C-DOT hosts Demo Day for 18 startups under Samarth programme

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) on Thursday organised a Demo Day for 18 startups under the second cohort of its ‘Samarth’ incubation programme, showcasing innovations in emerging telecom and digital technologies. The event was held at the NBCC Convention Hall in New Delhi.C-DOT, an autonomous telecom research and development institution under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), said the event provided a platform for startups to present their technological solutions to industry leaders, experts and potential investors.The participating startups demonstrated innovations across key domains including telecom applications, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), 5G/6G technologies and quantum technologies, highlighting the growing role of startups in strengthening India’s digital ecosystem.
Launched in March 2025, the Samarth incubation programme aims to nurture startups working in the telecom and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors. The initiative is structured into two cohorts of six months each, with up to 18 startups per cohort, enabling support for 36 startups in total.The programme is being implemented in collaboration with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and TiE as implementation partners.Under the scheme, selected startups receive financial assistance of Rs5 lakh each, along with access to fully furnished office space and advanced laboratory facilities at C-DOT’s campuses in Delhi and Bengaluru. Participants also receive mentorship from C-DOT scientists and industry experts, along with training sessions on product development, minimum viable product (MVP) creation, financial management, go-to-market strategies, intellectual property and fundraising.
According to information,the first cohort of the programme showcased their innovations during a Demo Day in September 2025, after which five startups were selected for the Stage-II grant.Building on that momentum, Cohort-II was launched in July 2025, focusing on problem statements in areas such as artificial intelligence, Li-Fi, security and drone technologies. Following a multi-stage selection process involving experts from academia, industry, C-DOT and STPI, 18 startups were selected and awarded the Stage-I grant during the launch event at the India Mobile Congress 2025.
During Thursday’s Demo Day, five startups were selected for the Stage-II grant based on their product potential and execution capabilities. These include Huebits Tech Private Limited, Khageshvara Aviation Technology Private Limited, Xpectro Solutions (OPC) Private Limited, Zepto Logic Technologies Private Limited, and Vocbot.Ai Technology Private Limited.The selected startups received the second tranche of financial support and may also qualify for partnerships and additional funding under the C-DOT Collaborative Research Programme (CCRP).Speaking at the event, C-DOT Chief Executive Officer Rajkumar Upadhyay congratulated the participating startups and emphasised the importance of innovation in driving India’s digital transformation.“The passion, creativity and determination of our startups are driving forces behind the nation’s digital transformation. We remain committed to nurturing the next generation of telecom innovators in line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat,” he said.