Kotak BizLabs Season 2: Fueling India’s Next Wave of Startup Growth

When Kotak Mahindra Bank launched the first season of its BizLabs Accelerator, few expected how far its ripple effects would travel. From agritech founders in rural Gujarat to cleantech innovators in Bengaluru, the initiative became a quiet force powering new-age entrepreneurs who were building for India and beyond. Now, the banking giant is doubling down on that momentum.

In a strong reaffirmation of its commitment to India’s startup revolution, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (KMBL) has announced Season 2 of the Kotak BizLabs Accelerator Programme, a flagship CSR initiative designed to empower early-revenue stage startups with mentorship, market access, and funding support. Running from October 2025 to November 2026, this edition aims to nurture over 75 promising startups across the country, expanding its reach deeper into India’s innovation corridors.

And this time, the ambition is bigger — and bolder.

Backing the Builders of New India

India’s startup ecosystem is now the third-largest in the world, but the true story of its growth lies beyond the metros — in Tier-II and Tier-III cities where ideas are sprouting from unexpected corners. That’s where Kotak BizLabs wants to make the most impact.

“Kotak has always believed in backing the entrepreneurial spirit of India — not just in metros, but in smaller cities where innovation is thriving,” said Himanshu Nivsarkar, Head – CSR & ESG, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. “With Season 2 of Kotak BizLabs, we are scaling our commitment to founders who dare to dream big and build bold.”

The new season focuses on sectors at the heart of India’s innovation-driven growth — deep-tech, sustainability, clean energy, fintech, edtech, agritech, healthtech, and digital technology. The intent is clear: to accelerate businesses solving India’s most pressing challenges while creating scalable, sustainable impact.

To deepen its support ecosystem, Kotak BizLabs has brought on board another heavyweight from India’s academic innovation network — IIT Delhi’s Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT). The addition strengthens an already formidable partnership lineup that includes IIMA Ventures, NSRCEL – IIM Bangalore, and T-Hub, forming a nationwide bridge between academia, industry, and entrepreneurship.

“At FITT IIT Delhi, we are excited to join hands with Kotak to nurture innovation-driven startups that combine global ambition with deep social impact,” said Dr. Nikhil Agarwal, Managing Director, FITT IIT Delhi. “This partnership will help shape India’s next wave of technology entrepreneurs.”

These collaborations are not just symbolic — they serve as the backbone of Kotak’s approach to inclusive entrepreneurship. Through mentorship bootcamps, access to industry experts, and structured incubation, startups gain both knowledge and networks that are often out of reach for early founders.

‘Hausla Hai Toh Ho Jayega’

The ethos driving the Kotak BizLabs programme is best summed up in a single line from the bank’s popular campaign — “Hausla Hai Toh Ho Jayega.” It’s not just a tagline but a mindset, says Rohit Bhasin, President – Head of Affluent, NRI & Business Banking and Chief Marketing Officer, KMBL.

“Kotak BizLabs is our way of walking the talk — it’s a mission to power audacious dreams that can shape India’s future. When you back the right ideas with the right intent, magic happens. That’s the spirit we want to amplify through this programme.”

Season 1: A Case Study in Impact

The first season of Kotak BizLabs proved that structured corporate support can catalyze real change in the startup ecosystem.

Over the course of 2024–25, the programme received 1,500+ startup applications from across India, engaged over 500 founders through outreach sessions, and successfully accelerated 55 startups via structured incubation. Out of these, 32 ventures secured funding, enabling them to scale operations, hire new teams, and access larger markets.

The initiative also organized roadshows and workshops in 14 cities, reaching founders far beyond traditional startup hubs. Many of these startups went on to raise follow-on capital, create jobs, and deploy innovative solutions in sectors like agritech, fintech, cleantech, healthcare, edtech, and even indigenous crafts — showing that impact innovation is not confined to Silicon Valley-style ventures.

Season 2: Scaling Vision, Deepening Reach

Building on this momentum, Season 2 comes with even bigger goals. Kotak aims to engage over 800 startups through knowledge sessions and roadshows, accelerate 75+ startups through deep mentorship, and provide funding support to more than 60 ventures as they scale up.

The outreach will also extend to 20+ cities, further expanding Kotak’s support network to founders operating outside the venture capital spotlight.

“We are thrilled to partner once again with Kotak Mahindra Bank in empowering India's dynamic startup ecosystem,” said Anand Sri Ganesh, CEO, NSRCEL – IIM Bangalore. “Season 2 will further catalyze innovation in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, offering market access and mentorship to bold entrepreneurs shaping India’s growth story.”

From Ahmedabad to Indore, from Nagpur to Kochi, the Kotak BizLabs roadshows are expected to act as mini innovation festivals — giving founders the platform to pitch, network, and find guidance from some of the best in the business.

What sets Kotak BizLabs apart is its focus on inclusivity — the deliberate effort to reach beyond the metros. As Chintan Bakshi, Partner – Incubation, IIMA Ventures, explains, “Kotak BizLabs stands out for its intensive support to founders in non-metro regions. With our partnership, startups from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra will receive structured mentoring, investor access, and bootcamp training at IIMA.”

At T-Hub, which has worked closely with several first-time founders, CEO Kavikrut highlighted how the initiative’s outcome-driven approach has redefined CSR engagement.

“Kotak’s outcome-focused approach has redefined how CSR engages with startups. Founders are leveraging mentorship and funding to build capabilities, validate market fit, and create scalable impact.”

Fueling the Future of Indian Entrepreneurship

The message behind Kotak BizLabs is clear: building a sustainable, innovation-led economy requires empowering those with ideas — not just in the metros but across India’s diverse entrepreneurial landscape.

By backing early-revenue stage startups, providing catalytic funding, and forging partnerships with leading incubators, Kotak Mahindra Bank is not only accelerating businesses but also nurturing a generation of job creators, problem solvers, and impact builders.

For a country where startups are increasingly shaping everything from education to clean energy, initiatives like Kotak BizLabs are no longer just CSR programmes — they are strategic investments in India’s future.

And as Kotak’s team says with conviction — when there’s “Hausla,” there truly is a way.