No, there is no financial cost for the chosen startups. NIEM awards a fully sponsored annual scholarship covering all services worth ₹1,20,000 in credits. However, active participation and discipline are mandatory. Mentorship may be withdrawn if a mentee fails to engage meaningfully or violates the program’s values.

The scholarship is valid for 12 months, during which startups can redeem services at their pace. However, monthly check-ins are mandatory. Mentees are expected to:

1) Engage consistently and communicate openly

2) Be disciplined and open to suggestions and feedback

3) Maintain professional, ethical conduct aligned with NIEM’s values

4)Submit a monthly progress report.

5) High confidentiality is maintained by NIEM w.r.t. sensitive and personal information shared by mentees that needs to be kept confidential.

NIEM reserves the right to terminate the mentorship if these expectations are not met. Even Mentees are free to end their program as and when they feel like, without any obligation.

Note: There has to be an agreement with each mentee where we have full right to use audio, video & written content of mentorship for promotional and educational purposes while safeguarding reasonable confidentiality rights regarding sensitive information about the Startups business secrets.

Selected startups are awarded a mentorship scholarship worth ₹1,20,000, provided as credit points (1 credit = ₹1), redeemable over 12 months. These credits can be used for:

1) Pitch deck review & feedback

2) One-on-one mentorship with seasoned founders and investors

3) Team-building and hiring guidance

4) Bi-Monthly strategic check-ins

5) Investment and business development guidance.

6) Beyond credits, mentees gain exclusive access to NIEM’s investor network, events, and potential investors & customers.

NIEM selects founders based on:

1) Stage of the startup MVP-ready, (preferably with early revenue)

2) Clarity of vision, intent and discipline of the founders.

3) Coachability and commitment to learning

4) Execution capability and potential for scale

5) Potential for Social impact by the Startup.

6) Uniqueness of the business idea and business plan.