Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in collaboration with IICT Mumbai and WaveX, is launching a Media Tech Incubator to support AVGCXR startups. The incubator offers mentorship, infrastructure, and testing opportunities. Applications for the first batch of 15 startups are open until September 7th, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Incubator Overview:
* A dedicated Media Tech Startup Incubator is being launched to nurture ventures in the AVGCXR sector (Audio, Visual, Comics, Gaming, and Extended Reality).
* The incubator will provide structured mentorship, infrastructure, strategic advisory, and real-world testing.
Program Structure:
* Two-phase model:
* Active Phase: Intensive support in business modelling, product development, pitching, branding, fundraising, and media regulations with sandbox testing.
* Passive Phase: Global showcases through Waves Bazaar, lighter mentorship, investor engagement, and industry association access.
* Facilities: Coworking spaces, AV/digital labs, hosting servers, high-speed LAN/WiFi, AWS/Google Cloud credits, and future access to India AI compute services.
* Programs: Masterclasses by leaders from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, bootcamps, policy clinics, and investor connect sessions.
* Governance: WAVEX will oversee the program with quarterly reviews under the Ministry of IB mentorship.
Application Details:
* 15 startups will be selected for the first batch at the IICT campus.
* The fee is ₹8500 + GST per month.
* Application deadline: September 7th, 2025.
* Application process: Register at wavex.wavesbazaar.com, navigate to the dashboard, select "Register for Incubation," fill out the form, and submit online.
WaveX and IICT Overview:
* WaveX: Startup accelerator platform under the Ministry of Information Broadcasting's WAVES initiative.
* IICT: Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai, focused on advancing India's AVGCXR sector via a public-private partnership.
Impact Analysis:
Startups in the AVGCXR Sector:
* Impact: Opportunity to receive mentorship, infrastructure, advisory support, and real-world testing to develop and scale their ventures.
* Action Required: Apply to the Media Tech Incubator by September 7th, 2025, through the WaveX portal.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, IICT, and WaveX:
* Impact: These entities are responsible for governing, mentoring, and overseeing the incubator program to foster innovation in media, entertainment, and language tech.
* Action Required: WAVEX to conduct quarterly reviews under the mentorship of the Ministry of IB.
Global Tech Leaders (Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc.):
* Impact: Opportunity to mentor Indian media startups and contribute to the growth of the AVGCXR sector in India.
* Action Required: Participate in masterclasses and mentorship programs within the WaveX Incubator.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: The Indian government ministry responsible for information and broadcasting.
IICT Mumbai: Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. An institution dedicated to advancing India's AVGCXR sector.
WaveX: A startup accelerator platform of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, aimed at nurturing innovations in media, entertainment, and language tech.
AVGCXR: Audio, Visual, Comics, Gaming and Extended Reality sector. A sector that WaveX incubator supports.
Google: A global technology leader providing masterclasses and mentorship in the WaveX incubator program.
Microsoft: A global technology leader providing masterclasses and mentorship in the WaveX incubator program.
Amazon: A global technology leader providing masterclasses and mentorship in the WaveX incubator program.
WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai: A summit in Mumbai, Maharashtra where startups pitched to investors, government agencies, and tech leaders.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
IICT Mumbai and Start up Accelerator Platform
WaveX Launch Media Tech Incubator to Boost
AVGC-XR Startups; Apply by 7th September
Global Tech Leaders from Google, Microsoft and
Amazon to Mentor Indian Media Startups in WaveX
Incubator; Government Media Unit Partnerships to
Provide Infrastructure, Advisory and Real-World
Testing for Effective Scaling
Two-Phase WaveX Incubator to Provide Business
Development, Sandbox Testing and Global
Showcasing Opportunities; 15 Startups in First Batch
Posted On: 30 AUG 2025 7:48PM by PIB Delhi
WaveX, the startup accelerator program of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with the
Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) has announced the launch of a dedicated Media Tech Startup
Incubator aimed at nurturing high-potential ventures in the rapidly evolving media and entertainment space.
The incubator will provide a dedicated nurturing ecosystem for the startups in the AVGC-XR sector which
includes Audio, Visual, Comics, Gaming and Extended Reality. The initiative will provide structured
mentorship, cutting-edge infrastructure, strategic advisory, and real-world testing opportunities through
government media unit partnerships-helping startups scale and commercialize effectively.
The incubator will operate on a two-phase model
● Active Phase; Intensive support in business modelling, product development, pitching, branding,
fundraising, and media regulations, with sandbox testing opportunities in OTT, VFX, VR, gaming, animation,
publishing, and post-production.
● Passive Phase: Global showcases through Waves Bazaar, focus on lighter mentorship, investor
engagement and industry associations.
Various facilities will be provided such as co-working spaces, AV/digital labs, hosting servers, high-speed
LAN/Wi-Fi, AWS/Google Cloud credits and India AI compute services in near future. Programs will feature
masterclasses by global leaders from Google, Microsoft, Amazon etc, along with focused bootcamps, policy
clinics, and investor connect sessions.
WAVEX will oversee the governance of the program with quarterly reviews under the mentorship of
the Ministry of I&B. 15 startups will be selected for the first batch in IICT campus with a fee of 8500
+ GST per month.Applications for the first cohort are open until 7th September, 2025. Interested startups can apply by logging
into wavex.wavesbazaar.com, navigating to the dashboard, selecting “Register for Incubation,” filling out the
application form, providing the required details, choosing their preferred incubator location, and submitting
their application online.
About WaveX
WaveX is the dedicated startup accelerator platform under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s
WAVES initiative, aimed at nurturing innovations in media, entertainment, and language tech. At the
WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai, over 30 startups pitched live to investors, government agencies, and tech
leaders. WaveX continues to empower next-gen innovators through hackathons, mentorship, and national
platform integration.
About IICT
The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, launched in July 2025 by the Union Minister
for Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, is a pioneering institution dedicated to advancing
India’s AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) sector. Structured as
a Section 8 joint venture company, IICT brings together the Government of India, the Government of
Maharashtra and leading industry bodies such as FICCI and CII, in a unique public–private partnership model.
Its mandate is to create a world-class talent pool, strengthen India’s creative economy, and position the
country as a global leader in immersive and digital content technologies. With strong academic-industry
linkages, including collaborations with global players like Google, Adobe and Meta, IICT offers specialized
courses in Gaming, Post-Production, Animation, Comics, and XR.
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Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith
(Release ID: 2162332)