The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has set a new benchmark in fostering innovation, incubating an impressive 104 startups during the 2024–25 financial year, averaging one new venture every three days.
The achievement fulfils the ambitious ‘Startup 100 Mission‘ that Director Professor V. Kamakoti envisioned at the beginning of the year. The startups were nurtured under the collaborative efforts of the IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC) and the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The professor formally declared the feat on World IP Day Celebrations on April 26, 2025. He went ahead to state that the institute recorded 417 patents in the period, an exemplary rate of more than a single patent daily, another milestone mark for the establishment.
IIT Madras : The Startup Factory
More than half of the startups originated from IIT Madras’ own ecosystem, founded by its faculty, staff, students, and alumni. The remainder involved external entrepreneurs, underlining the inclusivity and appeal of the IIT Madras startup ecosystem.
These ventures span a wide range of deep-tech sectors, including aerospace, health tech, quantum technologies, robotics, manufacturing, defence, and automotive materials. Leaders from startups like Inbound Aerospace and Matterize acknowledged the pivotal support provided by IITMIC in translating early ideas into successful businesses.
Reflecting on the achievement, Professor Prabhu Rajagopal, head of the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, said what once seemed a distant goal has been made possible through systematic support for translational research. Dr. Tamaswati Ghosh, CEO of IITMIC, emphasised that the institute’s startup output has surged from an average of 60 startups annually to 104 this year.
Over the past 12 years, IIT Madras has built a formidable deep-tech startup ecosystem, with 457 startups emerging under its wing. Collectively, these ventures are valued at over ₹50,000 crore and have already produced two unicorns.
As IIT Madras continues to strengthen its innovation-driven ecosystem, its latest milestone further cements its position as a leader in fostering entrepreneurial excellence in India.
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