AIC ISB and HDFC Bank Parivartan Collaborate to Support Sustainability Startups in Punjab

The Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) at the Indian School of Business (ISB), in partnership with HDFC Bank Parivartan, has launched ArthX, a sustainability-focused initiative under Parivartan’s StartUp Grants programme. ArthX is designed to support revenue-stage startups from Punjab that are building impactful solutions across the sustainability ecosystem. The Government of Punjab, through Startup Punjab, is supporting ArthX as a key ecosystem partner.

Why Punjab, Why Now

Punjab has rapidly evolved into a vibrant hub for early-stage innovation, especially in domains that intersect environmental sustainability and climate resilience. While many ventures in the state demonstrate strong business fundamentals, they often face hurdles in scaling due to limited access to structured growth support, strategic networks, and curated ecosystem engagement. ArthX has been conceptualised to bridge these gaps, helping founders move from early traction to sustainable scale and long-term impact.

Focus Areas

ArthX targets startups advancing critical sustainability priorities that align with India’s national agenda and Punjab’s economic transformation goals, including:

• Clean energy and energy efficiency
• Climate action and resilience
• Circular economy and waste-to-value models
• Sustainable agriculture and agri-value chains
• Green manufacturing and responsible production

How ArthX Will Support Startups

ArthX combines grant funding with ecosystem enablement to support founders at a pivotal growth stage. Key components include:

• A total grant corpus of INR 1 crore, with selected startups eligible for up to INR 10 lakhs each
• Structured knowledge inputs and mentorship from industry and domain experts
• Access to strategic networks, including industry leaders, corporates, and potential partners
• Targeted support to strengthen execution, accelerate market access, and build for long-term impact

“ArthX is designed to bridge a critical gap in the startup journey, where promising sustainability ventures require structured support to scale. By combining grant funding with strategic ecosystem enablement, AIC ISB aims to help Punjab-based founders translate early traction into long-term, scalable impact.”

— Naman Singhal, CEO, AIC ISB

Who Should Apply

ArthX is intended for revenue-stage startups based in Punjab that are actively addressing sustainability challenges and are ready to scale their operations, partnerships, and impact. The initiative prioritizes ventures with demonstrable traction, clear market potential, and strong implementation capacity.

Application Window

Applications for ArthX are open. Eligible founders from the sustainability domain are encouraged to apply through official AIC ISB channels.

About AIC ISB

AIC (Atal Incubation Centre) is the incubation and acceleration arm of the Indian School of Business at the Mohali campus. Established in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, AIC ISB nurtures and supports early-stage entrepreneurs and startups through mentorship, market access, and scale-up enablement.

About HDFC Bank Parivartan

HDFC Bank Parivartan is the CSR arm of HDFC Bank, focused on enabling sustainable impact across education, health, environment, and community development. Through initiatives like the StartUp Grants programme, Parivartan supports mission-driven startups building scalable solutions for inclusive growth and sustainability.