IIM Calcutta, Ratan Tata Innovation Hub join hands to scale AP startups

Visakhapatnam: In a move aimed at converting startup potential into measurable outcomes, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) on Monday announced a strategic partnership with Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH), Visakhapatnam, to create a structured co-incubation pathway for market-ready and revenue-generating startups from Andhra Pradesh.

The partnership will focus on execution and measurable outcomes. Under the collaboration, both organisations will jointly identify high-potential startups, offer structured co-incubation and hands-on scale support, and enable access to capital of up to Rs2 crore, helping founders move confidently from early traction to scalable growth.

The MoU was signed between Ravi Eswarapu, CEO, RTIH, Visakhapatnam, and Dr. V.K. Rai, CEO, IIMCIP, reinforcing their shared commitment to building fundable, scalable, nationally visible, and globally competitive startups emerging from the region.

Under the agreement, RTIH and IIMCIP will collaborate across three key areas, including structured co-incubation with clear milestones and outcome tracking; capital access of up to Rs2 crore for selected startups; and hands-on execution support across product, market access, governance, and scale readiness.

The partnership will leverage IIMCIP’s national incubation experience, institutional networks, combined with RTIH’s strong regional presence and startup pipeline, to create a bridge between regional innovation and national capital and markets.

Speaking on the collaboration, Ravi Eswarapu said, “The partnership is all about creating real impact. By combining RTIH’s innovation ecosystem with IIMCIP’s proven incubation expertise, we aim to empower startups from Andhra Pradesh to scale nationally and globally.”

Dr VK Rai said, “There is a strong entrepreneurial energy in Andhra Pradesh. Our role is to help convert that energy into fundable, scalable businesses through structured support and by connecting founders to the right networks, mentors, and markets. IIMCIP’s partnership with RTIH is about turning regional entrepreneurial potential into scalable, fundable enterprises with national impact.”

The collaboration aligns with IIMCIP’s broader mission of strengthening entrepreneurship in emerging and under-represented regions. By focusing on execution, capital enablement, and visibility, the partnership aims to create a repeatable model for converting regional innovation into scalable enterprises. Shortlisted startups from the first pitching edition under this co-incubation programme will be announced shortly.