Top 10 Startup Accelerators in India for Early-Stage Founders 2025

Getting your idea off the ground might seem hard but taking it to market and scaling it is harder.

Between validating your product, figuring out the go-to-market strategy, managing compliance, and keeping investors interested, it's a lot to solve with a small team and limited runway.

That's where a good startup accelerator can make all the difference. It's not just about funding or resources, the right one offers strategic backing, operational support, and networking opportunities that actually build momentum.

But let's be clear, not all accelerators are created equal. Some might offer you a playbook to follow, while others can offer end-to-end support.

In this blog, we break down 10 standout startup accelerators in India that are built to help you raise fast, scale higher, and stay in the game for the long haul.

10 leading startup accelerators in India to build, scale, and dominate

1. Sequoia Surge

2. GrowthJockey

3. 100X

4. Antler India

5. India Accelerator

6. Marwari Catalysts

7. Brigade Reaps

8. NetApp Excellerator

9. Cisco LaunchPad

10. Brinc India

10 startup accelerators powering India's next-gen ventures

Startup accelerators are programs that support early-stage, growth-driven companies to scale in a short amount of time, typically within three months.

Often cohort-based, they offer expert mentorship, intensive training, seed funding, and networking opportunities - all in exchange for a small equity stake (ownership) in the company.

Here are some of the leading startup accelerators worth exploring:

1. Sequoia Surge

Location: Bengaluru

Stage: Seed to series A startups

Sequoia Surge is a seed accelerator in India designed for ambitious founders who see the world differently.

With small, intimate cohorts, Surge offers personalised mentorship from experienced Sequoia founders and up to $3 million in seed funding to help you grow. Its program is designed to help you tackle early-stage challenges.

Key highlights:

• Dedicated advisor: Pairs you with a seed investment advisor who offers dedicated guidance across every aspect, from product development and business modelling to go-to-market strategies.

• Build a network: Offers ongoing opportunities to connect with alumni founders through in-person meetups, sector-based reunions, and online events to find mentors and create valuable connections.

• Investor access: Connects startups with a relevant network of global investors through one-on-one meetings, providing targeted opportunities for funding and growth.

2. GrowthJockey

Location: Gurugram, Haryana

Stage: Post-MVP and early-stage ventures

GrowthJockey isn't your typical business accelerator, it's a next-gen venture builder designed for founders chasing scale. It helps turn early prototypes into market-ready, revenue-generating ventures.

At the heart of its model lies Intellsys.ai^[1], a proprietary AI platform that streamlines marketing workflows, decision-making, and growth strategies for startups with real-time intelligence. For founders, that means less guesswork, faster pivots, and smarter execution from day one.

Key highlights:

• AI-powered growth engine: Accelerates startups with data-driven GTM strategies and AI-powered experimentation via Intellsys.

• Rapid scaling and ecosystem expansion: Focuses on fast scaling, partnership development, and expanding within the startup ecosystem.

• Agile iteration for market traction: Uses design thinking and agile sprints to quickly capture market traction.

Founder wins:

"In our journey from startup to Seed and A series, GrowthJockey has been instrumental for Remedo. They flawlessly navigated us from zero to a thriving business, with robust Business & AOP planning, precise go-to..."

• Dr. Ruchir Mehra, Remedo, co-founder

3. 100X .VC

Location: Mumbai

Stage: Seed-stage startups

100X is a high-velocity startup accelerator in India offering ₹1.25 Cr in seed funding via iSAFE notes, giving founders capital without immediate equity dilution. It hosts a six-week HomeRun Masterclass Series that connects entrepreneurs with top industry experts, VCs, and seasoned founders.

Designed to be hands-on, the program helps startups create a clear, actionable playbook to validate, refine, and launch their product in the market.

Key highlights:

• Exclusive networking opportunities: Gain access to top advisors, CXOs, and successful 100X alumni through one-on-one sessions for valuable guidance.

• Comprehensive hands-on support: Works closely with founders on business model development, pricing strategies, and financial planning.

• Founder matching and valuation tools: Provides resources such as the Founder Dating platform to help entrepreneurs connect with potential co-founders, and a Valuation Calculator to assist startups in estimating their worth.

