Navigating acceleration and incubation for smart protein startups in India
For early-stage entrepreneurs, incubators and accelerators are often the go-to platforms to kickstart their startup journeys. While the two models serve slightly different purposes, both are designed to support young companies with mentorship, pitch-readiness training, and access to funding and infrastructure. Ultimately, their goal is the same: to help transform promising ideas into independent, self-sustaining businesses.
The smart protein opportunity
Accelerators and incubators:
- deliver long-term impact and not just funding. Findings show that entrepreneurs who barely qualified for accelerator programmes raised three times more capital and doubled their team sizes compared to peers who narrowly missed selection. Interestingly, startups that received only funding saw no meaningful difference in performance compared to those without any support–financial or otherwise.
- play a vital role in strengthening India’s workforce. Employees at high-growth startups gain cross-functional skills, often transitioning from technical to managerial or entrepreneurial roles. These skills typically translate into an 8 percent wage premium after leaving the start-up and up to 15 percent for those from accelerator-backed startups, highlighting the added value of accelerator and incubator knowledge and networks.
Smart protein innovation is gaining global momentum, with novel technologies such as cultivated meat and fermentation inputs now receiving regulatory approvals across multiple countries. This momentum presents a timely opportunity for Indian startups to establish themselves through strong innovation and sound business strategies. As India progresses toward a USD 5 trillion economy by FY28, consumer’s food choices are evolving to prioritise protein content, convenience, and health. At the same time, the Indian bioeconomy has grown dramatically from USD 10 billion to USD 165.7 billion in the past decade as a result of rigorous support from the government.
According to a Deloitte and FICCI report, consumers are increasingly drawn to premium, high-quality nutritious products. This further indicates there is significant opportunity in both the Indian and global markets for plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated products that serve as nutritious and convenient alternatives to conventional animal products. To develop innovative yet consumer-friendly solutions, smart protein startups need structured guidance, resources, and clear pathways to scale. This is where incubators and accelerators can become instrumental–by nurturing early-stage ventures, providing the facilities for research and scale-up and connecting them to valuable networks that enable growth.
There are many different kinds of incubators, each with a distinct purpose. A common classification includes:
- Business innovation centres that support regional economic development.
- University incubators that focus on commercialising academic technology.
- Research incubators housed within educational institutions centred around translational research.
- Stand-alone incubators that select and nurture early-stage ventures with high growth potential.
Startups select incubators and accelerators based on their stage of growth, specific needs, and the type of support offered. For example, for students and researchers, university-based funding and incubators often offer the first stepping stone to turn ideas into ventures. As startups evolve, sector-specific programmes and incubators become more attractive, offering tailored guidance and targeted networks that align with their business needs.
The first step for any startup is to decide whether incubation or acceleration is the right fit for its specific needs.
Accelerators
Accelerator programmes are best suited for startups that are ready to scale, seek funding to grow, have demonstrated traction, are looking to build investor relationships, can thrive in a fast-paced environment and undergo intensive learning through structured programs.
Incubators
Incubation is ideal for early-stage startups that are still shaping their ideas, prefer a slower and more flexible timeline, are not yet ready to part with equity, and benefit from longer-term guidance as they refine their product and business model.
Once a startup has decided between incubation and acceleration, the next step is finding the right programme among the many available.
Looking to build in smart protein? GFI India maintains a curated database of accelerators and incubators that actively support startups in the smart protein space.
Accelerator and incubator mapping
GFI India has conducted a comprehensive secondary review of accelerators and incubators across the country, mapping them based on focus areas, available facilities to support smart protein startups, and the presence of smart protein-related incubatees (past or present).
Accelerators or incubators that support smart protein innovation but are not included in the map are encouraged to submit their details using the form linked here.
Inspiration from the Indian biotech boom
India’s biotechnology sector provides a blueprint to draw inspiration for smart protein startups. Bioincubators played a critical role in nurturing early-stage biotech startups. Flagship schemes and initiatives such as Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP), the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG), Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE), state-led biotech parks and policies, and national initiatives like the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI), along with international partnerships and grand challenges, catalysed biotechnology sector growth. Corporates such as Reliance and Tata have set up their own bioincubators.
Despite the long lab-to-market lifecycle of biotechnology-related ventures, they are essential to the nation’s economy and progress, particularly at critical times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian biotechnology startups played a key role by accelerating the development, validation, and production of diagnostics and vaccines. The smart protein sector is also at a momentous stage of development and holds potential to help build a more sustainable and resilient food system in India.
Two flagship schemes that play a pivotal role in supporting smart protein startups in India:
Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies (BioNEST) scheme
The Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies (BioNEST) scheme was launched by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) to support the goals of the Startup India Action Plan. It is designed to strengthen India’s biotech startup ecosystem by providing a tailored incubation environment. BioNEST is built on the understanding that biotech ventures require more than conventional startup support. These startups need dedicated spaces to test ideas, conduct operations, access advanced scientific equipment, and engage with peers and mentors within a collaborative ecosystem. The programme aims to create a robust platform that helps biotech entrepreneurs move from concept to scale efficiently and sustainably. The BioNEST program supports and benefits smart protein startups, especially those focused on cultivated meat, critical inputs, as well as precision and biomass fermentation.
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative of the NITI Aayog, Government of India, to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country by supporting the establishment of new Atal Incubation Centres (AIC). Recognising the potential of private innovation in public-sector services and problem-solving, these incubation programmes help early stage businesses grow and attract investments. Each AIC is equipped with capital equipment and operating facilities available to incubatee startups. AICs also provide mentorship, business planning support, access to seed capital, industry partnerships, training and other relevant assistance to innovative startups.
Smart protein startups can benefit from the bioincubation infrastructure built through years of biotech advancement. As the sector moves forward, it is important to recognise and work through the evolving funding landscape and regulatory bottlenecks. Early-stage investments are becoming more cautious, while later-stage funding is fit for ventures with strong growth potential. With the right accelerator or incubator support, startups can identify a clear strategic position to attract the investment needed to reach the market and drive long-term impact.
