Lead - Startup Programs

Job Description

IU/Dept: Deshpande Startups – Startup Programs Job Location: Hubballi Experience: 5 – 10 Years Lead Startup Programs Education and experience : This role is ideal for someone who : Has built a startup with the help of an incubator and now wants to reimagine how incubators and accelerators support startups, or has experience designing/running high-impact Startup programs as part of a fund, incubator, or ecosystem-enabling organization Believes that the next wave of entrepreneurial growth will come from India’s non-metros Enjoys working with entrepreneurs across different growth stages Is ready to take long-term ownership and drive strategic outcomes, ultimately emerging as a thought leader in the space Key responsibilities and accountabilities : Build and manage structured startup program cohorts—this includes outreach, selection, designing support frameworks, facilitating execution, and driving sustained engagement Launch new programs based on market opportunities and both regional and national needs Collaborate with incubators, academic institutions, accelerators, corporates, and ecosystem partners to co-create and execute programs Manage startup support programs funded by government agencies such as NIDHI, Startup India, MEITY, and others Track program effectiveness, share impact stories, and iterate to improve continuously Contribute to Deshpande Startups’ long-term vision to become the #1 choice for startups solving for Bharat Passion for hardware innovation and entrepreneurship First-principles thinking and strong technical problem-solving High ownership and drive to build from scratch Proven ability to operate labs or create hardware products