SBI Foundation and IIT Kanpur Drive Grassroots Innovation with ₹2.64 Crore Support to 30 Startups under SBIF LEAP

Bengaluru : The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with SBI Foundation, showcased the progress and impact of 30 innovation-driven startups at the SBIF LEAP: Innovators for Bharat Demo Day and Investor Connect, held at the IIT Kanpur Noida Campus recently. Supported by SBI Foundation, the CSR entity of the State Bank of India, and implemented by SIIC, IIT Kanpur, the programme has extended ₹2.64 crore in milestone-linked grant support to startups across Agritech, Cleantech and Healthcare. The initiative combines financial assistance, structured incubation, mentorship and industry linkages to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative solutions.

The Demo Day brought together startup founders, investors, industry representatives and ecosystem stakeholders for product showcases, investor interactions and opportunities for strategic collaboration. The 30 participating startups have demonstrated significant progress in addressing challenges across livelihoods, environmental sustainability and healthcare.

According to the programme’s impact assessment, the startups have reached 8,000+ farmers, benefited 960+ women and generated 195+ direct jobs. Their innovations have contributed to avoiding 2,000+ tonnes of CO₂ emissions, converting 3,000+ tonnes of agricultural waste into clean biomass fuel and protecting 800 acres of farmland from stubble burning.

In healthcare, participating startups have screened, tested or served 4,000+ individuals. The cohort has also recorded 8+ patents filed or granted, while seven ventures are led by women founders or CEOs. These outcomes reflect the growing potential of technology-led entrepreneurship to deliver tangible economic, environmental and social impact.

The programme supports 20 Agritech, five Cleantech and five Healthcare startups through milestone-linked grants, dedicated mentorship, capacity-building initiatives and market and investor connections. Under the funding framework, 24 early-stage startups have received ₹8 lakh each, while six growth-stage ventures have received ₹12 lakh each, amounting to ₹2.64 crore in grant support.

The cohort also demonstrates encouraging commercial progress, with nine startups scaling through revenue, customers or paid pilots; 10 progressing through partner pilots and regulatory milestones; and 11 validating prototypes for field deployment. This structured approach helps startups bridge the gap between technological development, market validation and commercial growth.

The Demo Day featured an exhibition showcasing innovations from all 30 participating startups. Mr. Pratyush Mehrotra, President & COO, SBI Foundation, accompanied by investors and the SIIC, IIT Kanpur team, visited each stall to interact with the founders, understand their progress and assess the potential of their solutions.

Recognising the critical role of investment in accelerating startup growth, the event also facilitated focused one-to-one pitching sessions connecting eight startups with representatives from 14 investment organisations, including 247VC, Enlighten Capital, Anicut Capital, Anthill Ventures, IndicornAngels, Indian Angel Network, MeritX Ventures, Pedal Start, Samved VC, Sanchi Connect, SteerX, Indian Accelerator, Hyderabad Angels and Fluid Ventures. The interactions provided a platform to explore potential funding, strategic partnerships and opportunities for scaling their innovations.

The event commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Ashutosh Agnihotri, CEO, SIIC, IIT Kanpur, followed by an address from Mr. Pratyush Mehrotra, President & COO, SBI Foundation, reflecting the shared commitment of both institutions to nurturing innovation-driven entrepreneurship.

The SBIF LEAP: Innovators for Bharat programme highlights the role of strategic CSR partnerships and institutional incubation in strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem. By integrating financial support, mentorship and investor engagement, SBI Foundation and SIIC, IIT Kanpur are enabling promising startups to translate technological innovations into scalable businesses with meaningful societal impact.

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