Building the Future of Rural India
Where rural innovation meets world-class incubation.
Powered by XLRI Jamshedpur. Supported by NABARD.
Building
Rural Futures
Together
Rural entrepreneurs don’t fail because they lack ideas. They fail because they lack access.
XCITE is the Rural Business Incubation Centre at XLRI Jamshedpur, built to close the gaps that keep rural India’s boldest ideas from becoming enduring enterprises.
- Structured pre-incubation to acceleration pathways
- Mentor clinics with operators and investors
- Grant and seed funding access
- Market linkages across Eastern India
Our Mission
To incubate and accelerate 1,000+ ventures from underserved regions over the next decade, creating sustainable livelihoods and inclusive economic growth.
Our Vision
To make entrepreneurship an accessible, viable career path for every innovator, regardless of geography.
Focus Sectors
Building innovation pipelines across India's most impactful sectors.
Agri & Allied
Organic foods | Seed development & hybrid seeds | Plant protection | Precision & vertical farming | Animal husbandry & dairy Fisheries | Agri biotechnology | Farm mechanization | Mushroom cultivation
Rural Value Chain
Rural Value chain initiatives bridging rural and urban India Agri supply chain | Food processing & beverages | Value chain, logistics & marketing | Rural tourism
Sustainability & Tech
Rural health & education | Financial inclusion | Waste management & pollution | Clean energy | ICT (AI / IoT / Blockchain) | Innovation in farm & off-farm
Handicrafts and GI-based products
Natural resource management | Handloom & handicrafts | Rural tourism
NTFPs & Natural Resource Management
Non Timber Forest Produce | Natural Resource Management
Focus Geography
Driving grassroots entrepreneurial growth across Eastern & North-Eastern India.
State
The XCITE Journey
From a vision at XLRI to a nationwide movement for grassroots innovation.
The Idea Takes Root
XCITE was conceptualized at XLRI Jamshedpur with a vision to bridge the urban-rural innovation divide.
MoU Signed between XLRI and NABARD to form XCITE
MoU signed between XLRI and NABARD to form XCITE - XLRI Council for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship
Centre Inaugurated
On 28-Mar 2026, XCITE Centre was inaugurated by NABARD Chairman Shaji K.V. in presence of XLRI Board of Governors
Applications Invited for Cohort 1
Applications for Cohort 1 was invited starting 20-June 2026 and was open till 25-July-2026
Cohort 1 Announced
After 10 weeks of screening and evaluations, 51 startups were invited to be part of inaugural cohort of XCITE
XCITE GENESIS, COHORT-1 BOOTCAMP
XCITE Genesis Cohort 1 brought together 51 rural enterprises for an immersive bootcamp focused on strengthening entrepreneurial capabilities and preparing ventures for growth. The bootcamp covered entrepreneurial mindset, financial discipline, digital marketing, compliance, incubation readiness, government schemes, funding pathways, and growth roadmaps. 32 enterprises progressed towards incubation and continued support through the XCITE ecosystem.
2-Tier Funding Support
Structured financial support at every stage of your startup journey.
Bootstrap Support Grant
Early-stage bootstrap support grant for founders validating their ideas and building prototypes.
- Seed grants up to ₹5 lakh
- Prototype development funding
- Market validation support
- Mentor-matched guidance
- Zero equity dilution at pre-seed
Growth & Scale Capital
Follow-on funding upto 10L by NABARD for equipment and business capital | Access to impact investment community of Acumen, Aavishkaar and others similar investors for ventures ready to scale operations and enter new markets.
- Growth capital facilitation up to ₹1 Cr
- Investor pitch preparation
- Due diligence support
- Revenue-based financing linkages
- Strategic partnership introductions
Our Ecosystem Partners
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers organized by category, or use our chat assistant.
XCITE is an accelerator and incubation center supporting rural entrepreneurs and grassroots innovators from idea to scale.
We are headquartered at the XLRI Campus in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, with a nationwide network.
Visit our Programs page and choose a program, then click Apply. You can also create a founder account to track your application.
Most XCITE programs are equity-light or grant-supported. Specific terms vary by program — see each program page.
Experienced founders, investors, and domain experts can join as mentors. Reach out via the Connect section.
Head to the Partners page and submit the partnership form. Our team will get back within 3-5 business days.