Hill Raise Innovation Foundation - Incubation Centre, Ooty

About Hill Raise Innovation Foundation

Cultivating Innovation in the Heart of the Nilgiris

Our Vision

To incubate and accelerate early-stage and growth-stage startups in core sectors of Agriculture, Sustainable Tourism, Environment and Climate.

Our Mission

To establish Nilgiris as a pioneer and hub for hill-based sustainable innovation to drive socio-economic growth, rural upliftment, and environmental sustainability.

Our Objectives

Empower Rural and Tribal Communities through entrepreneurship and job creation

Foster Academia-Industry-Government Collaboration for inclusive growth

Channel Investments and CSR Funding into high-impact hill-based innovations

Incubation

Why Hillraise?

Locally Rooted, Globally Connected

Designed for the Nilgiris, with connections to national and global investors, mentors, and partners.

Cross-Sector Partnerships

Collaborations with academia, government, and industry to unlock holistic support.

Tailored Incubation Models

Flexible support packages including equity-based and pay-as-you-go models for every stage of the founder journey.

Our Programs

Base Camp

Supporting startups to lay strong foundations with mentoring, resources, and clarity to prepare for the journey ahead.

Alpine Ascent

Guiding startups through growth challenges with expert support, networks, and strategies to scale steadily and sustainably.

Pinnacle Path

Empowering startups to reach market leadership through advanced mentoring, funding access, and global partnership opportunities.

What are we looking for?

Focus on Real Impact

We incubate startups that create measurable outcomes in livelihoods, climate adaptation, and sustainable tourism.

Big and Disruptive

Founders who think beyond limits, break old rules, and build ideas that change the game

Driven by Passion

Local innovators, impact-driven startups, researchers, mature startups, and CSR teams looking for high-impact rural projects.

Focus Sectors

Agriculture / Agritech

Empowering hill farmers with innovative business models and Agritech solutions that enhance productivity, preserve traditional practices and ensure sustainable livelihoods.

Precision agriculture for hill terrain
Inclusive agriculture based business models
Post-harvest storage and logistics
Innovative sustainable farming techniques

Sustainable Tourism

Promoting responsible tourism models that celebrate local culture, conserve natural heritage, and generate inclusive economic opportunities for local communities.

Adventure and Luxury tourism platforms
Culture and Heritage tourism
Smart Tourism logistics
Sustainable stays

Environment / Climate

Driving climate-focused technology and sustainable innovations that protect fragile ecosystems, protect wildlife, reduce environmental risks, and build resilient futures for mountain communities.

Forest and Wildlife conservation
Deep tech in Climate
Natural Biosphere enhancement
Sustainable waste management

Frequently Asked Questions

What are your Incubation Packages?

Base Camp (Seed boost package)

Supporting startups to lay strong foundations with mentoring, resources, and clarity to prepare for the journey ahead.

Alpine Ascent (Growth launch package)

Guiding startups through growth challenges with expert support, networks, and strategies to scale steadily and sustainably.

Pinnacle Path (Scale catalyst package)

Empowering startups to reach market leadership through advanced mentoring, funding access, and global partnership opportunities.

Pay-As-You-Go Package (0% Equity)

Select services on payment basis
Flexible support options
No equity commitment required

What kind of startups do you support?

We incubate and accelerate startups in three core areas:

1. AgriTech:

Smart farming, supply chain innovations, cold storage for perishables, organic inputs.

2. DeepTech for Climate and Environment:

AI/IoT-based wildlife monitoring, water resource management, bio-packaging, clean energy.

3. Sustainable and Eco-Tourism:

Homestay tech, heritage platforms, guided local experiences, artisan integration.

We love founders solving real problems in rural areas, especially those rooted in hill and forest regions.

What stage of startup do you support?

We support:

Idea Stage: Got a problem worth solving? We'll help you validate it.
MVP Stage: Already have a prototype or early users? Let's build traction.
Growth Stage: Scaling and need access to funding, branding, and team support? We're in.

We have structured support tiers - from 1% to 5% equity - based on the stage and services required. We also offer a pay-as-you-go model for bootstrapped teams.

Do you fund startups?

We don't write direct cheques yet, but we:

Connect you to VCs, angel investors, and CSR funders aligned with your mission
Offer help with pitch decks, term sheets, and fundraising strategy
Facilitate proof-of-concept grants from government and developmental agencies

We also maintain a seed pool (₹25-50 lakhs) from CSR and government grants to support high-potential startups.

Where are you based? Can I be remote?

We are based in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu — and that's intentional.

Our model is place-based. We prioritize startups that want to build with and for the hill ecosystem. If you're working remotely but plan to pilot or deploy in the Nilgiris, you're welcome.

Some incubation services (like mentorship, fundraising prep) are offered online. But field pilots, POC programs, and local partnerships are better done on-site.

What makes Hillraise different from other incubators?

We're location-first. Not every incubator is built for the hills. We are.
We go deep, not wide. 3 sectors. Focused support.
We offer rural and tribal inclusion. Our model integrates local communities.
We combine tech + tradition. Innovation with sustainability and culture at its core.
We believe in equity + equity. Both social and startup equity matter here.

Is there an application process?

Yes. It's simple:

1. Fill out the Application Form
2. If shortlisted, we'll invite you for a discussion
3. Post due diligence, we'll match you with the right package
4. You're in! Welcome to the hills

We run rolling admissions and 2 structured cohorts per year.

Can I talk to someone before I apply?

Absolutely. We prefer founders who ask thoughtful questions.

Drop us a note at hello@hillraise.com and we'll schedule an exploratory call with our team.

How can I partner with Hillraise?

If you're:

A CSR team looking to support rural innovation
A mentor with domain expertise
A college or lab that wants to collaborate
An investor with interest in hill-based or impact startups

— write to hello@hillraise.com

We believe it takes a village to raise a startup — and a whole ecosystem to build resilient hills.

Empowering Hill-based Innovation for a Resilient Future