Incubator

The/Nudge Incubator is a program exclusively for non-profit social entrepreneurs working to build resilient livelihoods. Organizations that are registered or plan to register by May 31, 2025, can apply for the program.
Eligibility Criteria:
● Early-stage startups (0-3 years) with a Proof of Concept or a Minimum Viable Product.
● Any social enterprise registered or planning to register as a Section 8 company, trust, or society by May 31, 2025.
● At least one founder must be working full-time on the initiative.
● The solution must focus on creating resilient livelihoods for marginalized communities.

Organizations older than three but less than five years, with a new initiative
focused on livelihoods, are also eligible. For such organizations, the incubator
program will focus on refining the new initiative.
You can find examples of previously supported livelihood organizations in our
70+ Livelihood Book.

Yes, for The/Nudge Incubator, we work with organizations where at least one founder is working full-time on the initiative.

Yes, you may reapply for The/Nudge Incubator if you meet the eligibility
criteria. (Please check the Who Can Apply FAQ for more details.) To improve
your chances of selection, be sure to highlight the progress you have made
since your last application.

We’d prefer that you apply to the appropriate program given the maturity of your organisation (Please check “Who can apply” FAQ to know more) During the selection process, if we feel you are more suitable for another program, we will suggest moving your application to that program.”

Application Deadline: May 15, 2025. We will start evaluating applications on a rolling basis, and shortlisted applicants will proceed to the business plan and interview stages as they are selected.
● The last round of interviews with our partners will take place in early to
mid-June.
● The cohort will be announced by June 30, 2025.
● The incubator program starts on July 1, 2025.

Shortlisted applicants from online applications will be requested to submit their business plans in a presentation (slides) format. The business plans should address the following questions:

The Problem and the Solution
● What problem are you trying to solve?
● Why is this problem important?
● What is your solution approach?
● Why do you believe this solution is the best fit?

The Program Participants
● Who are your program participants?
● What is your understanding of their needs?
● How do you currently reach them, or how do you plan to reach them?

Landscape Mapping
● Are there other nonprofits doing similar work?
● What is your unique value proposition?
● How does your solution stand out in terms of speed, scale, and innovation?

Measurement and Evaluation
● How will you measure impact?
● What are your key metrics?

More About the Organization
● What are your organization’s key achievements so far, including awards and funding?
● What is your operational plan for the next 12 months?

Founding Team and Core Team Members
● Who are your core team members?
● What are their roles, and what expertise do they bring to the table?

While mentoring will happen remotely over telephone/video chat, founders and leadership teams will be required to attend bootcamps in person. These will be opportunities for face-to-face interactions with mentors and will be held in Bangalore.

While mentoring and portfolio support will happen remotely over
telephone/video chat, founders will be required to attend bootcamps in
person. These will be opportunities for cohort bonding as well.

The innovation grant is to help you build a minimum viable product for your idea. This involves costs of experimentation such as refining your model based on the interaction with your first beneficiaries and visible impact, costs of building capacity that includes hiring and training early team members, product development, and any other costs.

We believe technology has the power to accelerate social development, as tech-enabled products and services can help scale ideas much faster and at an affordable rate. We welcome nonprofits that leverage technology in their product, service or outreach to bring about social change.

Organizations working in the following domains are eligible:
1)Providing direct livelihoods i.e., enabling income generation
2)Building skills and/or agency to enable livelihoods
3)Encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship
4)Enabling access to technology, finance, or markets to support livelihoods
5) Strengthening livelihood ecosystem
6) Any other activity that strengthens livelihoods.

We are focussing only on organizations working towards building resilient livelihoods. If any of your initiatives is towards livelihood, you are eligible to
apply. The support would be to build your livelihood initiative further.

No, any Social Enterprise even at ideation stage can apply for the program, as long as they have a proof of concept or an MVP, and is willing to register as a Trust, Society, or a Section 8 company.

At least one founder should be full time on the initiative at the time of
application, if all founders are working part time, you are not eligible.

The program is founder focussed program, hence while you may have a CEO, one of the founders have to be full time and founders are expected toparticipate in the program.

No, this application is for the/Incubator program. The accelerator application is through reference only. It is fororganizations who have the MVP in place and scaling their livelihood program. If you would like to know more about the accelerator program, write to socent@thenudge.org.s