PILANI, Sep 3: IDFC FIRST Bank, through its CSR initiatives, has partnered with the Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS), BITS Pilani, under IGNITE, the startup incubation program of FIRST IMPACT, the CSR division of IDFC FIRST Bank, to launch an Accelerator Program that will support startups developing solutions for some of today’s most pressing health and environmental challenges.
Through catalytic grant support, incubation, acceleration, mentorship, and ecosystem linkages, the program aims to nurture purpose-driven enterprises and help them scale sustainable, high-impact solutions.
IDFC FIRST Bank has partnered with BITS Pilani , as one of the implementing partners for IGNITE that will support 8 startups across India working in areas such as climate technology, carbon reduction and removal, AI and machine learning-based healthcare diagnostics, medical devices, and assistive technologies.
Selected startups will receive mentorship, business guidance, access to industry experts and investors, and performance-linked grants of up to ₹25 lakh per startup.
Expected Outcomes
•Support the growth and scale-up of 8 technology startups working in climate and healthcare sectors.
•Encourage innovative solutions for carbon reduction, carbon removal, and environmental sustainability.
•Improve healthcare access and outcomes through AI/ML-driven diagnostics, medical devices, and assistive technologies.
•Strengthen the business and investment readiness of participating startups.
•Contribute to employment generation, innovation, and sustainable development in India.
Mr. Saptarshi Bapari, Head, Investor Relations and ESG, said, “India is witnessing a remarkable wave of entrepreneurship, with innovators building solutions that are shaping a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future. What many early-stage startups need is the right support at the right time to turn promising ideas into scalable solutions that can create meaningful impact. Through the IGNITE Social Incubation Program, we are supporting startups working in healthcare and climate sustainability, two areas that are critical to the well-being of our communities and the future of our planet. Our partnership with BITS Pilani combines funding, mentorship, and access to a strong innovation ecosystem, helping entrepreneurs accelerate their growth and bring their ideas to life. We hope this initiative empowers founders to scale their solutions, reach more people, and create lasting positive impact at scale.”
Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani, said, “BITS Pilani has spent five decades building an entrepreneurial ecosystem, with impact across all sectors and geographies. We are excited to launch IGNITE to deliver measured community impact across Health and Climate – partnering with IDFC FIRST Bank allows us to apply that discipline to two sectors where India’s need is most urgent.”