In a push to mentor sustainability-focused startups, the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) at the Indian School of Business (ISB) has partnered with HDFC Bank’s CSR wing, Parivartan.
The initiative, ArthX, aims to catalyze the growth of revenue-stage startups in Punjab that are tackling urgent environmental and climate challenges.
Empowering Punjab’s green economy:
Punjab has rapidly transitioned into a hub for climate resilience innovation. However, many local startups struggle to bridge the gap between early traction and large-scale commercialization.
The ArthX program is designed to provide the missing middle support through a total grant corpus of ₹1 crore.
The program focuses on critical sub-themes, including
- Climate action & circularity
- Renewable energy & efficiency
- Sustainable agriculture & green manufacturing
Funding and mentorship:
Under the partnership, selected startups will be eligible for individual grants of up to ₹10 Lakhs. Beyond capital, the cohort will gain access to ISB’s extensive mentor network and HDFC Bank’s strategic corporate connections to refine their business execution and market access.
“ArthX is designed to bridge a critical gap in the startup journey, where promising sustainability ventures require structured support to scale,” said Naman Singhal, CEO, AIC ISB. “By combining grant funding with strategic ecosystem enablement, we aim to help Punjab-based founders translate early traction into long-term, scalable impact.”
Government and corporate synergy:
The initiative is bolstered by the Government of Punjab via Startup Punjab, ensuring that the private sector’s capital aligns with the state’s economic transformation goals. This collaboration forms part of HDFC Bank’s wider commitment to disburse ₹20 crore in social impact grants across India for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
