Bengal Business Accelerator Cohorts 4 & 5: Apply by 10 November 2026 — Startup Funding India, October 2026

Founders in West Bengal have a dated window to act on. Applications for the Bengal Business Accelerator Programme (BBAP), Cohorts 4 & 5, close on 10 November 2026, according to the official programme page from IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP). Results and onboarding follow on 12 November 2026, with the offline acceleration programme running 25–27 November 2026, a Demo Day on 10 March 2027 and a felicitation day on 25 March 2027.

Eligibility

Eligibility is specific, so check it before applying. The programme is for innovative MSMEs and startups from West Bengal incorporated as a private limited company or LLP under Section 2(68) of the Companies Act, 2013. The enterprise must have been in operation for no more than 5 years, must either be based in West Bengal or have an interest in establishing operations there, and must address a problem or gap in an innovative manner. An entity formed by splitting up or reconstructing an existing business is not considered a startup for this programme.

What selected founders get

The programme, run by the West Bengal Government in partnership with IIMCIP, offers training from IIMCIP on business-model development, guidance on fundraising and pitch-deck preparation, one-on-one mentoring by IIMCIP experts, and an opportunity to pitch for funding to investors. Participants also gain visibility within the ecosystem, priority access to West Bengal Government initiatives for startups, and a chance to pilot projects or run a proof of concept with government departments.

How to apply

How to apply for the Bengal Business Accelerator Programme: apply through the official programme page at iimcip.com/msmebengal before the 10 November 2026 deadline, using the programme's Apply Now route. With results due just two days after the deadline, founders should have their business model, pitch and documents ready before submitting, not after.