Mumbai, August 5, 2026: BITS School of Management (BITSoM), under the aegis of BITS Pilani, has announced the launch of BITSoM VERTEX, a premier AI venture factory developed in partnership with LENZ, a leading Silicon Valley AI Innovation Studio. Designed to accelerate India’s next generation of AI startups, VERTEX will help founders transform promising ideas into enterprise-ready AI businesses.
To kick-start this journey, BITSoM is partnering with Hack2Skill to launch a nationwide search for India’s most promising AI founders. The incubator will support startups in moving beyond MVPs to build enterprise-validated, scalable AI products.
Why VERTEX Matters
India is rapidly emerging as a global AI innovation hub, but early-stage founders often face bottlenecks when transitioning from MVPs to commercial viability. Common challenges include:
- Securing enterprise pilot opportunities.
- Differentiating true AI products from superficial “AI wrappers.”
- Validating market demand and refining business models.
- Preparing for institutional investment.
BITSoM VERTEX was specifically designed to address these friction points.
Programme Highlights
Over the next three years, VERTEX aims to graduate 100 AI startups through its structured incubation programme. Selected startups will gain:
- Silicon Valley expertise and venture-building mentorship via LENZ.
- Enterprise pilot pathways and real-world customer testing.
- Investor networks and funding opportunities.
- State-of-the-art AI infrastructure.
- Dedicated BITSoM student venture teams for business development and market research.
Prof. Saravanan Kesavan, Dean, BITSoM: “Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping industries. Through BITSoM VERTEX, we are creating a powerful ecosystem where founders can collaborate with industry leaders, solve real-world problems, and build scalable AI ventures. Our students will also gain hands-on experience, preparing them to build with AI or even launch their own startups.”
Arvind Ravishunkar, Managing Director, BITSoM VERTEX: “India needs more global AI startups like Sarvam and Emergent. With over 5 million software engineers, a thriving digital finance ecosystem, and massive demand, India is ripe for meaningful AI innovation. VERTEX will give founders immediate access to customers, talent, and resources to help them scale faster.”
Focus Areas
Applications are open to AI startups across all domains, with priority given to:
- Enterprise AI
- Software automation and tools
- Vertical AI
- Multilingual AI
- EdTech AI
- Financial AI
Applications Now Open
Founders from across India who are leveraging AI to solve complex business and societal challenges are invited to apply via the official portal: vertex.bitsom.edu.in
About BITSoM
BITS School of Management (BITSoM) is a new-age global business school under the aegis of BITS Pilani, an Institution of Eminence. Located near Mumbai, BITSoM combines academic rigour with industry engagement to prepare future leaders for a rapidly changing world. Its MBA programme integrates a globally benchmarked curriculum, distinguished faculty, and experiential learning to equip graduates with the skills needed to lead in an AI-driven business environment.
