IIMK LIVE, the business incubator of the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode), has partnered with Walmart Global Tech to launch DEEP LEAP, a DeepTech incubation programme aimed at supporting high-potential technology startups across India.
The partnership marks Walmart Global Tech’s first institutional collaboration focused on DeepTech startups in India. It brings together IIMK LIVE’s incubation and entrepreneurship expertise with Walmart Global Tech’s technology capabilities, industry experience and global scale.
DEEP LEAP will engage with 1,500 startups from across India, from which 50 startups will be selected for a 12-month incubation and acceleration cohort. The programme is aimed at startups that have reached the Prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage.
The programme will focus on emerging and frontier technology areas including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Quantum Computing, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, SpaceTech, Aerospace, Semiconductors and Photonics.
Selected startups will receive structured incubation, expert mentorship, industry connections and support in areas including business strategy, go-to-market planning, product validation and investor readiness. The programme will also provide opportunities for founders to engage with industry leaders and investors.
DEEP LEAP is backed by a proposed outlay of ₹2.89 crore, including ₹1.5 crore earmarked for seed funding support for selected startups. The programme will culminate in a Demo Day, giving participating ventures an opportunity to present their innovations to a curated audience of investors and industry leaders.
Commenting on the launch, Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM Kozhikode and Chairman, IIMK LIVE, said: “DeepTech is not simply about building more sophisticated technology; it is about asking fundamental questions and pursuing solutions that can reshape what is possible. DEEP LEAP brings together the strengths of academia, industry and entrepreneurship to give promising technology ventures the ecosystem they need to move from ideas and prototypes to scalable impact. Our partnership with Walmart Global Tech marks an important step in building a stronger bridge between India’s DeepTech innovators and the global opportunities ahead.”Rahul Ghosh, Group Director, Data Science, Walmart Global Tech, said: “Walmart Global Tech is a people-led, tech-powered organization and we believe in serving communities through the power of technology. Our partnership with IIM Kozhikode LIVE on supporting deep tech startups brings this vision to life. This unique collaboration at the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship is well-positioned to advance cutting-edge technology and make a meaningful, positive difference in the communities we serve. I am excited about the potential research and innovation impact that this partnership will create, not just for India but at a global scale.”
The collaboration is aimed at strengthening linkages between DeepTech startups, academia, industry and investors, while supporting technology ventures as they move from prototypes towards scalable businesses. DEEP LEAP is open to eligible DeepTech startups across India working in areas including AI/ML, quantum computing, robotics and autonomous systems, SpaceTech, aerospace, semiconductors and photonics.
