About Us


Genesis of VentureStudio 


VentureStudio is a manifestation of the University’s vision on innovation and entrepreneurship. The university recognised recognises that such a platform is vital to help not only solve existing problems related to society and environment, but also to help catalyse a psychological shift and spur creativity at the grassroots thereby setting the platform for a Bold, Innovative, Sustainable, Bold and Futuristic India.

Thus VentureStudio was born in 2011, in collaboration with Center for Design Research at Stanford University. Since then, it has grown from strength to strength and now is a mature incubator with 51 active startups in the portfolio, many of them nationally and internationally recognised through awards. VentureStudio itself has numerous prestigious accreditions and champions the cause in the ecosystem. A brief timeline is indicated below.
 

Vision: Play a central role to transform Ahmedabad to a top 20 Global Innovation EcoSystem.

Mission: Differentiated, cutting edge incubator in critical areas of need for the country such as healthcare, life science and enable transformation of the sector from an economic, outcome and equitable viewpoint


Objectives: 

 
  • Serve as a holistic platform from ideation to growth for entrepreneurs globally, providing support ranging from funding, cutting edge infrastructure, mentoring and networks
  • Enable India to be self-reliant and cutting edge in important areas such as life sciences, healthcare, defence, waste management, energy and other critical verticals
  • Catalyse and support generation of Intellectual Property leading to commercialization of startups
  • Focus on product based startups in key domains identified above  requiring integrated, multi-disciplinary efforts spanning life sciences, healthcare and engineering disciplines
  • Work together with Ahmedabad ecosystem partners and Accelerate the flow of ideas, information, talent, capital in Ahmedabad & Gujarat and translate the resulting innovation into commercial success
  • Support innovation, development of technologies and commercialization of technologies  from Ahmedabad University

With a mission to be a differentiated, cutting edge incubator in critical areas of need for the country such as healthcare, life science, biotech, defence, environment, manufacturing and other areas, we intend to serve as a platform to enable transformation of the respective sectors from an economic and outcome point of view. This is in tune with our vision to play a central role and unlock the strong “Enabler” footprint in the eco-system to help catalyse it with the ultimate goal of working towards an India that is prosperous, equitable, self-sustainable, bold and innovative.  

The Centre provides 360° support ranging from pre-seed funding through multiple grants and schemes, personalised mentoring through a network of domain experts, access to cutting edge facilities for product development, market access, team building assistance and support for follow on Angel and Venture Capital financing.  

Track Record and Impact


Since inception VentureStudio has been working closely with Centre and State Governments to help draft policy and create roadmaps for innovation within ecosystems. We are a member of the State Level Implementation Committee (SLIC) of Government of Gujarat (GoG), special invitee members of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Gujarat Start-up Task Forces,special invitee to BioPharma Innovation Policy Round Tables of BIRAC Regional Innovation Centre (BRIC), to name a few. For its contribution to develop and support entrepreneurship ecosystem in India, National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN) has awarded Ahmedabad University the Debutante Institution Award and High Impact Institution Award
 
Cruxbot , a VentureStudio start up founded by Nirmit Parikh was acquired by Kno. Three of our startups have raised Angel financing of over INR 40 Lakhs and another group of start-ups is actively looking to raise  capital. VentureStudio has worked with 17 students closely in their quest to be entrepreneurs through the VentureStudio Fellowship Program.

22 start-ups have won awards and received recognition, both nationally and internationally. We have only just embarked on our quest to be a key ingredient in helping transform India and making our ecosystem a Top 20 Global Innovation Ecosystem. Since inception VentureStudio has been working closely with Centre and State Governments to help draft policy and create roadmaps for innovation within ecosystems. We are a member of:

  • CII Western Region Startup Taskforce
  • CII Gujarat Startup Taskforce
  • FICCI Gujarat Startup Taskforce
  • Government of Gujarat Startup Scheme Special Task Force for Policy Change and Renewal
  • Government of Gujarat Startup Scheme G State Level Implementation Committee
  • Special Invitee BRIC Committee (BIRAC Regional Innovation Center), BIRAC 

For its contribution to develop and support entrepreneurship ecosystem in India, National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN) has awarded Ahmedabad University the Debutante Institution Award and High Impact Institution Award
 

59

Active Start Ups
 

150+

Employment Generated
 

16

Patent Applications
 

26

Startups recognised
with awards & recognitions

 
 

A brief timeline of important events in the journey is depicted below: 

 
 

2022

  • Venture Fellowship Winter Batch Restarted in Jan'22
  • MOU signed with TiE to work towards strengthening the Startup ecosystem of Gujarat
  • Got into Strategic Partnership with TechEx.in June 2021
  • Startup Xovian Aerospace founder Raghav Sharma was invited to a Video Conference interaction with Honourable Prime Minister
  • Launched NIDHI Prayas Cohort 4
  • Launched SSIP 2.0 for student innovation & startups