4. Antler India

Location: Bengaluru

Stage: Idea-stage and pre-seed founders

With a global footprint across 30+ locations and committing up to ₹ 4 crores, Antler India is a prominent pre-seed startup accelerator in the country. It offers three tailored tracks based on where founders are in their journey.

• Residency: For solo founders at the pre-idea or pre-product stage to find co-founders, build an MVP, and pitch for funding in 8 to 12 weeks.

• Fast track: For early teams with an MVP to assess venture potential and receive investment decisions in 2 to 4 weeks.

• Before day zero: Invite-only community for high-potential founders 3 to 6 months from launch, focused on offering clarity and building a network.

Key highlights:

• Global network and perks: Access to an 8,000+ strong global founder community, 600+ advisors, and up to $1M worth of founder perks.

• Post-program support: Post-accelerator support beyond residency with product/MVP assistance, hiring guidance, and follow-on funding.

• Portfolio support and coaching: Receive access to Antler's Portfolio Platform and tailored coaching to help with fundraising and achieving sustained growth.

5. India Accelerator

Location: Gurugram

Stage: Growth-stage startups (typically post-MVP to early scale)

India Accelerator is a fund-led, multi-stage startup accelerator that offers end-to-end support for startups, from early seed to scale.

It focuses on four key areas, including Robotics, Unmanned, and Space (RUMS) energy, mobility, and GenAI. Founders join a structured three-to-six-month program backed by a global network of investors and mentors.

Key highlights:

• Infrastructure and services assistance: Get access to co-working spaces across India, as well as India accelerator hubs like Gurugram and Pune, along with essential services such as legal, financial, and compliance support.

• Technology stack and platform: Receive platform credits for tools such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Zoho, as well as access to iScale, its in-house data management and analytics platform.

• Multiple funding sources: Secure the Accelerator Fund to get started, the Seed Fund to grow after the program, and the Growth Fund to scale further.

6. Marwari Catalysts

Location: Jodhpur

Stage: Early-stage startups, especially from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities

Founded in 2019, Marwari Catalysts backs startups with a minimum investment of ₹25 lakhs, with high performers eligible for an additional ₹75 lakhs in follow-on funding. Its in-house team works closely with founders to build a strong investor-ready foundation.

Through flagship events like StartupXchange and a mix of national and international events, startups gain direct exposure to key industry leaders to secure investments.

Key highlights:

• Co-founders club and peer support: With a 500+ member club, startups join a supportive peer ecosystem where founders collaborate, share challenges, and often form lifelong personal and professional bonds.

• Expert-led founder workshops: Receive practical training through workshops led by experienced mentors covering essential topics such as business modelling, marketing, fundraising, growth hacking, legal compliance, and more.

• Government grant support: Their team actively looks for relevant government schemes and assists in applying for these grants, helping startups access more capital opportunities.

7. Brigade Reaps

Location: Bengaluru

Stage: Proptech and UrbanTech startups

Brigade REAP is Asia's earliest and India's Urban Tech startup accelerator, launched in 2016 by Brigade Group. It supports startups that are developing tech in real estate, retail, hospitality, and urban infrastructure, such as IoT, cleantech, nanotech, logistics, and AR/VR.

Their 16-week program offers industry pilots, mentorship, tech support, and networking through its parent company Brigade's extensive ecosystem.

Key highlights:

• Expert-led mentorship: Receive hands-on guidance from a curated panel of mentors across real estate, retail, and urban tech to refine strategy, avoid scaling pitfalls, and align offerings with market expectations.

• Co-working space: Access high-quality co-working spaces across key Brigade locations, having a collaborative environment within the real estate and urban development ecosystem.

• Personalised programs: Find tailored masterclasses and workshops designed specifically for the UrbanTech landscape, covering everything from GTM to compliance and enterprise partnerships in the sector.

8. NetApp Excellerator

Headquarters: Bengaluru

Stage: Early to mid-stage startups

Launched in 2017, NetApp Excellerator backs deep-tech startups building serious enterprise tech, from hybrid cloud to AI and advanced analytics.

