Cohort 1 · 2026 · Applications OpenLIVE · CLOSES JUNE 11, 2026

The accelerator
for AI-first
founders .

Space. Mentoring. Capital. Talent. Everything an early-stage AI founder needs to go from MVP to investor-ready — under one roof in Baner, Pune.

Start Date
June 15, 2026
Duration
10 Weeks
Location
Baner, Pune
Cohort Size
6–10 Startups
The Founder's Challenge

Early-stage AI founders face a perfect storm all at once.

You're shipping product, chasing investors, hiring your first team, and trying to figure out where AI fits — usually with no playbook and no team to lean on. That's why we built AI Lab.

01
No runway for GTM
Building product while finding first customers — with no sales system in place.
02
Funding without proof
Investors want traction. Traction needs resources. Classic chicken-and-egg.
03
Hiring the right team
First hires define your culture and velocity — yet most founders wing it.
04
No roadmap to scale
Vision without a structured, accountable execution plan leads to wasted months.
05
Building in isolation
Without peers, mentors, and operators who've been there, momentum dies.
06
AI execution gap
Building an AI product vs. using AI as a growth lever are very different skills.
Program at a Glance

Everything included in your 10 weeks with GrowQAI.

0
Weeks
Intensive program
0
Growth Pillars
Integrated verticals
1:1
Advisor
Dedicated to your startup
What's included
in every cohort seat
No upsells. No surprise fees buried in the fine print. Every founder gets the full stack from day one.
  • Dedicated desk at Growth HUB, Baner for 10 weeks (Mon–Fri, 8 AM–10 PM)
  • Weekly 1:1 mentoring with GrowQAI leadership & growth advisors
  • AI-powered GTM system — ICP definition, outreach stack, lead generation
  • Investor readiness assessment, pitch deck review & financial modelling
  • Talent sourcing via Merito (AI recruitment) — first 3 critical hires
  • Demo day with 20+ curated investors
The Four Pillars

Four pillars.
One ecosystem.

Everything you need to build, grow, and fund your AI startup — integrated, not bolted on.

01
Pillar 01

Space to Operate

Growth HUB, Baner, Pune
  • Dedicated workspace (Mon–Fri, 8 AM–10 PM)
  • Conference rooms & event space
  • Community of peer AI founders
  • High-speed internet & infrastructure
  • Address & registered office access
02
Pillar 02

Go-to-Market Mentoring

Powered by GrowQAI's Client Vertical
  • ICP definition & ideal customer mapping
  • AI-powered outreach & lead gen setup
  • Pipeline building & conversion coaching
  • Access to GrowQAI's B2B sales stack
  • Weekly GTM reviews & accountability
03
Pillar 03

Fundraising Support

Powered by GrowQAI's Capital Vertical
  • Investment readiness assessment
  • Pitch deck review & storytelling
  • Financial model & projections
  • Investor matching & warm intros
  • Data room setup & due diligence prep
04
Pillar 04

Talent Acquisition

Powered by Merito (AI Recruitment)
  • AI-enabled candidate sourcing
  • Screening & assessment automation
  • First 3 critical hires support
  • Employer brand positioning
  • Hiring plan & role definitions
Who Should Apply

We select 6–10 AI-first startups
ready to move fast and scale smart.

Curated · Not Mass-Market
01
AI-First Product
AI must be core to your product — not a bolt-on. LLMs, agents, automation, deep tech.
02
Pre-Seed to Seed
MVP ready or early revenue. You've validated the problem and have early user signals.
03
Committed Founding Team
1–5 founders, full-time committed for 10 weeks. No side projects — this is the mission.
04
Willing to Be in Pune
You'll operate from Growth HUB, Baner, Pune for the program duration.
05
Target Sectors
SaaS, Deep Tech, AI Agents, HealthTech, EdTech, FinTech, Logistics, and more.
06
Hunger to Scale
Ambitious founders who want structure, accountability, and access — not just advice.
Your 16-Week Journey

Four focused phases. From assessment to investor-ready.

Click any phase to explore what you'll work on, week by week.

1–2
Weeks 1–2

Onboard & Assess

Phase output
→ Personalized 16-week growth plan
Key activities
  • Move into Growth HUB
  • Business deep-dive session
  • ICP & customer definition
  • Gap analysis & growth plan
  • Founder mindset workshop
  • 1:1 advisor intro meeting
Why GrowQAI is Different

Not another accelerator handing you a playbook
and walking away.

