NPCC's AI StartUps Initiative Graduates 19 Ventures, Awards Rs 100,000 Each

The National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC) closed out its flagship AI StartUps Initiative with an award ceremony on 8 May 2026 at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation — capping a programme that drew far more interest than organisers expected.

From 157 Applicants to 19 Ventures

Launched in October 2025 as a pipeline "from ideation to incubation," the initiative received 157 registrations against an initial target of 100. An early-stage "AI Sprint," run in collaboration with the University of Mauritius, produced 34 prototypes spanning agriculture, education, and marine conservation. Nineteen teams advanced to pitch in March 2026, supported along the way by 12 dedicated AI coaches and a 17-member technical committee across seven structured programme phases.

The Ventures

Among the startups that went through the programme: KOM AI, a digital content creation platform giving users control over AI-generated visuals; Mo Karyer, a WhatsApp-based career guidance chatbot for students; Study Hive, an education ecosystem connecting students, teachers, and parents; Vidante, an assessment platform designed to cut teacher administrative workload; and ZilNutri's NutriRoute, a nutrition and meal-planning platform.

Five Winners, Rs 100,000 Each

Five teams were ultimately selected to receive Rs 100,000 in seed funding plus incubation support to take their ventures further — a modest but meaningful push for founders working to turn national AI ambitions into products people actually use.