.

4 May — 15 June

Application window

Submit application with deck, demo, and cap table. Closes 15 June 2026, 5pm IST.

15 Jun 2026

Shortlist & first call

Selected startups invited for an introductory call with the ARTPARK investment team.

Jun — Jul 2026

Diligence & pitch

Technical, commercial, and team diligence. Pitch to the VIP investment committee.

1 Aug 2026

Term sheet & onboarding

Term sheet issued to selected startups. Onboarding into ARTPARK facilities.

2027 — 2028

Scale & demo day

Quarterly milestones, pilot deployments, and demo day to follow-on investors.

Who should apply

Built for incorporated deep-tech startups with a working prototype.

We're looking for

Indian-registered private limited companies (DPIIT recognition preferred)
A working prototype at TRL 4 or above with demonstrated technical differentiation
Founding team of 2–4 with complementary technical, domain, and commercial skills
Deep-tech in AI, robotics, novel materials, sensors, mechatronics, or cyber-physical systems
Clear early signals of product-market fit — pilots, LOIs, design partners, or initial revenue
Applications to manufacturing, space, health, agriculture, mobility, or defense
Founders willing to operate primarily out of ARTPARK / IISc Bangalore for the cohort period

Not a fit if

You haven't yet incorporated — apply to TIR instead
Your technology is below TRL 4 (no working prototype yet)
Your innovation is incremental or primarily software-only (pure SaaS, consumer apps)
You've already raised a priced Series A or beyond
You can't commit to a primary presence at ARTPARK / IISc Bangalore for the program period
Your cap table is materially encumbered (ESOP-heavy, complex prior rounds, IP held externally)

Terms in brief

Clear terms, no surprises.

Investment size

Up to ₹2 Cr direct equity

Equity range

Negotiated per round, typical seed dilution

Instrument

CCPS or priced equity, on standard terms

Disbursal

Tranched against agreed milestones

Program duration

12+ months active incubation

Team requirement

2–4 founders, registered Indian entity

IP ownership

Startup retains all IP; standard investor rights

Space

Dedicated workspace at ARTPARK (1% equity allocation)

Commitment

Primary operations at ARTPARK / IISc Bangalore

TRL trajectory

TRL 4 (demonstrated) → TRL 7 (deployed)

How the investment works: VIP makes a direct equity investment of up to ₹2 Cr at standard seed-stage terms. Indicative dilution is 1% per ₹50L of investment, plus 1% allocation for ARTPARK workspace and infrastructure access. Disbursal is tranched against agreed technical and commercial milestones. Detailed term sheets are issued only to startups that clear diligence and the investment committee.

FAQ

Common questions.

What's the minimum stage I need to apply?

VIP is for incorporated Indian startups with a working prototype at TRL 4 or above, a founding team of 2–4, and early signals of product-market fit (pilots, LOIs, design partners, or initial revenue). If you're pre-incorporation or your tech is below TRL 4, apply to TIR instead.

How is the investment structured?

VIP makes a direct equity investment of up to ₹2 Cr, typically through CCPS or priced equity on standard seed-stage terms. Indicative dilution is around 1% per ₹50L invested, plus a 1% allocation for ARTPARK workspace and infrastructure. Disbursal is tranched against milestones agreed at the time of the term sheet.

Who owns the IP?

Your startup retains all IP. ARTPARK takes standard investor rights — no transfer or licensing of IP to ARTPARK is required. If your prior IP came through TIR, the existing license arrangements continue unchanged.

Do I have to be physically at ARTPARK?

Yes — primary operations should be at ARTPARK / IISc Bangalore for the duration of the program. This is what unlocks lab access, customer introductions, and the day-to-day mentorship that makes incubation work. Limited remote arrangements for sales or field deployment are fine.

What if we already have outside investors?

That's fine, provided your cap table is clean and prior investors are aligned with ARTPARK joining the round. We'll need a current cap table, term sheet history, and consents during diligence. Materially encumbered cap tables (heavy ESOP, complex preferences, IP held externally) are usually a non-starter.

Can I apply if I went through TIR?

Yes — VIP is the natural next step for high-performing TIRs. The application process is lighter for graduating TIRs since ARTPARK already has the technical and team context, but the investment committee still makes an independent call on funding terms.

How long does the diligence process take?

For shortlisted startups: roughly 4–6 weeks from first call to investment-committee decision, including technical diligence, commercial review, founder reference calls, and the final pitch. We aim to give a clear yes/no within that window — drawn-out maybe's are not in anyone's interest.

What sectors are in scope?

AI, robotics, novel materials, sensors, mechatronics, manufacturing technology, and cyber-physical systems — applied to manufacturing, space, health, agriculture, mobility, defense, or other deep-tech-suited sectors. Pure SaaS, consumer apps, and fintech are out of scope.

How do I submit my application?

Only via the online form linked on this page. No email, social-media, or third-party submissions. Applications must be complete at submission — including pitch deck, demo video or link, current cap table, and team profiles.

Capital and conviction for deep-tech startups ready to scale.