01
Execution, Not Just Advice
We implement alongside you — outreach campaigns, investor meetings, hiring pipelines. Every advisor has skin in the game.
02
AI-Native Methodology
Our ACE Framework (Assess, Create, Enable) is powered by AI tools that give you data-driven insights no traditional accelerator can match.
03
Integrated Under One Roof
Capital advisory, client acquisition, and talent solutions from one partner. No juggling 5 agencies or paying 5 retainers.
04
Curated Founder Community
A cohort of AI builders + access to GrowQAI's IIM/COEP alumni network, 50+ investors, and industry operators.
05
Metric-Driven Program
Green/Amber/Red weekly health tracking. No vague 'progress' — every startup has clear KPIs reviewed every week.
06
Post-Program Alumni Access
You don't graduate and disappear. Continued investor intros, co-founder matching, Cohort 2 mentor opportunities.
Demo Day

August 23, 2026

The culmination of 10 weeks – your stage, your investors, your moment.

  1. 9:00 AM
    Welcome Address
    Program overview, cohort story, welcome investors.
  2. 9:30 AM
    Startup Pitches
    6–10 pitches, 8 mins each + investor Q&A.
  3. 12:00 PM
    Investor Panel
    Discussion on AI startup trends & opportunity.
  4. 1:00 PM
    Networking Lunch
    1:1 investor–founder matchmaking sessions.
  5. 3:00 PM
    Same-Day Follow-up
    GrowQAI facilitates warm intros & next steps.
Life After Demo Day

The program ends.
The relationship doesn't.

Six things every Cohort 1 founder gets after August 23rd.

Alumni Network Access
Permanent access to GrowQAI's alumni community — peer support, co-founder matching, and deal-sharing across cohorts.
Continued Investor Intros
GrowQAI facilitates follow-on investor introductions and tracks fundraising progress for 6 months post-Demo Day.
Cohort 2 Mentor Opportunities
Outstanding Cohort 1 founders get the opportunity to return as mentors or advisors for Cohort 2.
Ongoing GTM Support
Access to GrowQAI's client outreach network and partner introductions for up to 3 months at alumni rates.
PR & Media Coverage
GrowQAI coordinates post-Demo Day press — YourStory, Inc42, LinkedIn features to amplify your startup story.
Partnership Ecosystem
Preferred access to GrowQAI's partner ecosystem: cloud credits, SaaS tools, legal, accounting, and B2B platform connections.
How to Apply

From application to cohort kickoff in 4 steps.

Step 01
Submit Application
Open Now
Fill out the online application with details about your startup, team, traction, and goals. Takes 20–30 minutes.
Step 02
Discovery Call
Within 48 hrs
Selected applicants are invited for a 30-minute discovery call with GrowQAI leadership to align on fit and expectations.
Step 03
Selection Decision
By June 11th, 2026
Final selection of 6–10 startups announced. All applicants receive feedback regardless of outcome.
Step 04
Cohort Kickoff
June 15th, 2026
Move into Growth HUB, complete onboarding, meet your advisor, hit the ground running from Day 1.
Ready to Scale Smarter?

Applications close
June 11th, 2026.

Seats are limited to 6–10 startups. Founders are reviewed on a rolling basis — earlier applications get earlier discovery calls.

Apply NowEmail ai@growqai.com
📞 +91 97676 63123🌐 growqai.com
FAQ

Frequently Asked
Questions

Answers to what every founder asks before applying. Still have questions? Drop us a line — we reply within one business day.

Yes — full-time presence at Growth HUB, Baner is required. The in-person community and daily access to advisors is central to how the program delivers results.

Pre-seed to Seed. You should have an MVP or early revenue. Idea-stage startups without a product are not eligible for Cohort 1.

AI must be core to your product. AI-enabled services are considered on a case-by-case basis. Pure services businesses without an AI product are not in scope.

Fee structures (upfront, equity, or hybrid) are discussed during your Discovery Call. Terms are personalized to each startup's stage and needs.

We select 6–10 startups to keep the cohort small, curated, and high-touch. Every founder gets 1:1 advisor time — not a mass-accelerator experience.

You join the GrowQAI alumni network with continued access to investor intros, partner ecosystem, PR support, and opportunities to mentor Cohort 2.