In a major push to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in India’s Northeast, IIMA Ventures, in collaboration with SAP, has launched the North East Growth Lab (NEGL)—a dynamic platform aimed at accelerating 90 tech-driven startups and social enterprises across all eight northeastern states. Inspired by the successful World Bank-backed Assam Agribusiness Growth Lab (AAGL), NEGL offers catalytic capital, including grants and optionally convertible debt, along with deep mentoring, business training, and market access.
NEGL is designed to catalyze ₹100 crore in enterprise value while directly benefiting over 500,000 individuals, particularly from economically underserved backgrounds. It also integrates startup ecosystem-building initiatives such as bootcamps, demo days, and outreach programs across regional and metro cities. Early-stage ventures like Dream Hives (honey-based mead), Greengen (biofertilizer innovation), and Fuloni (biodegradable plant pots) highlight the diverse, technology-enabled solutions emerging from the region.
NEGL is expected to ignite local tech potential by supporting innovations in agri-tech, sustainable packaging, and indigenous product development. With growing interest in digital tools and eco-solutions. NEGL is supported by strategic partners including NABARD, NEDFI, NEHHDC, NERAMAC, and the Ministry of DoNER.
