XLRI’s XCITE invites applications for First Rural Business Incubation Programme

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Jamshedpur: XLRI – Xavier School of Management has opened applications for the inaugural cohort of its Rural Business Incubator, XCITE (XLRI Council for Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship), offering aspiring entrepreneurs from 12 eastern and north-eastern states an opportunity to build sustainable and high-impact rural enterprises.

Established with the support of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the incubator aims to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth in rural India.

The incubation programme is open to entrepreneurs from Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.

XCITE will identify promising ventures that address rural challenges while generating sustainable livelihoods. The incubator is particularly encouraging applications from women-led and tribal-led enterprises, as well as businesses working in agriculture, non-timber forest produce (NTFP), handicrafts, off-farm livelihoods, rural services, sustainability, green energy and the circular economy.

Selected entrepreneurs will undergo a six-month hybrid incubation programme featuring virtual mentoring sessions and on-campus boot camps at XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Participants will be eligible for grant support of up to ₹5 lakh and will receive guidance on business model development, market access, investor connect, ecosystem partnerships and peer learning. They will also benefit from the extensive networks of XLRI and NABARD.

Speaking on the launch, XCITE Chief Executive Officer Ravish Vasan said the initiative seeks to nurture enterprises that combine commercial success with social impact.

He said the incubator aims to enable rural communities to become active contributors to India’s economic growth by supporting innovative and scalable business ideas.

Applications for the first incubation cohort will remain open until July 25, 2026.

Interested entrepreneurs can apply online through the XCITE application portal. For additional information about the programme, applicants may contact XCITE at XLRI – Xavier School of Management. The initiative is expected to strengthen the rural entrepreneurship ecosystem by providing early-stage ventures with the financial support, mentorship and industry exposure needed to transform innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises.