New Delhi [India]: If you are building a startup in manufacturing, sustainability, electric vehicles (EVs), education or climate technology, the FICCI Mercedes-Benz Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge could offer much more than just funding.
Supported by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the programme is designed to help promising startups scale their businesses through financial assistance, mentorship, industry connections and investor readiness.
What is FICCI Mercedes-Benz Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge?
The programme is a startup acceleration initiative launched by FICCI and Mercedes-Benz India to identify innovative Indian startups developing scalable solutions in sectors that are critical to India's economic growth.
The focus sectors include:
Manufacturing
Sustainability
Education
Decarbonisation and climate technologies
Automotive and electric mobility (EVs)
The initiative aims to help startups move beyond the prototype stage and build businesses capable of competing globally.
What funding do selected startups receive?
The seven winning startups receive:
Rs 30 lakh in grant funding each
Structured post-funding mentorship
Business and investment support
Access to industry experts and corporate leaders
Unlike many grant programmes, the initiative combines funding with long-term business development support.
What kind of mentoring will startups get?
One of the biggest advantages of the programme is its structured mentoring framework.
Selected startups receive guidance on:
Regulatory compliance
Legal documentation
Taxation and fund utilisation
Fundraising strategy
Company valuation
Term sheet negotiations
Intellectual property (IP) protection
Data privacy and cybersecurity
Technology and product scaling
These are areas where many early-stage startups often struggle after raising their first round of funding.
How can startups connect with investors?
The programme includes dedicated Demo Days, where founders present their products and business models before:
Investors
Industry leaders
Mentors
Corporate executives
Startup ecosystem stakeholders
These sessions help startups validate their products, receive expert feedback and explore funding as well as partnership opportunities.
What is the Sounding Board Programme?
The selected startups also become part of the Sounding Board Programme, a leadership mentoring initiative.
Through this programme, founders receive strategic advice from experienced industry professionals on:
Business strategy
Leadership
Market expansion
Product positioning
Long-term growth planning
The objective is to prepare startups for sustainable growth rather than short-term fundraising.
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Who can benefit from this programme?
The programme is particularly useful for startups that:
Have developed an innovative product or technology
Need funding to scale operations
Want access to corporate mentors
Are preparing to raise investment
Need guidance on compliance and legal issues
Are looking for partnerships with established industry players
Deep-tech, manufacturing and climate-tech startups may find particular value because of the programme's sectoral focus.
How are startups selected?
The selection process involves multiple evaluation stages.
Following a nationwide call for applications, startups undergo screening by industry experts before shortlisted companies pitch their innovations to a jury panel.
The evaluation typically considers:
Innovation
Scalability
Business potential
Market impact
Commercial viability
In the latest edition, 32 startups were shortlisted from applicants across India, with seven ultimately selected for funding and mentoring.
Why does this programme matter?
While startup grants are increasingly common, programmes that combine capital with structured mentoring, investor access and corporate engagement remain relatively limited.
Speaking during a virtual interaction with participants, DPIIT Additional Secretary Ateesh Kumar Singh said initiatives like this reflect the growing strength of India's innovation ecosystem and help entrepreneurs build solutions aligned with national priorities.
By combining funding, expert guidance and market access, the programme aims to improve the chances of startups building resilient, globally competitive businesses while contributing to India's ambition of becoming a global innovation hub.
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Ends.
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