Climate Tech Launchpad Program
A Sustainability Garage initiative by Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, in partnership with T-Hub
Up to 50K grant per team | Mentorship from MBRDI Team and Industry Experts | Prototyping Workshop and Market Lab Access
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6 Colleges
Engaged via Bootcamps (ideation, solution)
560+
Students Reached
11 Teams
Teams Incubated
Up-To 30K
Prototype Grant
15+
Sector experts
MBRDI Mentorship
Technical sector expertise
What is this studio?
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Flashpoint is T-Hub's venture studio initiative. Unlike an accelerator or incubator, a venture studio starts from validated industry problems and builds companies around them. This space-tech edition, anchored by Dhruva Space, is built around the problem statements that matter most to India's private space industry.
Who's behind it?
Dhruva Space, the anchor partner, brings the problem statements, aerospace infrastructure, engineering mentorship, and pilot pathways. T-Hub, the builder and startups partner behind the world's largest home for startups, runs venture building, mentorship, and investor access.
Who can apply?
Founders and founding teams with an idea, and early-stage startups at TRL 3 or below, proposing solutions to the released problem statements. MSMEs and established companies are not eligible.
Do I need space experience?
No. But your venture must have at least one application in space — multi-use technologies that also serve other industries are welcome.
What problem statements will be available?
Dhruva Space releases a set of problem statements each cohort — critical, unsolved challenges drawn from real industry needs across the space stack.
Can I bring my own idea?
Ideas outside the problem statements are considered only as rare exceptions — true moonshots, or exceptional teams.
What support do I get?
Aerospace-grade infrastructure from day 0, hands-on venture building with T-Hub, engineering and domain mentorship from both partners, pilot pathways with Dhruva Space, company formation support, and your first raise supported through a 200+ investor network.
Will I receive funding?
Funding is not guaranteed as part of participation. Eligible ventures may be connected to grants, government schemes, investors, and VC funds through both partners' networks.
Do you take equity?
Not for participation — founders keep their cap table. If T-Hub or Dhruva Space invests money in your company, that investment takes equity on mutually agreed terms, like any investor, under a separate agreement.
Will Dhruva Space invest in my company?
Possibly — on terms mutually agreed with the startup, independent of T-Hub. Any such investment takes equity like any other. Never a condition or entitlement of participation.
Who owns the IP?
Your startup. Terms are agreed before development begins.
Am I locked to Dhruva Space?
No. Ventures remain free to scale beyond the Dhruva Space ecosystem.
Will Dhruva Space become my customer?
Where it fits, validated ventures may pilot or commercialise with Dhruva Space — subject to successful validation and separate commercial agreements. Procurement is never guaranteed.
Who pays for product development?
The studio provides access to both partners' existing resources and ecosystems. Costs beyond that are borne by the venture.
How large is the cohort?
5 teams to start, up to 10 max.
How long is the program?
Discover & validate (12–18 weeks, to TRL 3), then Build & pilot (18–50 weeks, TRL 3–6), then Scale. Timelines vary with the technology.
Is there an application fee?
No
How are participants selected?
Alignment with the problem statements, problem-solution fit, technical feasibility, team capability, market opportunity, and at least one application in space.
What happens after the studio?
You keep building independently — with continued support for pilots, fundraising, and ecosystem connections where it helps.
If you have any questions, fill the form and we will get back to you
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