18 Startups Receive Funding from C-DOT Through Samarth Program

In a major boost to India’s telecom and ICT innovation ecosystem, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a premier telecom R&D institution under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has selected 18 promising startups under the first cohort of its newly launched ‘Samarth’ Incubation Program. Designed to support entrepreneurs working on next-gen telecom technologies, the program aims to accelerate innovation in areas like cybersecurity, 5G/6G, AI, IoT, and quantum technologies.

Each startup in the first cohort will receive a financial grant of up to ₹5 lakh, six months of fully furnished office space at C-DOT campuses in Delhi and Bengaluru, and access to advanced laboratory facilities. In addition, they will benefit from expert-led mentorship and acceleration sessions to support their journey from idea to market-ready solution. This initiative also opens opportunities for further collaboration and funding under the C-DOT Collaborative Research Program (CCRP).

The program operates in two cohorts annually, with up to 18 startups in each cohort, supporting a total of 36 startups per year. Delivered in a hybrid mode, Samarth is implemented in partnership with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), ensuring access to industry expertise and investor networks.

The first cohort was launched during a special mentoring session which was attended by Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, Arvind Kumar, DG of STPI, and Atul Dhawan, President of TiE Delhi-NCR and the selected startups also received the first tranche of their grant funding during the session.

The selection process was rigorous, with a committee comprising industry leaders, academicians, and technical experts evaluating applicants on innovation, feasibility, market potential, team capabilities, and alignment with telecom sector needs.

Apart from this, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between C-DOT and STPI on this occasion. The MoU outlined future collaboration in areas such as training, joint march, and startup mentoring.

The 18 selected startups include Turtleneck Systems, Matisoft Cyber Security Labs, Revino Solutions, Ajayan Consulting, Agriverse Innovations, and Farsight Innovations, among others. Full details are available on the website of C-DOT.

Source: PIB