As a corporate-led accelerator company, it gives founders secure access to real enterprise users, helping them test, validate, and fine-tune solutions with direct market feedback.

Key highlights:

• Tailored business mentorship: Work closely with seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders who offer strategic guidance, help navigate challenges, and accelerate go-to-market efforts.

• POC-driven technical support: Shares targeted resources customised to each startup's needs to build and validate proof-of-concept solutions and land enterprise clients.

• Exclusive investor access: Startups showing strong growth potential are introduced to relevant investors who align well with their sector and stage, as well as long-term vision.

9. Cisco LaunchPad

Location: Bengaluru

Stage: Growth-stage and scale-up startups

Cisco LaunchPad is a business accelerator program built for startups creating bold solutions in enterprise tech, cloud, and IoT. It doesn't just offer resources, but it brings startups into Cisco's innovation ecosystem.

Founders get hands-on support from Cisco's seasoned mentors and experts to strengthen product design, tech strategy, and real-world scalability.

Key highlights:

• Access to enterprise customers and partners: Get the opportunity to connect with Cisco's ecosystem through events and, in some cases, directly engage with customers for demos or proof-of-concept discussions.

• Technology stack and product support: Secure hands-on access to Cisco's enterprise-grade infrastructure and technology to build, test, and refine their solutions.

• Performance-based grants: Receive initial financial support at the start of the cohort and have the opportunity to unlock additional grant funding based on performance.

10. Brinc India

Location: Mumbai

Stage: Early-stage startups

Brinc entered the Indian market in 2019 by launching a hardware and IoT accelerator in partnership with the Government of India. Since then, the accelerator company has expanded its reach to support over 2,000 founders through programs focused on Blockchain, Web3, and SaaS.

Brinc offers both in-person and virtual programs designed for founders with early prototypes or MVPs.

Key highlights:

• Tailored programming: Offers intimate cohort sizes to ensure each startup receives personalised mentorship and dedicated feedback on their pitch, storytelling, and overall strategy.

• Market readiness support: Work with industry experts and partner facilities to validate your solutions, fine-tune go-to-market strategies, and navigate compliance challenges.

• Founder-first resources: Equips founders with tools designed to help them grow, such as a virtual mentorship platform, an AI-powered pitch desk, and an AI-powered co-founder featuring actionable prompts.

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Summing up: It's time to bet on the right accelerator!

India is home to 179,624 DPIIT-recognised startups, and the number keeps on growing, increasing the competition in the market. Plus, customer preferences are shifting fast, new technologies keep resetting the bar, and funding cycles are tighter than ever.

In this environment, any startup that doesn't meet a real user need or move fast enough to adjust will fall behind.

For many founders, startup accelerators are a way to find clarity, support, and resources to find early traction and turn it into sustained growth.

At GrowthJockey- Startup accelerator, we partner with startups to deliver precisely that. With data-driven GTM, AI-powered automation, and design thinking, we position your startup to capture market traction and build a scalable, result-oriented venture.

FAQs on startup accelerators

1. What's the difference between an accelerator and an incubator?

While both accelerators and incubators help startups, they differ in their approach. Accelerators focus on speeding up growth, typically offering short-term, intensive programs that last 3-6 months, often with funding and mentorship in exchange for equity. Incubators, on the other hand, offer long-term support and focus on helping startups with the early stages of development, like refining ideas and building a solid business foundation.

2. What sort of problems do startups face in India?

Startups in India face several challenges, with funding being a major one, as investors often prefer proven business models. They also struggle to compete in markets dominated by established players and find ways to differentiate themselves. On top of that, navigating complex regulations, taxes, and compliance processes can hinder growth.

3. What are the reasons that some startups fail?

Some startups fail due to a lack of extensive market research, poor customer understanding, and an inability to address genuine market needs. Other common reasons include weak leadership, poor financial planning, and running out of capital before reaching profitability.

4. How can a startup measure success during an accelerator program?

Startups can measure success during an accelerator program by tracking key milestones, such as product development progress, revenue growth, or securing new customers. They should also evaluate the value of mentorship received, how it helped them and the connections they made, and whether they are on track to meet funding goals.

1. Intellsys.ai - Link ↑