India's largest technology incubator hosted by CSIR’s National Chemical Laboratory, has aided over 750 science-based startups since its inception in December 2006. The incubator offers a robust innovation ecosystem, providing comprehensive support like mentoring, funding, scientific assistance, incubation, and specialized resource centers. As an approved incubator by DST-NSTEDB, Venture Center collaborates with organizations including BIRAC, DST, Atal Innovation Mission, MeitY, and the Defence Innovation Organisation, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing startups at different lifecycle stages.
A peek behind the serious face of the RBI, through the people, personalities and wonderfully unexpected stories in P. P. Ramachandran’s Veterans of the Reserve Bank—from eminent economists to the quirks that never make it into official history. Read more
A blank scroll, a big idea, and a conversation that went somewhere unexpected. A Book Club discussion on The Magic of Thinking Big explored the many ways a simple idea can look different depending on who is reading it. Along the way came Po, Charlie Chaplin, and a few questions worth sitting with. Read more
What happens when pressure turns the familiar upside down? A lively conversation at the Venture Center Library took an unexpected route through instinct, biology, technology, and the curious ways we behave when life refuses to go according to plan. Read more
What makes a genius worth remembering? And what turns a remarkable journey into a story worth telling? Step into Genius Gem with author Anuradha Parab as we look beyond the milestones to the man behind them. Read more
What does it take to prepare deep-tech innovators for the global stage? Venture Center's experience as India's In-Country Partner for the Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) Global Programme offers a closer look at the partnerships, preparation, and ecosystems that help science-led innovation go beyond the laboratory. Read more
What do Steve Jobs, Elizabeth Holmes and a simple communication framework called the "truth sandwich" have in common? More than you might think. Our ninth Journal Club explored how entrepreneurs navigate the space between vision and reality—and why the courage to admit uncertainty may be one of a founder's greatest strengths. Read more
Our diverse and impactful ecosystem is designed to nurture and propel early-stage ideas, startups, and entrepreneurs. Our support spans across key areas to ensure that your startup journey is seamless: mentoring expertise, funding, infrastructure support, open-access scientific and prototyping facilities, business, IP & regulatory advisory services, specialized resource centers and so much more!
Venture Center is one of the very few incubators in India that can support startups in difficult domain areas such as life sciences, engineering, materials sciences, agriculture, and clean energy. Our strong in-house mentoring team led by Dr Premnath Venugopalan is known for its depth and thought leadership,and we also have a large network of over 200 technical, business and other specialist mentors.
We have supported over 750 entrepreneurs over 17 years of dedicated service, and over 85% of the startups we have supported are still active, affirm our impactful incubation activities. Another key indicator is the substantial presence of our startups in the market. Close to 100 products developed by our startups have successfully made their way into the market, with over Rs. 700 crore investment mobilized by our incubatees, validating the potential in their technologies.
Venture Center is in close proximity to some of India’s leading academic and research organizations that engage in cutting-edge research and innovation, adding to Pune’s vibrant, academic atmosphere. At Venture Center, you can also benefit from the strong peer network of like-minded, driven entrepreneurs, and discover invaluable mentorship and role models within our dynamic ecosystem.
Excited to start your journey?
