Waterpreneur studio

Waterpreneur studio

The Waterpreneur studio is the entrepreneur hub of ICCW, established in the year 2023, aiming to support entrepreneurs and MSMEs interested in taking ideas in water management and security to successful business ventures across the globe. Under Waterpreneur studio, we are offering tailor-made programs for entrepreneurs in the various stages of their venture.

Targeted Segments:

Drinking water and sanitation
Agriculture and aquaculture
Water recycling and reuse
Water use efficiency and conservation
Water body restoration
Industrial water solution
Pollution reduction and detection

Services offered to startups

Infrastructure / Co-working space
Administration / Secretarial facilities
Technical / Lab facilities
Advisory & Mentoring support
Funding support
Network connection / Linkages

Are you an innovator working in water technology?

Find a current program that works for you

1. Pre incubation 

Aim

  • Pre-incubation aims to support ambitious and innovative entrepreneurs by enabling them to transform their ideas into a Proof of Concept or Prototype.

Who can apply:

  • Students/entrepreneurs with innovative ideas are eligible to apply

Program duration:

  • 12-18 months

Program Highlights:

  • Structured mentoring
  • Guidance on proposal writing for grants/loans.
  • Change to get into the incubation program at ICCW
  • Learn and share in a community of like-minded entrepreneurs in the water tech domain.

Selection Process:

  • Apply through the enquiry form
  • We will then reach out to you to understand more about you and your startup idea
  • Opportunity to pitch your business idea to the Incubation Committee

2. Incubation Program

Akamai Grant cum Incubation Program

The startups onboarded in the incubation program will get a chance to pitch their ideas to the Akamai CSR committee. The shortlisting will happen in February. The selected startups will get a grant cum incubation program at ICCW. Sattva Consulting is the Monitoring and Evaluation partner for the program. Cohort I will be onboarded in December.

Who can apply:

  • Company age should not be more than 5 years from the date of incorporation
  • Technology Readiness (TRL 3-5) and Business Readiness (BRL 3-5)

Program Timeline:

  • Call for application:Oct 2023
  • Shortlisting: Nov 2023
  • Pre Incubation program : Dec 2023 – Feb 2023
  • Incubation program : Mar 2024 – Feb 2025

Program Highlights:

  • Prospective candidates should have a POC/Prototype
  • A three-months intensive pre-incubation program
  • The selected startup will be onboarded for the incubation program
  • Structured technical and business mentorship support from ICCW

3. Acceleration Program

Pilots to Investment & Impact metrics readiness

Acceleration program is being funded by Akamai Technologies – India CSR Trust from the F.Y 2019. Sattva Consulting is the Monitoring and Evaluation partner for the program. So far 3 cohorts of startups have graduated under the program.

Aim

  • To accelerate the startups addressing the problem in water with innovative technologies

Who can apply:

  • Startups working in the water domain with the MVP 
  • Technology Readiness (TRL 6-7) and Business Readiness (BRL 5-6)

Program Timeline:

  • 12 to 18 months based on the innovation proposed

Program Highlights:

  • Structured mentorship program
  • Grant for piloting opportunities
  • Government Partnerships and Introductions
  • Clarity in Value Proposition and Business Models
  • Impact Metrics Readiness
  • Alternate sources of funding and Fundraising Readiness

4. Networking Program

Aim

  •  To address the need of graduated startups and the MSME for their business development

Who can apply:

  • Graduated startups from the acceleration and MSMEs

Program Highlights:

  • Government Partnerships and Introductions
  • Investments
  • Startup Connect
  • Technology commercialization
  • CSR projects
  • Lab and field validation of the technology

Based on need assessment the startups will be onboarded into the networking program.

Akamai Incubation Cohort 1

Akamai Acceleration Cohort 5

Akamai Acceleration Cohort 4

Graduated Startups

Business Mentors

S. Vishwanath
Dr. Fawzia Tarannum
Santhosh S Nair