Bengaluru: NSRCEL, the startup incubator at IIM Bangalore, and the Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST) at IIT Madras have unveiled a joint report, India Incubator Kaleidoscope 2024.

Led by Professors Thillai Rajan A. (IIT Madras) and Srivardhini K Jha (IIM Bangalore), the report offers insights into India's startup incubation ecosystem and its role in economic growth.

The research reveals that India has over 1,100 active incubators, with the Southern region leading in density.

However, only 8.2% of startups benefit from incubation, indicating a need to increase incubator outreach and efficiency. Incubated startups are shown to secure funding faster and generate more intellectual property compared to non-incubated ones.

Notably, the study highlights that incubators play a vital role in supporting diverse groups, including students, women founders, and young professionals, especially in high-tech sectors like AI, biotech, and data analytics.

Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, lauded the report, emphasizing incubators as crucial links in the startup value chain, while the directors of IIT Madras and IIM Bangalore reinforced the importance of fostering innovation through incubation.