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Community Innovator Fellowship
Our primary initiative supports grassroots innovators who lack access to workspace, mentoring, or fabrication tools, with no formal qualifications required.
1 Year
Fellowship
₹2 Lakh
Grant Support
18–35
Age Group
5
Phases
About the Fellowship
A one-year structured programme designed for grassroots innovators across coastal Karnataka, such as farmers, fisherfolk, artisans, students, and first-time builders. It provides workspace, expert mentoring, and fabrication tools to individuals who are working on real-world problems but lack traditional institutional support.
This initiative is brought by the Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog) in partnership with UNDP India, and is hosted locally at ACIC Sahyadri.
Fellowship Features
A holistic support system designed to help fellows learn, build, validate, and grow their ideas.
Mentorship
Mentorship to build business acumen and sector expertise.
Community Immersion
Local Mitra for on-ground, community outreach support and solution validation.
Infrastructure
Access to all infrastructure of the host ACIC.
Funding
Milestone based funding (upto Rs. 2 lakh per fellow) and pitching opportunities.
Inclusion
Sensitization workshops for encouraging equitable access to innovation ecosystem.
Eligibility
Open to aspiring community innovators between the ages of 18 and 35, regardless of socio-economic background. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree, diploma, or qualification in any discipline from a recognized university.
Age between 18 and 35
Bachelor's degree, diploma, or qualification
Any discipline
30 km radius preferred
Intermediate English expected
No registered company required
Selection process
1
Application & Screening
Submit a brief written or spoken description of your problem and idea in English or Kannada.
2
Shortlist
Qualified candidates are invited to the next stage.
3
Presentation & Interview
Shortlisted applicants present their concepts to the selection committee.
4
Final Selection
The committee reviews presentations and finalizes the cohort.
5
Results & Onboarding
Selected fellows complete onboarding before the one-year fellowship begins.
Journey of a Fellow
The year-long journey of a fellow has been structured into 5 phases, each with different objectives and outcomes. The fellows will be constantly supported by the ACIC team.
Phase 0: Month 1–2
Launch and Call for Applications
Phase 1: Month 3
Orientation
Phase 2: Month 4
Exploration
Phase 3: Month 5–7
Enhancement
Phase 4: Month 8–11
Springboard
Phase 5: Month 12–14
Showcase
Current cohort
Applications open soon
The next intake date will be announced shortly. Register your interest and we'll notify you when applications open.
Need to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions
01Do I need a degree or registered business to apply?
The Fellowship requires a bachelor's degree, diploma, or qualification in any discipline from a recognized university. A registered company or prior funding is not required.
02Can I apply in Kannada?
Yes. Applications are accepted in English or Kannada.
03Is there a fee to apply?
No. There is no cost to apply for the Fellowship.
04What is the fellowship duration?
The Fellowship runs for one year and is structured into five phases.
05How much funding does a Fellow receive?
Each Fellow receives a total grant of up to ₹2,00,000 as per the programme's assessment process.
06Can I apply if I live outside the 30 km radius?
Yes. Applicants from outside the preferred region may be considered with designated community and ACIC hours.