FinBlue PitchFest 2025

FinBlue PitchFest 2025

  • Start Date 24-07-2025
  • End Date 27-08-2025
  • Type Pitchfest
  • Display Flagship Events
  • Venue Chennai

Are you building the next big thing in FinTech? This is your moment to scale up with India's premier FinTech startup accelerator — FinBlue.

FinBlue is a national initiative by STPI, developed in partnership with MeitY-Government of India, ELCOT- Government of Tamil Nadu, Academic institutions like IIT Madras and Private Industry collaborations like Intellect Design Arena Ltd., BNY Mellon, TransUnion CIBIL, etc, providing a full-spectrum support system for FinTech startups through infrastructure, funding access, mentorship and technology enablement.

The Finblue program has been designed to foster innovation, improve financial access and enable the development of impactful FinTech solutions that align with India’s Digital India and Financial Inclusion missions solving real-world problems.

Who Can Apply

Eligibility Criteria

1. ​The start-up must be incorporated as a Private Limited Company (as defined in the Companies Act, 2013).

2. The date of registration/incorporation must not be beyond 10 years and fit the legal definition of an Indian startup with 51% ownership by Indian Citizen.

3. Individual Academicians, Researchers, Educators, Entrepreneurs, partnership firms, LLPs may also participate, however, if they are selected then they will have to register as private limited company in a stipulated time (preferably within 3 months) DPITT Registration

4. Start-up should have an annual turnover not exceeding Rs. 100 crore for any of the financial years since its incorporation.

5. Entity should not have been formed by splitting up or reconstructing an already existing business or subsidiary of foreign entity

6. Entity working towards innovation, development or improvement of products, processes or services or if it is a scalable business model with high potential of employment generation or wealth creation

Focus Areas

💡 We’re inviting FinTech startups (Early to Growth Stage ) working on:

  • Digital Lending Payments

  • RegTech, InsurTech, WealthTech

  • Embedded Finance, AI/ML for BFSI

  • Blockchain, Compliance Tech, Open Banking

  • Cross-Border Payments

What’s on Offer

💰 Seed Funding Support upto Rs. 25 lakhs Financial Assistance Grant upto Rs.2.5 lakhs.
🔐 Access to Secure Sandbox Environment
💺 Plug Play Infrastructure with co-working seats
🤝 Direct Connects with VCs, Angels BFSI Leaders
🧠 Mentorship from Domain Experts Policy Advisors
📈 Pitch Opportunities and GTM Strategy Support
🏛️ Ecosystem Backing from STPI, MeitY Tamil Nadu Govt

📩 For queries: finblue@stpi.in

Join 60+ FinTech startups already supported by FinBlue with over ₹2500 Cr in combined valuation.
Let’s shape the future of financial innovation, together.

Evaluation & Shortlisting

Evaluation (Initial Shortlisting) by Selection/Evaluation Committee (Expert Panel)

Pitching before an Expert Panel

  • 8–10 min pitch + Q A per startup

  • Evaluation in real time

  • Criteria/Metrics

    1. Product/R D Innovation

    2. Years since establishment

    3. Team size/strength

    4. PoC/IPR readiness

    5. Founding team quality

    6. Problem-solution fit

    7. Execution capability, GTM, Traction, Revenue

Closure & Final Selection Timelines

Closure Pre-Finalization (End August)

  • Internal checks document compliance

  • Final shortlist for Pitching before Advisory Board

Advisory Board - PMG Pitching Day

PMG Meeting Schedule (tentative - before 10th Sept 2025)

  • Final Pitch to FinBlue Advisory Board / PMG

  • 8–10 min pitch + Q A per startup

  • Evaluation in real time

Apply Now 

 

7th Cohort of IMAGE CoE - Hyderabad

7th Cohort of IMAGE CoE - Hyderabad

  • Date 10-07-2025
  • Category IMAGE CoE

Contest Description
“IMAGE CoE ” - a Centre of Entrepreneurship for Gaming, Animation, VFX, Computer Vision, and AI Start-Ups, is a flagship initiative by STPI – Hyderabad, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, and Government of Telangana, in Collaboration with TVAGA (Telangana VFX, Animation and Gaming Association), HYSEA, IIIT Hyderabad, TIE Hyderabad, Hyderabad Angels, SucSEED Indovation Fund, Ventana Ventures, Ontropi, and TASK.

