IIT Mandi Catalyst was launched in 2016 by IIT Mandi as the first Technology Business Incubator (TBI) in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Away from pollution, long commute, noise, and other big-city problems, it offers a low-cost, peaceful, and high-tech destination to early-stage startups.

In only seven years of its existence, Catalyst has emerged as one of the leading incubators in the region and is among the more active incubators in the country. In its short journey, Catalyst has supported over 400+ startups in a range of sectors including clean energy, healthcare, enterprise management, agriculture, manufacturing, biotech, education, and consumer internet. The incubation program of Catalyst plugs the skill gaps of the startup founders through its mentoring and training programs. Catalyst has hosted over 100 such programs to date. Further, the funding needs of startups in the early stages are also met through the funding schemes hosted at Catalyst. Catalyst, to date, has disbursed or committed over INR 18+ Cr for prototyping and commercialization purposes to the startups.

Amidst the pristine hills in the foothills of the Himalayas, the IIT Mandi Catalyst is the breeding ground for innovations within the Himalayas. A one of a kind Technology Incubation Center brings to the world the indigenous frugality of the mountain world and vice versa.

HST Grand Challenge (HGC) is an effort of Catalyst to identify and support innovative technology based solutions in three different broad categories. In addition to the prize money to top startups, Catalyst will pick a handful of most feasible ideas and enable willing innovators/entrepreneurs in prototyping, testing and implementing to create an impact in the ecosystem.

• Theme 1: The New Age Alliance - Human Computer Interaction
• Theme 2: The Foothill Innovators Challenge - Build for Himalayas
• Theme 3: The Habitable World Challenge - Environment and Sustainability

• Aspiring entrepreneurs, college students, young professionals at ideation and prototype stage
• Registered startups as well as unregistered teams/individuals
• Startups in early stages of building their venture (pre-seed stage)
• Innovators/researchers having a validated technology and willing to convert it into a startup
• Startups from anywhere in India

• Each thematic area will have a prize money to be distributed between the top startups in the given theme
• Top startups will be provided incubation support and access to funding schemes at Catalyst

• Email: iitmandicatalyst@gmail.com
• Phone: 01905-267926, 267950

Competent jury panels in each of the thematic areas will evaluate the applications in a multi-stage screen and selection process. The jury will include representatives of sponsoring agencies, incubation center, thematic expert, and technology experts.

• Alignment will the advertised thematic areas
• Alignment with the technological areas as applicable
• Nature and extent of innovation and use of technology
• Intention to build and implement the solutions
• Marketability of solutions: stage of venture/idea, technical feasibility, market demand, idea or product validation, team
• Incubation fit with IIT Mandi Catalyst
• Alignment with IIT Mandi Catalyst’s overall vision and intent