#WaveX #IICTMumbai #AVGCXR #MediaTech #StartupIndia #DigitalIndia #MakeInIndia #Innovation #Gaming #Animation #ExtendedReality #FutureOfMedia
Global mentors from Google, Microsoft, Amazon to guide Indian innovators; First batch of 15 startups to be onboarded by September 7, 2025
Mumbai – In a landmark initiative for India’s creative and digital economy, the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s startup accelerator platform WaveX, has launched a dedicated Media Tech Startup Incubator. The program aims to nurture promising ventures in the fast-growing AVGC-XR sector, which includes Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality.
This initiative comes at a crucial time when India’s creative technology industry is projected to grow exponentially, riding on rising global demand for high-quality digital content, immersive entertainment, and cutting-edge gaming experiences. The incubator is designed to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization by providing structured mentorship, advanced infrastructure, and real-world testing opportunities through government and industry partnerships.
A Two-Phase Incubation Model
The WaveX Media Tech Incubator will operate through a structured two-phase model:
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Active Phase: Startups will receive intensive support in key areas such as business modeling, product development, branding, fundraising, pitching to investors, and navigating media regulations. The program also offers sandbox testing in sectors like OTT platforms, VFX, VR, gaming, animation, comics, publishing, and post-production – allowing startups to trial and refine their solutions in a controlled but realistic environment.
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Passive Phase: Once startups graduate from the active phase, the focus shifts to global showcasing and lighter mentorship. Startups will get access to Waves Bazaar – a marketplace and showcase platform – where they can connect with investors, industry associations, and global partners.
World-Class Mentorship and Infrastructure
One of the incubator’s biggest highlights is access to mentorship from global technology leaders. Experts from Google, Microsoft, and Amazon will conduct masterclasses and offer advisory support, helping Indian startups align their innovations with international best practices.
Additionally, participating startups will have access to:
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Co-working spaces within the IICT Mumbai campus
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Advanced AV and digital labs
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Hosting servers with high-speed LAN/Wi-Fi
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Cloud credits from AWS and Google Cloud
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India AI compute services (to be rolled out in the near future)
The incubator also plans to organize bootcamps, policy clinics, and investor connect sessions to ensure startups receive end-to-end support in scaling their businesses.
Governance and Selection
WaveX will oversee the governance of the incubation program, with quarterly reviews under the mentorship and supervision of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. For the first batch, 15 startups will be selected to join the incubator at IICT Mumbai.
The application process is open until September 7, 2025, and interested startups can apply through the WaveX digital portal. Selected startups will be required to pay a monthly fee of ₹8,500 + GST for access to the incubation facilities and services.
Industry and Government Backing
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics, IT and Broadcasting, has emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation for India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem. With IICT Mumbai already established as a premier institution for creative technologies, the launch of WaveX Incubator strengthens India’s ambition to become a global powerhouse in immersive digital content creation.
The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, launched in July 2025, is a unique public–private partnership involving the Government of India, the Government of Maharashtra, and leading industry bodies such as FICCI and CII. IICT aims to develop specialized talent pools in gaming, animation, post-production, comics, and XR, while also fostering collaborations with global companies like Google, Adobe, and Meta.
Speaking at the launch, a senior official from the Ministry of I&B said, “The AVGC-XR sector represents the future of storytelling and digital engagement. Through WaveX and IICT, we are creating an ecosystem where Indian startups can innovate fearlessly, test globally, and scale sustainably.”
Unlocking India’s Creative Economy Potential
India’s AVGC-XR industry has been identified as one of the fastest-growing segments within the country’s media and entertainment sector. With rising global outsourcing demand, low-cost creative talent, and increasing domestic consumption of digital media, the sector holds immense promise.
According to industry estimates, India could capture a 5–6% share of the global AVGC-XR market by 2030, creating millions of direct and indirect job opportunities. By investing in incubation and R&D through initiatives like WaveX, the government is laying the foundation for India to move from being a service provider to a global creator of intellectual property in gaming, animation, and extended reality.
Call for Applications
Startups working in the fields of animation, gaming, VR/AR/XR, media platforms, content publishing, VFX, and related creative technologies are encouraged to apply. The first cohort of 15 startups will not only receive mentoring and infrastructure but also the chance to present at global showcases under the Waves Bazaar platform – giving them exposure to international investors, clients, and collaborators.
Applications are open until September 7, 2025, through the official WaveX portal.
Hashtags:
#WaveX #IICTMumbai #AVGCXR #MediaTech #StartupIndia #DigitalIndia #MakeInIndia #Innovation #Gaming #Animation #ExtendedReality #FutureOfMedia
