Atal Incubation Centre at the Indian School of Business (AIC-ISB), in partnership with the Punjab Cultural Project (PCP) and Network of Indian Cultural Enterprises (niceorg), has launched Culture Catalyst 2025–26, a first-of-its-kind accelerator dedicated to scaling cultural brands and entrepreneurship across the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
The Culture Catalyst 2025–26 programme aims to build a robust ecosystem that empowers cultural entrepreneurs to launch, grow, and scale purpose-driven and profitable brands—turning cultural heritage into sustainable business across the region. This is a unique opportunity for artisans and cultural entrepreneurs to scale their enterprises and play a catalytic role in nation-building—by transforming local heritage into global brands.
The Culture Catalyst 2025–26 programme spans 6 months where entrepreneurs will learn through a blend of in-person immersions, virtual masterclasses, sector deep dives, and custom mentorship to help them build profitable and purpose-driven cultural businesses that can compete globally. The Culture Catalyst programme is now open for applications and invites start-ups and entrepreneurs in the areas of fashion, home décor, food & beverage, experiential tourism, and wellness to apply. Ten selected start-ups will receive hands-on mentoring, access to investors, market networks, and a seed grant of ₹1 lakh.
Applications are open until June 31, 2025 for cultural entrepreneurs from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Cultural start-ups are encouraged to apply and become a catalyst in India’s cultural renaissance. For registration and other details, please visit:https://i-venture.org/culture-catalyst/
