Making Ideas Happen
Making Ideas Happen
Startups incubated
in valuation created
Patents filed
Hours of mentorship delivered
Mentors engaged
Grants and fellowships supported
Startups raised follow-on funding
Program to Accelerate Creation of Entrepreneurs
A 16-week, hands-on program by DERBI Foundation that helps early-stage
founders validate ideas, build prototypes, and become investor-ready.
Built by founders, for founders: PACE combines structure, mentorship,
and access to DERBI s powerful innovation ecosystem so you can go
from concept to confidence.
The Program Helps You
- Validate your problem and market fit
- Build your first proof of concept
- Craft your final pitch and present on Pitch Day
- Access labs, mentors, and grants within the DERBI ecosystem
- Connect with founders, experts, and investors who’ve built and scaled before you
Start Building Your Investor-ready
Startup with Our 16-Week Program.
Designed for Founders Who Build, Not Just Dream
The PACE Edge
Corporate validation from industry
experts and jurors
Grant and funding linkages
post-validation
Access to labs, testing facilities, and specialised infrastructure
Real-world data partnerships for
pilots and PoC refinement
PACE doesn’t end with ideas; it ends with outcomes
A validated problem-solution fit
backed by real customer insights
A functioning Proof of Concept (PoC) with
expert feedback
A compelling investor pitch deck
and business model
Direct entry to DERBI’s GALLOP
incubation program
Lifelong access to mentors, labs,
and the DERBI Founder Tribe
Founders’ Voices
DERBI Foundation has been pivotal in shaping our journey. Their hands-on
mentorship, strategic insights, and technical expertise helped us refine our
solution, streamline prototype development, and prepare for real-world
deployment. The structured ecosystem, access to mentors and domain
experts, and consistent support accelerated our progress from concept to a
market-ready innovation.
Girish J
CEO & Founder, Zefender
Sectors
MedTech/
HealthTech
Wellness/
Sports Tech
Sustainability/
GreenTech
Space Tech
Eligibility
Early-stage startups or individual founders with a clear problem statement
At least one founder available full-time during the 16-week program
Open across India (hybrid participation from Bengaluru encouraged)
Get the Structure, Mentorship, and
Access Every Early Founder Needs.
Grow Beyond PACE
 PACE is the beginning of your DERBI founder journey.
Associated Funding Schemes
Program Partners
Ready to Validate, Build, and Pitch?
Join PACE Now.