IMAGE CoE offers a 6-month cohort-based accelerator program specifically designed to support startups in driving innovation across Gaming, VFX, Animation, Computer Vision, and AI.

IMAGE CoE invites applications for its 7th Cohort.

Who Can Apply?
IMAGE CoE invites the applications from Indian Start-ups who are working in Gaming, Animation, VFX and Computer Vision AI.

Eligibility Criteria

1. ​The start-up must be incorporated as a Private Limited Company (as defined in the Companies Act, 2013).

2. The date of registration/incorporation must not be beyond 10 years.

3. Individual Academicians, Researchers, Educators, Entrepreneurs, partnership firms, LLPs may also participate, however, if they are selected then they will have to register as private limited company in a stipulated time (preferably within 3 months).

4. Start-up should have an annual turnover not exceeding Rs. 100 crore for any of the financial years since its incorporation.

5. Entity should not have been formed by splitting up or reconstructing an already existing business.

6. Entity working towards innovation, development or improvement of products, processes or services or if it is a scalable business model with high potential of employment generation or wealth creation.

Focus Areas
The Start-ups are expected to be in the following domains

  • Gaming
  • Animation
  • VFX
  • Computer Vision and AI

Selection Process
Selection Process would be organized in three (3) phases.
Phase-1:Applications from start-ups are invited through an online contest portal
Phase-2: Shortlisting/ Screening of Ideas, POCs and solution having strong potential through initial scrutiny.
Phase-3: Selection of start-ups for this program through an one on one pitch-in session.

Offerings

  • 5 lakhs Seed Fund
  • Plug and Play Infrastructure with access to conference rooms and a fully equipped Preview Theatre
  • Connections with major VCs and Angel funds
  • Demo Day to showcase your products/services to investors
  • Access to Mocap Studio (upcoming)
  • Mentorship from Industry Experts
  • Market Access through ecosystem enablers - HYSEA, TVAGA, Telangana Government, STPI,
  • IIIT-H, Hyderabad Angels, SucSEED indovation fund, Ventana Ventures and many others
  • Legal, IPR Statutory Support.
  • Azure and AWS Eco System Credits
  • License credits by Mathworks

A new era for Bihar's tech innovation begins with inauguration of STPI's Incubation Facility in Patna

A new era for Bihar's tech innovation begins with inauguration of STPI's Incubation Facility in Patna

  • 18-07-2025

A new era for Bihar's tech innovation begins with inauguration of STPI's Incubation Facility in Patna

Honourable Prime Minister of India, inaugurated a new, state-of-the-art incubation facility of STPI in Patna, Bihar today.

Spanning across ~1 lakh sq. ft. built-up space, the advanced facility is equipped with G+6 floors, a network operation centre (NOC), co-location/mini data centre, plug & play workspace, raw workspace for the CoE, among other facilities.

With these offerings, the incubation facility in Patna is set to catalyse employment, entrepreneurship and IT exports in the region while nurturing the startup and tech ecosystem.

Know more

68th STPI Centre Inaugurated in Darbhanga, Bihar

68th STPI Centre Inaugurated in Darbhanga, Bihar

  • 18-07-2025

68th STPI Centre Inaugurated in Darbhanga, Bihar

Honourable Prime Minister of India, inaugurated the 68th STPI Centre in Darbhanga today from Motihari, Bihar!

The STPI Darbhanga Centre is set to catalyse employment, entrepreneurship and IT exports in the region while supporting startups, IT/ITES companies and skill development through IT grade incubation infrastructure of approx. 16,171 sq. ft., G+1 floor configuration, plug & play workspace, semi furnished/raw workspace, conference room, meeting rooms and a network operation centre, among other facilities.