MAHINDRA e-hub

Mahindra e-hub Incubation Program

Mahindra e-hub (Me-h) is an integral part of the centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) at Mahindra University (MU).
The Mahindra e-hub Incubation Program is specifically designed to help early stage to mid stage start-ups looking for accelerating their pace and scale up. Entrepreneurs joining Mahindra e-hub are provided with the best opportunities and knowledge to refine their idea, launch their enterprises, grow it into scalable business. The duration of the program is three months. Participants can get a chance to connect, contact and get to know the professionals and investors from different sectors. Mahindra e-hub would periodically also conduct short duration certificate programs in entrepreneurship for potential entrepreneurs from outside of the University who are having innovative business ideas.

Incubation Facility

The Incubation facility at CEI has been set up intending to harness the intellectual potential and the spirit of enterprise among the students, faculty, and alumni of the university.

It also intends to nurture those who want to solve social, economic, and civic challenges through technology cutting across various sectors of the economy. At its core, e- Hub is a technology-based incubator that is industry agnostic and is driven by critical thinking, innovation, and a spirit of enterprise.

Incubation Facility
Mahindra e-hub offers you:

Co-working space

Technology guidance

Prototype development

Business & Legal Mentoring

Seed fund

Networking & Corporate connect

Facilities

Mahindra e- Hub (Me-h) is spread over 2000 sq. feet of area, which can accommodate 15 entrepreneurs. The incubation centre facilitates through starting, shaping and scaling up innovative ventures resulting from student-faculty research.

Some facilities offered are:

01

Training & Development

Mahindra e-hub would organise various need-based training workshops and events on IPR, Legal aspects, Business Model generation, finance & accounts, business plan, go-to-market strategy etc for the incubating start-ups entrepreneurs from outside. Mahindra University, being a member of Babson Collaborative, incubatees can also attend online events and training workshops organised by Babson College-USA.

02

Computing and communication facilities

Mahindra e-hub will provide necessary equipment such as computer systems, network, Internet access, telephone. UPS, generator, air-conditioners, etc. The facility of supercomputer shall also be available for all incubates of e-Hub. Some of the other facilities include fax, photocopying, 24 X 7 security, reception, secretarial services, etc.

Operation Model

The increasing interest among students, faculty and alumni in pursuing their innovative ideas and treading the path of entrepreneurship has led to the creation of one of the kind operational model of incubation at Mahindra e-hub. The model includes three phases – pre-incubation, incubation, and graduation.

Process Pre-Incubation Incubation Graduation
Interventions
  • Entrepreneurship curriculum
  • Certificate courses
  • Workshops
  • Idea to product
  • Technical feasibility
  • Proof of concept
  • Seed- Fund support
  • Legal Advice
  • Investor connects
  • Support in hiring
  • Business Plan
Outcomes
  • Entrepreneur readiness
  • Team – Idea fit
  • Idea- Product Fit
  • Product- Market Fit
  • Market- Business Fit
  • Launching a Start-up

Pre-Incubation

Mahindra e-hub would release twice a year call for recruiting a new cohort to generate an adequate number of applications to incubate. A selection committee would be constituted having members from the start-up ecosystem and potential investors. Carefully selected entrepreneurs based on their commitment, readiness and incubation potential will be a part of the cohort.

Incubation

The incubation phase is composed of several activities that help the entrepreneur and the start-up to be market-ready. The following activities are performed to support the entrepreneur:

01

Mentoring

Once the incubatees are on board, their business ideas would be refined with the help of industry mentors and technical experts. Each incubatees will be attached to a mentor for regular interaction and monitoring of the progress. Such mentors would be chosen from the list of mentors already onboarded with Mahindra e-hub and others having relevant industry experience. Incuabtee-mentor matching will be done considering the readiness of the mentor to spare time and expertise.

02

Business Model Design

Product-market fit is not enough for the success and sustainability of a new venture. A profitable and sustainable business model has to be designed. Revenue models have to be well thought out so as to make sure the start-ups do not burn the cash for a long. Incubates would be provided with expert mentoring services in this regard.

03

Gaining proof of Concept

Once the prototype is ready, the incubatees would be guided to go for a test marketing and learn from the customer feedback & user experiences (UX). This is an iterative process. Based on the customer feedback and UX, incubate needs to modify, refine its prototype and repeatedly test the market to validate the value proposition.

Graduation

01

Assistance in Business Plan Preparation & Pitching

Once the business model is validated, incubates will prepare a business plan for pitching to potential investors. Training, guidance and assistance will be provided to incubatees in preparing their winning business plan and a pitch deck. Mock pitch sessions would be organised to provide useful feedback and tips to incubates.

02

Investors’ connect

Since they would-be involved right from the cohort selection process, this step can be eased out. Besides this, pitch days would be organised to invite potential investors. Incubatees will also be encouraged to participate in various business idea/ business plan competitions so as to hone their skills in pitching and validating their business plans.

03

IPR & Legal Services

Mahindra e-hub has already retained a highly reputed agency-Accelero Corporation- a legal and accounting services company dedicated to start-up needs. The faculty members of the school of law at Mahindra University would be additional resource persons for guiding incubatees on legal and IPR matters.

04

Hiring Support

Mahindra University with its’ large pool of engineering and business management students, the incubating start-ups would be encouraged to hire interns at affordable salaries.

Incubation Manager

For more information connect with:

sreeparna.chowdhury@mahindrauniversity.edu.in

With a Master’s degree in Political Sciences (Public Administration) & Fine Arts (Music), Sreeparna has more than 7 years of experience in various workspaces ranging from elementary education (PRT Music) in Kendraya Vidyalaya to managing the Creative Arts Program at IIT Hyderabad. She has completed her B ED Degree in Social Science and also have a Diploma in HR. Currently she is pursuing her Management Degree in Business Administration from NMIMS. She has worked as Program Coordinator for MeitY TIDE 2.0 Program at IIT Hyderabad and served as Incubation Manager at IIT Madras Incubation Cell.

Incubation Manager
Ms. Sreeparna Chowdhury

Incubation Manager
Department of CEI