Mumbai, July 23, 2026 (BFN Bureau): Groww Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Groww, today announced the first cohort of the INV.ENT program, which will back 19 ideas proposed by 35 young innovators at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay). The selected ideas were chosen from nearly 400 submissions and include a marketplace for ceramics from Dharavi’s potters, a wearable sleeve for physiotherapy patients, a platform converting CO2 into edible protein, and an AI system for guarding critical infrastructure against rogue drones.
The first cohort includes two tracks: three student teams have been named Grand Challenge Fellows, eligible for milestone-based annual support of up to Rs 25 lakh each, while 16 teams will receive a catalytic grant of Rs 30,000 each under the POC Support Track.
Program Details
In addition to the financial support, the cohort will benefit from mentoring and access to the Groww Innovation Space, a dedicated 15,000 sqft area at IIT Bombay’s Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship (DSSE). This space is designed for building and testing prototypes, allowing a continuous influx of new ideas from students without a submission deadline.
The ideas span various sectors, including agri-tech, robotics, climate-tech, assistive-tech, retail, design, edtech, gaming, and defence, with many leveraging AI and ML technologies. The full portfolio of selected ideas can be found at growwfoundationiitb.org/portfolio.
Kalpana Swaminathan, Head of Groww Foundation, stated, “At Groww Foundation, our mission since day zero has been to empower India’s youth with opportunities to learn, build and innovate. INV.ENT is a program born out of that belief. We see this as a launchpad, the place where young innovators get the mentorship, financial support and trust to take their first real shot, long before the world is watching.”
Key Takeaways
- Groww Foundation announced the first cohort of the INV.ENT program.
- 19 ideas from 35 young innovators at IIT Bombay will receive support.
- Three teams are Grand Challenge Fellows with support up to Rs 25 lakh each.
- 16 teams will receive a catalytic grant of Rs 30,000 each.