2021

  • On boarded 10 startups under NIDHI Prayas Scheme
  • 59 active startups in diverse fields, 50% have commercialised
  • Got into Strategic Partnership with TechEx.in June 2021
  • MoU signed with GVFL Limited (formerly Gujarat Venture Finance Limited) to work towards strengthening the Startup ecosystem of Gujarat through research, innovation and investments
  • Collaboration with Entrepreneurs Club at Ahmedabad University for various programmes
  • Shark Tank invested 75L in startup Peeschute
  • Startup Vendaxo was acquired by B2B commerce company Moglix

2020

  • 51 active startups in diverse areas, of which 75% are product based
  • BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) BioNEST Bioincubator complete and ready for operations 

2019

  • Enhanced New VentureStudio 6 month Startup Fellowship Program launched for Ahmedabad University  student entrepreneurs from Ahmedabad University
  • BioNest Incubator inaugurated by Chancellor Mr Sanjay Lalbhai
 

2018

  • DST NIDHI PRAYAS Shala Engineering Prototyping Lab complete and ready for operations
  • Second cohort of NIDHI Prayas, NIDHI EIR and NIDHI SSS onboarded
  • Third cohort of NIDHI Prayas and NIDHI EIR onboarded

2017

  • First cohort of DST Nidhi Prayasi’s & DST Nidhi EIR Fellows
  • Approved for BioIncubator by BIRAC, DBT
  • Approved for DST NIDHI SSS Scheme
  • Approved for DST NIDHI EIR Grant
  • Approved for DST  NIDHI Prayas Grant

2016

  • National Entrepreneurship Network awarded Ahmedabad University the "Debutante Institution Award" and "High Impact Institution Award" for contributing to developing/ supporting the entrepreneurship ecosystem

2015

  • Approved as Technology Business Incubator by NSTEDB, DST
  • First batch of startuos approved under Government of Gujarat scheme
  • Approved as one of the earliest Nodal Institute’s for Government of Gujarat Startup Policy

2013

Cruxbot , a VentureStudio start up founded by Nirmit Parikh was acquired by Kno, a silicon valley startup, in November 2013.. Kno Incorporation was acquired by Intel

2012

  • Completion of first batch of 7 students for the 6 month Stanford-VentureStudio fellowship program

2011

  • Collaboration with Stanford University, Center for Design Research
 

2011
VENTURESTUDIO WAS FOUNDED


 

Vision: Play a central role to transform Ahmedabad to a top 20 Global Innovation EcoSystem.

Mission: Differentiated, cutting edge incubator in critical areas of need for the country such as healthcare, life science and enable transformation of the sector from an economic, outcome and equitable viewpoint


Objectives: 

 
  • Serve as a holistic platform from ideation to growth for entrepreneurs globally, providing support ranging from funding, cutting edge infrastructure, mentoring and networks
  • Enable India to be self-reliant and cutting edge in important areas such as life sciences, healthcare, defence, waste management, energy and other critical verticals
  • Catalyse and support generation of Intellectual Property leading to commercialization of startups
  • Focus on product based startups in key domains identified above  requiring integrated, multi-disciplinary efforts spanning life sciences, healthcare and engineering disciplines
  • Work together with Ahmedabad ecosystem partners and Accelerate the flow of ideas, information, talent, capital in Ahmedabad & Gujarat and translate the resulting innovation into commercial success
  • Support innovation, development of technologies and commercialization of technologies  from Ahmedabad University


Accreditions: 

 
  • Technology Business Incubator (TBI) by National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST)
  • Three high profile pre-seed grants from DST’s National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI): 
    • NIDHI Promotion and Acceleration of Young and Aspiring technology entrepreneurs (PRAYAS) grant:  This grant from NSTEDB addresses the idea to prototype funding gap. A prototype grant of up to Rs. 10, 00,000 is provided to build their ideas into prototype, within 24 months
    • NIDHI Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR):  To inspire the best talents to be entrepreneurs, minimise the risk involved in pursuing start-ups, and to partially set off their opportunity costs of high paying jobs, NSTEDB has introduced NIDHI-EIR fellowship. The NIDHI-EIR fellowship would provide subsistence grant up to Rs.30, 000 per month to an aspiring or budding entrepreneur of considerable potential for pursuing a promising technology business idea 
    • NIDHI Seed Support Scheme (SSS): The NIDHI Seed Support Scheme (SSS) of NSTEDB, DST provides up to Rs 25,00,000 as early stage funding for indigenous ideas and technologies requiring scaling up
  • BioNEST Bioincubator by BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council), DBT (Department of Biotechnology)
  • Nodal Institute for Government of Gujarat Startup Scheme by which start-ups get access to pre-seed grants and ecosystem support. The Government of Gujarat’s start-up scheme launched in 2015 provides funding up to Rs 20,00,000 for prototyping and marketing expenses for selected start-ups in various domains and industry verticals 
  • Student Startup Innovation Policy by the Government of Gujarat: As the name suggests this policy provides a small amount of pre-seed money, typically upto Rs 2,00,000 for a student to work on his/her idea
  • Recognised incubator by Government of India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry for Start-up India