IIMK LIVE, the business incubator of the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode), has launched DEEP LEAP, a flagship DeepTech incubation programme aimed at nurturing high-potential technology ventures across India, in strategic partnership with Walmart Global Tech as its founding industry partner.
DEEP LEAP seeks to strengthen India’s DeepTech innovation ecosystem by enabling promising startups to access structured incubation, expert mentorship, industry connections, investor readiness support and opportunities for business growth. The programme is targeted at startups that have reached the Prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage, with a focus on emerging and frontier technology domains including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Quantum Computing, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, SpaceTech, Aerospace, Semiconductors and Photonics.
As part of the programme, DEEP LEAP will engage with 1,500 startups from across India, from which 50 startups will be selected for a 12-month incubation and acceleration cohort. Selected founders will receive intensive mentoring and support across business strategy, go-to-market planning, product validation and investor readiness, along with opportunities to connect with industry leaders and investors.
The programme will also provide selected startups with opportunities for industry engagement and networking, culminating in a Demo Day where participating ventures can showcase their innovations to a curated audience of investors and industry leaders. The programme is backed by a proposed outlay of INR 2.89 crore, including INR 1.5 crore earmarked for seed funding support for selected startups.
Commenting on the launch, Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM Kozhikode and Chairman, IIMK LIVE, said: “DeepTech is not simply about building more sophisticated technology; it is about asking fundamental questions and pursuing solutions that can reshape what is possible. DEEP LEAP brings together the strengths of academia, industry and entrepreneurship to give promising technology ventures the ecosystem they need to move from ideas and prototypes to scalable impact. Our partnership with Walmart Global Tech marks an important step in building a stronger bridge between India’s DeepTech innovators and the global opportunities ahead.”
DEEP LEAP is open to eligible DeepTech startups across India developing technologies in areas such as AI/ML, quantum computing, robotics and autonomous systems, SpaceTech, aerospace, semiconductors and photonics.
