Ministry of MSME · National SC-ST Hub
Business Accelerator Programfor SC/ST Entrepreneurs
A fully-subsidized, hands-on venture-building programme for SC/ST entrepreneurs and their wards with UDYAM-registered businesses.
Delivered by XLRI Jamshedpur under the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) scheme, Ministry of MSME, Government of India.
Applications close 15 Sept 2026, 11:30 pm
Actual programme fee
₹1,11,500
Fully subsidized by
NSSH & XLRI
Effective fee for participants
₹0
Total programme fee is fully subsidized. Participant contribution is nil.
Why this programme
Built to turn an idea into a fundable venture
XLRI - Xavier School of Management, founded in 1949, is India's oldest business school and a pioneer in management education, with a legacy of over seven decades in nurturing leaders guided by Excellence, Integrity, and Nation Building. In partnership with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, under the National SC-ST Hub scheme, XLRI is committed to empowering SC/ST entrepreneurs and aspiring founders to build and scale successful enterprises.
72 Hours, Hybrid
A one-week on-campus immersion at XLRI Jamshedpur followed by three months of live virtual sessions.
Mentoring & Handholding
Minimum six months of personalised, one-on-one mentoring support after both modules are completed.
Investor-Ready Pitch
Every participant builds a validated business model, financial plan and pitch deck for Demo Day.
Programme highlights
What you get
72 hours of blended learning (offline + online)
On-campus residential week + virtual modules
Personalised mentoring & handholding support
Direct access to industry mentors & investors
Practical business growth & scaling insights
Certificate from XLRI on successful completion
Programme structure
Two tracks, one Demo Day
Applicants join the track that matches where their venture is today.
Track A
For Existing Entrepreneurs
- Start-ups & small business owners looking to scale up or find better growth opportunities
- Business model refinement, growth strategy & investment readiness
- Covers venture strategy, branding, digital transformation, funding & pricing
- Ends with a Demo Day business growth pitch before mentors and investors
Track B
For Aspiring Entrepreneurs
- Candidates at the ideation stage needing mentoring to build and test a prototype
- Journey from ideation to MVP, business model design & legal foundations
- Covers customer discovery, MVP design, funding pathways & go-to-market
- Ends with Demo Day venture pitching before mentors and investors
Module 1 - Offline
36 hoursOne week (six days) residential immersion at XLRI Jamshedpur
Module 2 - Online
36 hoursLive virtual sessions, case studies & pitch practice over 3 months
Post-programme
6 monthsContinued mentoring & handholding support from XLRI faculty
Course content
Six thematic clusters
The curriculum moves participants from foundational strategy to an investor-ready pitch on Demo Day.
Business Model & Strategy
Lean startup principles, Business Model Canvas, competitive positioning, founder-market fit and venture strategy.
Customer & Market Growth
Customer discovery, market analysis, go-to-market strategy, sales excellence and demand generation.
Branding & Digital Growth
Brand positioning, personal branding, digital marketing, online channels and technology/AI for business growth.
Finance & Investment Readiness
Financial modelling, taxation, valuation, fundraising, pricing strategy and pitch-deck development for investors.
Legal, Compliance & Govt. Schemes
Business registration, IPR fundamentals, regulatory compliance, NSSH, Udyam, GeM and public procurement.
Leadership, Teams & Sustainability
Entrepreneurial leadership, team building, organisational capability, ESG orientation and scalable, sustainable ventures.
Every module closes with hands-on labs, peer review and mentor feedback - culminating in Demo Day, where participants present a fully-formed business pitch and growth plan to investors and industry mentors.
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
Age 18 years or above on the date of application
Preference given to women SC/ST candidates
Minimum qualification: Graduation (any discipline)
Business must be UDYAM-registered (for existing entrepreneurs)
A joint certification programme by XLRI - Xavier School of Management, the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, and the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH).
Applications are open
The online form takes about ten minutes. Keep your Aadhaar number and business details to hand.
Start your applicationApplications close 15 Sept 2026, 11:30 pm
Contact
Questions about applying?
The programme office can help with eligibility, documents and the application form.