Published in The Financial Express on 24 January 2026, this article by Sugandha Mukherjee examines the role of incubators and venture studios in strengthening India's startup ecosystem, particularly by supporting early-stage ventures through critical stages of development.
Featuring insights from Dr. V. Premnath, Director of Venture Center, the article explores the challenges faced by deep-tech startups in translating scientific research into commercially viable products. These include defining clear market problems, finding committed co-founders, securing early-stage grant funding and navigating the journey from laboratory research to market adoption.
Dr. Premnath highlights how incubation support, including regulatory guidance, intellectual property assistance, shared infrastructure, funding opportunities and professional networks, can help startups overcome these hurdles. The feature underscores the importance of sustained institutional support in building viable deep-tech businesses and bridging the gap between scientific innovation and commercial success.