The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), an autonomous telecom R&D organization under the Department of Telecommunications, successfully organized the Demo Day for Cohort-II of the ‘Samarth’ Incubation Program on March 12, 2026, at the NBCC Convention Hall.
The event showcased innovative solutions developed by startups working in advanced technology areas such as telecommunications, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, 5G/6G, Internet of Things (IoT), and quantum technologies.
Samarth Program to Support 36 Telecom and ICT Startups
Launched in March 2025, the ‘Samarth’ Incubation Program is a cutting-edge initiative designed to support startups in the telecom and ICT sectors.
The program has been structured into two cohorts of six months each, with 18 startups in every cohort, aiming to support a total of 36 startups under the initiative.
For effective implementation, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and TiE have partnered with C-DOT to provide mentoring and ecosystem support.
Comprehensive Support for Selected Startups
Under the program, selected startups received financial and technical assistance to accelerate innovation and product development. Each startup was provided with:
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₹5 lakh financial grant
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Fully equipped office workspace
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Access to advanced labs at C-DOT campuses in Delhi and Bengaluru
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Mentorship from C-DOT scientists and industry experts
Special sessions were also organized on critical topics such as product development, Minimum Viable Product (MVP) creation, financial management, go-to-market strategies, legal and intellectual property aspects, and fundraising.
Achievements of Cohort-I
During the Cohort-I Demo Day held in September 2025, 18 startups presented their innovations. Based on their performance, five startups were selected for the Stage-II grant, including:
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Turtleneck Systems and Solutions
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Purvanchal Engineering Systems
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Vital Carbon
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Agriverse Innovations
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Jumps Automation
Cohort-II Focus Areas and Selection Process
The Cohort-II program, which began in July 2025, focused on five major problem statements related to AI, Li-Fi, security technologies, and drone innovations.
Applications from numerous startups were reviewed by an expert selection committee comprising members from academia, industry, C-DOT, and STPI.
The selected 18 startups were awarded the Stage-I grant on October 8, 2025, during the ASPIRE Startup event at India Mobile Congress 2025.
Top 5 Startups Selected in Cohort-II
During the Demo Day, all participating startups showcased their technological solutions and product capabilities. Based on product innovation and implementation potential, the following five startups were selected for the Stage-II grant:
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Hubits Tech Private Limited
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Khageshwar Aviation Technology Private Limited
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Xpectro Solutions (OPC) Private Limited
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Zepto Logic Technologies Private Limited
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Vocbot.ai Technology Private Limited
These startups received the second installment of the grant during the program and may also get opportunities for collaboration and additional financial support through the C-DOT Collaborative Research Program.
Driving Innovation for India’s Digital Transformation
Speaking at the event, C-DOT CEO Rajkumar Upadhyay praised the participating startups and emphasized that their innovation and entrepreneurial energy are key drivers of India’s digital transformation.
He said initiatives like the Samarth Incubation Program will play a crucial role in advancing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat by fostering a strong telecom technology ecosystem in the country.
