C3iHub, IIT Kanpur launches Startup Cohorts to Drive Cybersecurity Innovation

C3iHub, IIT Kanpur launched the Cohort of 19 startups under Startup Incubation Program

C3iHub, a National Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) for Advanced Cybersecurity at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has launched startup cohorts III, IV, and V. Funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the NM-ICPS Mission, C3iHub presented 19 startups in the Startup Incubation Program, specializing in specific cybersecurity areas including Application Security, Integrated SOC Solution, Cyber Forensics, Blockchain Technology, UAV Security, IoT Security, and Cyber Insurance.

Under the flagship program of the Startup Incubation Program, C3iHub has provided support to fifty startups across five cohorts which are actively engaged in critical cybersecurity domains such as cyber forensics, application security, blockchain technology, deception technology, threat intelligence, and cyber insurance. Many of these startups have successfully launched and commercialized products, while several others are currently in the process of scaling up their operations.

C3iHub provides a seed grant of Rs 10 lakhs to incubated startups and offers a monthly salary of Rs 50,000 for one founder over two years, resulting in an initial investment of Rs 22 lakhs. The organization aims for at least a 20% success rate among startups after the two-year incubation period. As these startups mature, C3iHub facilitates connections with investors and corporations to aid them in raising capital, fostering the development of a resilient digital infrastructure for India.

Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Project Director C3iHub, while welcoming the august gathering said, “Today marks a significant milestone for C3iHub. With the launch of these start-ups, we have crossed fifty startups in cybersecurity incubated at C3iHub. It signifies the vibrant potential of our ecosystem to innovate and lead in the face of global cybersecurity.”

Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST said, “Among the 25 TIH’s in the country, I am delighted that the C3iHub has done exceptionally well. The hub, apart from developing an ecosystem for deep tech, is also working to build capacity in technically skilled manpower to meet not just present but also future needs in the area of cybersecurity. Going further, I urge C3iHub to take core tech further, bring together quantum tech and cybersecurity to prepare for the emergence of technologies such as AI. DST will also be happy to support IIT Kanpur in creating a Tech Park which will bring together start-ups in cybersecurity and sector champions to create a synergy between developers and end-users, and take it to a global scale.”