Participants will start with a three-day bootcamp at the IIM Ahmedabad campus, featuring workshops and sessions on scaling businesses, led by IIMA faculty.
IIMA Ventures, the startup incubator of IIM Ahmedabad, has launched Growth Accelerator 2.0, designed to support 15 SMEs, family businesses, and growth-stage startups in driving strategic growth and innovation. The program will offer knowledge sessions, masterclasses, workshops, founder talks, diagnostic panels, and mentoring clinics to help participants seize growth opportunities.
Founded in 2002, IIMA Ventures focuses on studying, educating, incubating, accelerating, and investing in early-stage startups, aspiring entrepreneurs, and investors. Partner-Incubation, Chintan Bakshi, explained that the accelerator addresses significant gaps in the Indian SME ecosystem. “SMEs, despite being crucial to the economy, often struggle to leverage innovation for rapid growth. Tools like emerging technologies, business optimization, and lean startup frameworks can unlock growth potential for them,” he said.
For established businesses, rapid growth often demands not only resources but also the ability to execute strategies effectively. Growth Accelerator 2.0 provides a structured environment for leaders to experiment with and implement new strategies, whether through streamlining operations, adopting scalable technologies, or building competitive advantages.
Participants will begin their journey with a three-day intensive bootcamp at the IIM Ahmedabad campus, where faculty-led workshops will focus on scaling businesses. Successful entrepreneurs will also share real-world insights on business growth. Over the following two months, participants will receive personalized mentorship from domain experts to help them overcome their specific challenges.
Regarding selection, Bakshi added that the process is ongoing. The selection focuses on businesses that have validated their models, achieved steady sales, and whose leaders are committed to experimenting with change. “We assess entrepreneurs willing to work with us to accurately identify and invest in growth areas,” he said.
The Growth Accelerator is open to leaders across all sectors, including second and third-generation entrepreneurs aiming to scale operations. The program kicks off in mid-October and runs annually.
The first batch of the accelerator supported 10 businesses from various sectors, including engineering, auto parts, FMCG, furniture manufacturing, agricultural equipment, and skills training. Participants came from cities like Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Indore, and Jamshedpur, with many from smaller, non-metro areas. In 2023, they developed growth strategies aimed at scaling their businesses by 5 to 10 times.