The iAccelerator program for internet and mobile startups is run by Centre for Innovative Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The program is designed to provide startups with mentoring, funding and infrastructure support over a period of three months which ends with a Demo Day wherein all the startups pitch their improved business plans to investors.iAccelerator was started in 2009 and since its inception, the program has supported 26 startups. Over the years, iAccelerator team has consolidated its structure and is now ready to scale it up. Having nurtured three batches of startups till now with an average batch size of 9, iAccelerator program has built a brand name for itself. Tanvi Rangwala, the Director of ICT Initiatives, CIIE is incharge of the program along with Pranay Gupta, the Joint CEO, CIIE.
What to expect at iAccelerator 2012
- Investment Amount: 5-10 Lacs
- EiRs for Product development, User Experience design and Initial User Acquisition
- Implementation of Lean Launchpad framework to better prepare iA startups for the Demo Day and future
- Significant perks for startups
iAccelerator program is designed to equip technology entrepreneurs in Internet & Mobile domain to establish well run, technically excellent and profitable companies inIndia. The three month long residential program, iAccelerator 2012, will take place from 1st October 2012 to 31st December 2012. Selected startups will move to CIIE @ IIM-A for a period of three months. During this time, the program will provide infrastructure, business and investment related mentoring to these startups. The program ends in demo day, where early stage investors, entrepreneurs, mentors and media is invited. iA 2012 startups will present their business plan on demo day.
During boot camp, experts in field of technology entrepreneurship are invited to talk to iAccelerator startups. Startups get specific, one-on-one help in area of technology, product management, user experience and interface design, sales & marketing, user/customer acquisition, business model innovation, legal, incorporation and much more. The purpose of the boot camp is to prepare startup for the next round of funding as much as possible by helping in building prototype/product, acquiring initial customers and innovating disruptive business models.
The last month of the program is focused on venture capital funding, preparing presentation for demo day and meeting with angels and early stage investors, workshops around financial modeling and understanding term-sheets.
The three months long boot camp ends with a big bang in Demo Day. It is a one-day event where prominent early stage Angel/VC investors and corporates participate. iAccelerator startups pitch their revised business plan in front of the investors.
The entries for the iAccelerator 2012 are open. APPLY HERE.