WaveX, the startup accelerator platform under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s WAVES initiative, has announced the launch of seven new incubation centres across the country. This expansion, in addition to the existing Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) incubator in Mumbai, marks India’s first dedicated accelerator-cum-incubator program designed specifically for startups in the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics) and XR (Extended Reality) domains.
New Centres to Support Creative Startups
The new WaveX incubation centres will be established at premier institutions across India, including the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) campuses in Delhi, Jammu, Dhenkanal, Kottayam, and Amravati, along with the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata. These centres aim to provide uniform access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, incubation facilities and structured mentorship to creative entrepreneurs nationwide.
Advanced Facilities for Film, Gaming and XR
With the expansion of its incubation network, WaveX promises startups access to advanced facilities for film production, game development, editing and testing. The flagship IICT incubator in Mumbai is already equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure including an 8K Red Raptor Vista Vision camera, a 4K HDR preview theatre with Dolby Atmos, high-performance workstations, a virtual production stage with LED walls, photogrammetry systems, professional sound and colour-mix theatres, 4K HDR edit suites, VR testing kits, and the latest gaming consoles.
Also Read | BSNL’s All-India 4G Debut Set for September 27
These resources allow startups to design, develop and validate content in film, gaming, and immersive media at international standards. Startups will be able to utilise these facilities both physically and through digital platforms, while also gaining opportunities for global exposure at major events such as VivaTech in Paris and the Game Developers Conference in the USA.
Comprehensive Support and Mentorship
Startups selected under WaveX will benefit from a holistic ecosystem offering co-working spaces, AV and digital labs, studios, green rooms, high-speed connectivity, hosting servers, cloud credits from AWS and Google, as well as India AI compute services. The centres will also enable sandbox testing in areas like OTT, VFX, VR, gaming, animation, publishing and post-production.
In addition to infrastructure, startups will receive structured mentorship and advisory support from industry leaders and global experts. Masterclasses, bootcamps, policy clinics and investor-connect sessions will further help entrepreneurs refine their business strategies and scale effectively. Partnerships with IITs, T-Hub and other incubators are being built to expand learning opportunities and widen the innovation ecosystem.
Government and Industry Collaboration
WaveX is also working to provide startups with direct collaboration opportunities with major media units under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. These include Doordarshan, All India Radio, Press Information Bureau, Publications Division, Film and Television Institute of India, New Media Wing, and the Electronic Media Monitoring Centre. Selected startups may also receive priority consideration for outsourced projects by these institutions, further boosting their growth prospects.
Also Read | VinFast Brings Hyundai’s Tapan Ghosh Onboard as India CEO
Application Process and Eligibility
Applications for the upcoming batch are now open through the WaveX portal. Each incubation centre will select 15 startups for its first cohort. The monthly participation fee has been fixed at ₹8,500 plus GST per startup. Preference will be given to startups in the Media, Entertainment, and AVGC-XR sectors.
About WaveX
WaveX is a flagship accelerator platform under the WAVES initiative of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, created to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship in the media and creative technology ecosystem. Its incubation model is structured into two phases: an active phase offering intensive business, product development and fundraising support, followed by a passive phase that continues with light mentorship, global showcasing, and ongoing investor engagement.
Designed to back early-stage ventures, WaveX goes beyond traditional incubators by focusing on startups with high potential, even at their conceptual or “unreal” stage. The platform is set to empower next-generation entrepreneurs in gaming, OTT, AI-driven content creation, and immersive technologies like AR, VR and XR by combining world-class infrastructure, strategic funding opportunities and expert mentorship.
