HIVE Program

Campus-Based Incubation Program

Building Sustainable Startup Ecosystems in Colleges

Program Overview

Introduction

HIVE is Manartha Varsity's comprehensive incubation program designed to help colleges and universities establish vibrant startup ecosystems on campus. It provides the framework, resources, and expertise needed to transform academic institutions into launchpads for student-led ventures.

By partnering with HIVE, educational institutions can set up professional incubation centers that nurture student startups from ideation to market entry, creating a sustainable pipeline of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Vision and Purpose

Vision:

To build India's most dynamic campus-based startup ecosystems by empowering institutions to become launchpads for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Purpose:

  • To help colleges and universities establish professionally run incubation centers aligned with NEP and state innovation policies.
  • To create a pipeline of investment-ready startups emerging from student founders.
  • To bridge the gap between student ideas and real-world impact through structured incubation, expert mentoring, and venture support.
  • To integrate incubation activities with EDGE and FILE programs for end-to-end founder support.

Who is the HIVE Program For?

  • Colleges and universities seeking to establish or upgrade their incubation centers.
  • Institutions aiming to integrate entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture creation into their academic fabric.
  • Startup cells, EDCs, and faculty champions looking to run sustainable incubation programs.
  • Early-stage student startups in need of structured incubation, mentoring, compliance support, and investor readiness.

Program Highlights

  • End-to-end support in incubation center setup, SOPs, team training, and ecosystem partnerships.
  • Access to startup mentors, domain experts, and funding facilitators.
  • Structured incubation journey: from application to demo day to post-incubation transition.
  • Integration with EDGE (for student founder pipeline) and Manartha Solutions (for venture strategy and funding).
  • Support with grants, investor decks, financial modelling, and legal documentation.
  • Dedicated reporting formats aligned with NAAC/NBA/NIRF innovation frameworks.

Program Structure

HIVE is structured into 3 verticals, each focused on a different stakeholder of the incubation ecosystem:

1. Institutional Enablement

  • Incubation Center Setup & Strategic Planning
  • Operational SOPs, policies, and incubation handbooks
  • Capacity building for faculty, mentors, and incubation staff
  • Innovation policy alignment with NEP, state, and national frameworks

2. Startup Enablement

  • Startup selection, onboarding, and diagnostic assessment
  • Structured 3–6 month incubation journeys
  • Business modeling, validation, investor readiness, legal & compliance
  • Demo Days, VC introductions, and post-incubation support

3. Ecosystem Engagement

  • Building institutional networks with industry, VCs, and government
  • Organizing pitch events, hackathons, and innovation festivals
  • Collaborating with Manartha Varsity's EDGE and FILE talent pipelines
  • Showcasing incubation success via PR, reports, and investor roundtables

Learning & Operating Approach

  • Process-Driven Incubation: Every startup follows a documented, milestone-based journey.
  • Mentor-Led Development: Regular mentor check-ins, founder advisory sessions, and pitch reviews.
  • Founders First: Incubation tailored to student needs — balancing academic and startup goals.
  • Integrated Platforms: Startups onboarded to Number Leader for business planning, projections, and visibility.
  • Compliance Ready: Assistance with DPIIT registration, startup policies, and funding schemes.

Outcomes and Deliverables

By implementing HIVE, institutions and student startups can expect:

  • A fully operational and process-driven Incubation Center
  • Documented SOPs, policies, and reporting structures
  • A pipeline of validated, investment-ready student ventures
  • Faculty and staff trained in incubation and startup mentoring
  • Access to expert resources from Manartha Varsity & Manartha Solutions
  • Institutional improvement across NAAC/NBA/NIRF innovation metrics
  • Enhanced brand positioning as an innovation-focused institution

Integration with College/University Curriculum

  • HIVE aligns with NEP 2020's focus on entrepreneurship, skill-building, and experiential learning
  • Can be integrated with EDGE (for student business building) and FILE (for finance upskilling)
  • Reporting templates and outcomes aligned with AICTE, UGC, NAAC, and NIRF standards

Additional HIVE Benefits

  • Access to EDGE talent pool of early-stage founders
  • Startup support via Manartha Solutions for financial modeling, valuations, and investor documentation
  • Onboarding to Number Leader for investor readiness and visibility
  • Assistance in grant applications, pitch deck reviews, and external due diligence

Contact Us

For institutional partnerships, incubation support, or startup mentoring: