New Delhi: In a significant move to boost indigenous innovation in India’s telecom and digital technology sectors, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has launched Cohort-II of the ‘Samarth’ Incubation Program during the prestigious India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 held at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
The initiative, aimed at accelerating startups in areas such as 5G/6G, AI, cybersecurity, IoT, Li-Fi, drones, and quantum technologies, has selected 18 promising startups to receive structured mentorship, funding, infrastructure, and access to cutting-edge R&D resources. The selected startups were handed the first tranche of the grant and formally inducted into the program during a special startup showcase segment – ASPIRE.
Samarth Program: Fostering India’s Digital Future
Launched in March 2025, the Samarth program is designed to empower early-stage startups with potential to solve critical technological challenges in the telecom and ICT space. Run in collaboration with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and TiE Delhi-NCR, the program supports two cohorts annually, with 18 startups per cohort, offering:
- Grant-based financial support
- Expert mentorship from C-DOT scientists and industry leaders
- Fully furnished co-working spaces at C-DOT’s campuses in Delhi and Bengaluru
- Access to specialized R&D labs and testing facilities
Cohort-I Sets the Benchmark
The first cohort, launched in early 2025, saw the selection of 18 startups who worked over six months on five critical problem statements provided by C-DOT. Their efforts culminated in a Demo Day in September 2025, where all startups demonstrated strong outcomes. Based on performance, top five startups received additional funding to scale their solutions further.
Cohort-II Welcomes New Innovators
Following the success of the first batch, applications for Cohort-II opened in July 2025, this time with new problem statements focusing on niche areas such as AI-driven telecom applications, drone-based solutions, Li-Fi, and cybersecurity.
From a large pool of applicants, 18 startups were shortlisted by a high-level selection panel comprising experts from C-DOT, STPI, academia, and the industry. Key evaluation parameters included:
- Innovation and relevance of the idea
- Market viability
- Team capabilities
- Technical execution plan
- Alignment with C-DOT’s problem themes
Meet the Cohort-II Startups
The following startups were inducted into Samarth Cohort-II:
- Huebits Tech Private Limited
- Dawniens International Private Limited
- Khageshvara Aviation Technology Private Limited
- Revon Unmanned Systems Private Limited
- InventGrid India Private Limited
- Vayunotics Technologies Private Limited
- Airborne Fidelity Private Limited
- Astraq Cyber Defence Private Limited
- Xpectro Solutions (OPC) Private Limited
- Vighnarajendra Software LLP
- Zepto Logic Technologies Private Limited
- Senteinta Quality AI Advanced Technology Research Pvt. Ltd.
- Unicorniz Innovation Private Limited
- Nam Infocom Private Limited
- SOL9X Private Limited
- Yantriksh Cybernetics Industries Private Limited
- Nife Apps Labs Private Limited
- Vocbot.Ai Technology Private Limited
Leadership’s Vision: Building India’s Tech Backbone
Addressing the event, Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT, applauded the entrepreneurial spirit of the startups:
“The passion, creativity, and determination of our startups are the driving forces behind the nation’s digital transformation. As we celebrate the success of Samarth Cohort-I and launch Cohort-II, we reaffirm our commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders in telecom and ICT.”
He also highlighted C-DOT’s long-term strategic vision:
“We are working towards setting up Academic Centres of Excellence in premier institutions to instil the spirit of innovation at the grassroots level and make India a global hub for telecom R&D.”
The event also witnessed participation from senior dignitaries including Dr. Pankaj Kumar Dalela, Dr. Dilip Krishnaswamy, Arvind Kumar (DG, STPI), Pradeep Gupta (Chairman, Cyber Media Group), and Upasana Sharma (Executive Director, TiE Delhi-NCR), along with C-DOT’s technical mentors and the selected startups.
About C-DOT
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) is an autonomous telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India. Established in 1984, C-DOT has been at the forefront of developing indigenous telecom technologies tailored to India’s unique needs.
C-DOT has played a pivotal role in areas such as optical transport, switching systems, rural telephony, network security, and next-generation networks. Through programs like Samarth, C-DOT continues to serve as a catalyst for deep-tech innovation, supporting the vision of a self-reliant digital India (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
