IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) has announced a Rs 50 crore fund dedicated to cleantech and sustainability startups.
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The incubator, set up under the aegis of IIM Calcutta, said the money will be deployed over the next 12 to 18 months to support early-stage startups working in clean energy, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and waste-to-value technologies.
“The initiative marks a turning point in how India nurtures sustainability-led enterprises. Beyond capital, the program will provide startups with mentorship, market access, and partnerships with corporates and governments, creating a full-stack ecosystem to help them scale faster and deliver meaningful climate impact,” said Ajay Jain, Chairman of IIMCIP.
“The next major wave of innovation in India will come from cleantech and sustainability. Through this Rs 50 crore fund, we aim to support entrepreneurs from anywhere in the country who can deliver both economic growth and climate impact. For us, success is not just about creating unicorns, but about transforming lives and communities on the path to Viksit Bharat @2047,” Jain said.
In addition to the fund, Jain also outlined IIMCIP’s Mission 2047 – A Social Unicorn, which aspires to impact 1 billion lives by 2047.
The roadmap includes catalysing entrepreneurship in underserved regions like the East and Northeast, scaling women-led businesses that have already produced more than 60 “Crorepati Didis,” and rolling out digital-first incubation programs to bring training and capital to entrepreneurs outside metro hubs.
“Our roadmap is ambitious but clear. We want to prove that India’s startup nation is not confined to metros. It is equally alive in Guwahati, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, and every small town where entrepreneurial dreams take root,” Jain added.
Dr. Subhrangshu Sanyal, CEO, IIMCIP, said, “At IIMCIP, impact has always been our true measure of success. Over the past decade, we have funded more than 130 startups, enabled over Rs 2,000 crore in follow-on investments, and built a portfolio valued at over Rs 8,000 crore. Along the way, we have seen several profitable exits that demonstrate the strength and maturity of our incubation model. Our efforts have created more than 35,000 jobs, scaled 450 rural enterprises, and touched the lives of over 9.5 million people.”