** Based on Annual Surveys of Current Supported Startups (excludes graduates; 85-90% response rate).
Last update 31 March 2026
Started right here at Venture Center
Venture Center’s Regulatory Information and Facilitation Center (RIFC) is offering free, one-on-one mentoring for startups developing Medical Devices, SaMDs, and IVDs. Discuss your questions with Chetna Dabi, Associate Manager, Regulatory Services, on regulatory pathways, applicable standards, quality management, data protection, risk management, and clinical trials. Read more
What separates a satisfactory experience from one that inspires lasting loyalty? The 12th Journal Club explores this question through a Harvard Business Review article, using the signature Think and Link approach to connect insights on customer engagement with broader ideas about human behavior and meaningful experiences. Read more
TechEx.in – Tech Transfer Hub at Venture Center is organizing a Preparatory Course for the Patent Agent Examination. The course covers Indian patent law, previous-year questions, exam strategies, and mock tests for Papers I and II, with guidance from experienced IP professionals. It also includes a special mock interview session with Dr. Gopakumar Nair. Dates: 21 October–24 November 2026 Duration: 23 sessions, 1.5 hours each Time: 8:30 PM–10:00 PM Mode: Online, live interactive sessions Fee: ₹7,000 Limited seats; registration closes once all seats are filled. Read more
Venture Center is hosting a hybrid talk on Monday, 19 October 2026 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, featuring two senior leaders from the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) — Mr. Yahya Yahyavi Alvar and Mr. John Poli. The session will offer insights into how the UK’s connected battery innovation ecosystem operates and how startups and SMEs can progress from early-stage innovations to manufacturing readiness and commercial-scale production. Read more
Explore the UK’s battery innovation and manufacturing ecosystem with experts from UKBIC, Coventry, in a session on battery industrialisation, manufacturing capabilities, and the journey from laboratory-scale research to commercial production. Read more
Join “Navigating Food Safety, Regulation & Market Challenges” with Ms. Vaidehi Kalzunkar, Deputy Director (Technical), FSSAI Western Regional Office. The session will explore food industry trends, regulatory compliance, food testing, emerging retail models, and responsible food entrepreneurship. Read more
The inauguration of Venture Center’s Centre of Excellence for Clean Energy and Green Hydrogen Innovation on August 20, 2026, received coverage across print, digital and video media. The reports highlighted the Centre’s advanced testing infrastructure and its role in supporting clean energy innovation. The coverage also featured the CleanTech Startup Showcase, spotlighting Venture Center incubatees Hydrovert Energy’s hydrogen-powered motorcycle and PadCare India’s sanitary pad recycling solutions.
The Indian Express profiles Rechargion, a Venture Center-associated startup developing sodium-ion batteries using locally available Indian raw materials. The feature highlights the startup’s efforts to build a safer, more self-reliant battery technology and strengthen India’s domestic energy storage ecosystem.
BioSpectrum India spotlights Pragmatech Healthcare Solutions, Kozhnosys and Intignus Biotech, three startups associated with Venture Center, in its feature on women-led healthcare innovation. The article highlights their efforts to address critical gaps in women's healthcare through accessible cervical cancer screening, non-invasive breast cancer detection and early screening for preeclampsia.
The Indian Express features Dr. V. Premnath, Director of Venture Center, in its coverage of industry reactions to the Union Budget 2026–27. He highlights how proposed equity and liquidity support for MSMEs, alongside investments in strategic manufacturing sectors, could create opportunities for startups and small businesses to scale their operations.
The Financial Express features Dr. V. Premnath, Director of Venture Center, in an article examining how incubators and venture studios help startups navigate early-stage challenges, bridge funding gaps and translate innovative ideas into market-ready solutions.
The Indian Express article written by Dipanita Nath features the Venture Center Library as a knowledge resource for entrepreneurs, innovators and the wider public. The article explores its curated collection of books, journals and market research resources, alongside its book clubs, author interactions, technical sessions and learning activities for children.
The first cohort organizations under the Research, Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF) has been selected with an aggregate approved commitment of ₹7,131 crore. Read more
Call for Investigator-initiated research proposals for First in World Challenge grants (2026)- Applications open up to 30th November 2026. The scheme is meant to inspire researchers to come up with novel, futuristic ideas and generate new knowledge, discoveries, and develop breakthrough health technologies (vaccines, drugs/ therapeutics, diagnostics, interventions etc.) that have never been thought of, tested or tried anywhere in the world to date. Read more
A peek behind the serious face of the RBI, through the people, personalities and wonderfully unexpected stories in P. P. Ramachandran’s Veterans of the Reserve Bank—from eminent economists to the quirks that never make it into official history. Read more
The Pilot Component of the GENESIS Scheme supports startups from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities that hold a pilot Purchase Order or Work Order (PO/WO) from a Government body, PSU or large enterprise. Read more
A blank scroll, a big idea, and a conversation that went somewhere unexpected. A Book Club discussion on The Magic of Thinking Big explored the many ways a simple idea can look different depending on who is reading it. Along the way came Po, Charlie Chaplin, and a few questions worth sitting with. Read more
What happens when pressure turns the familiar upside down? A lively conversation at the Venture Center Library took an unexpected route through instinct, biology, technology, and the curious ways we behave when life refuses to go according to plan. Read more
