incubator – the^delta

Q: Who can apply to the^delta incubator?

the^delta incubator is designed for early-stage nonprofit social entrepreneurs working to build resilient livelihoods for marginalized and underserved communities in India. You can apply if: You are a registered nonprofit , OR You are planning to register as a Section 8 company, trust, or society by May 31, 2026

Q: What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible, your organization must meet the following: Stage of organization Early-stage (0–3 years) Have a Proof of Concept (PoC) or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Founder commitment At least one founder must be working full-time on the initiative Focus area Must focus on building resilient livelihoods Exception Organizations 3–5 years old can apply if they are launching a new livelihoods-focused initiative

Q: Can I apply if I’ve been part of another incubator or received grants?

Yes. However, this is a high-touch program , so founders must ensure availability for: Portfolio calls Mentoring sessions Bootcamps Tailored workshops

Q: What are the key timelines?

Application deadline: May 15, 2026 Interviews: May–June 2026 Final cohort announcement: Last week of June 2026 Program start date: July 1, 2026

Q: What does the program include?

the^delta incubator is a 9-month, high-touch program that offers: Bootcamps and masterclasses 1:1 mentoring Portfolio support Tailored capacity-building sessions

Q: What are the expectations from founders?

This is a founder-first program . Selected founders are expected to: Actively participate in all program activities Attend bootcamps (in-person) Engage in mentoring and workshops

Q: Is the program remote or in-person?

Mentoring and support: Remote Bootcamps: In-person (mandatory)

nurturing the next generation of problem solvers

Applications open for the 2026 incubator cohort

innovation grant of up to ₹1.05Cr*

*Unlock ₹30 lakh through the incubator, with an opportunity to access ₹75 lakh via the accelerator

wings to fly

turn your vision into reality through

Innovation Grant

₹30 lakhs grant to develop your theory of change and make it work.

dedicated mentoring

Hands-on mentoring by partners for strategic clarity and fundraising support.

sector connect

Connect with an awesome peer group and network interested in your idea.

bootcamps

Face-to-face & virtual immersion events for cohort bonding and learning.

portfolio support

Moving organizations along product, capital, and execution readiness.

the journey begins here

your pathway to scaling impact

Our 9-month incubation program is designed to take you from idea or early-stage proof of concept to a validated, scalable model. Through structured support, we help you refine your theory of change, build your team, and unlock the pathway to scale through our accelerator program.

01

selection

02

incubation journey

03

validation

04

scale via accelerator
know more →

seeds we've sown

impact of incubator in numbers

nonprofits incubated

innovation grants disbursed

0 Cr

grant multiplier

0 x

is this you?

who should apply

the^delta incubator is designed for early-stage nonprofit entrepreneurs who are passionate about creating resilient livelihoods for marginalised communities.

Early Stage

Early-stage startups (0-3 years) with a proof of concept or MVP

Registered Entity

Social enterprise registered or planning to register as Section 8 co., trust, or society

Full-time Founder

At least one founder working full-time on the initiative

Livelihood Focus

Solution focused on creating resilient livelihoods for marginalised communities

New Initiatives Welcome

Organizations 3-5 years old with a new livelihood initiative are also eligible

Tech & Traditional

Technology-enabled or traditional models welcome

take the leap

process to apply

01

Application Form

Fill out an application form sharing details about the problem you’re solving, your solution approach, and your team.

02

Business Plan

Shortlisted applicants submit their B-plans within 10 days of shortlisting for detailed evaluation.

03

Interviews

Shortlisted applicants go through three rounds of personal interviews with the^delta team and our partners.

voices from the alumni

hear from our incubatees

need clarity?

frequently asked questions

Who can apply to the^delta incubator?

the^delta incubator is designed for early-stage nonprofit social entrepreneurs working to build resilient livelihoods for marginalized and underserved communities in India.

You can apply if:

You are a registered nonprofit, OR
You are planning to register as a Section 8 company, trust, or society by May 31, 2026

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible, your organization must meet the following:

Stage of organization

Early-stage (0–3 years)
Have a Proof of Concept (PoC) or Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

Founder commitment

At least one founder must be working full-time on the initiative

Focus area

Must focus on building resilient livelihoods

Exception

Organizations 3–5 years old can apply if they are launching a new livelihoods-focused initiative

Can founder-only organizations apply?

Yes. As long as at least one founder is working full-time, founder-led teams are eligible.

Can I apply if I’ve been part of another incubator or received grants?

Yes. However, this is a high-touch program, so founders must ensure availability for:

Portfolio calls
Mentoring sessions
Bootcamps
Tailored workshops

What is the selection process?

The selection process includes:

Application submission
Business plan submission (for shortlisted applicants)
Interviews with the^delta team
Partner interviews
Final selection

What are the key timelines?

Application deadline: May 15, 2026
Interviews: May–June 2026
Final cohort announcement: Last week of June 2026
Program start date: July 1, 2026

What does the program include?

the^delta incubator is a 9-month, high-touch program that offers:

Bootcamps and masterclasses
1:1 mentoring
Portfolio support
Tailored capacity-building sessions

What are the expectations from founders?

This is a founder-first program.

Selected founders are expected to:

Actively participate in all program activities
Attend bootcamps (in-person)
Engage in mentoring and workshops

Is the program remote or in-person?

Mentoring and support: Remote
Bootcamps: In-person (mandatory)

What can the grant be used for?

The grant is designed to support:

Building or refining your solution (MVP)
Pilot and experimentation costs
Hiring and team development
Product or program development
Any activity that strengthens impact and scale

Do you support technology-based solutions?

Yes. We encourage organizations that leverage technology to scale impact.
However, non-tech solutions are equally welcome if they effectively address the problem.

What do you mean by “resilient livelihoods”?

We support organizations working on:

Income generation
Skill-building and employability
Entrepreneurship development
Access to markets, finance, or technology
Strengthening livelihood ecosystems

Can I apply if I’m not working on livelihoods?

No. The program is exclusively focused on resilient livelihoods.
If you have a livelihoods-focused initiative within your organization, you may apply for that.

Can for-profit organizations apply?

No. This program is only for nonprofit organizations.

Can I apply if founders are working part-time?

No. At least one founder must be working full-time at the time of application.

Can a CEO apply if founders are not full-time?

No. This is a founder-driven program.
At least one founder must be full-time and actively involved.

Do I need to submit a business plan? What should it include?

Yes, shortlisted applicants must submit a business plan (presentation format).

It should cover: