─── in partnership with ───
AI & FinTech Accelerator
24-weeks program to support early stage FinTech startups leveraging AI with fast-track funding of
INR 2-3 Cr per startup and industry partnership.
PoC / Early Revenue
INR 2-3 Cr per Startup
4-5
Startups
Join a transformative program designed to help startups overcome challenges
and achieve sustainable growth
Upfront investment of INR 2-3 Crore per startup with term-sheet in 30-45 days for selected startups.
24 weeks acceleration program with a focus on GTM and global alliances
1-on-1 sessions with industry leaders, seasoned founders, and functional experts
Don’t miss this opportunity to accelerate your startup journey with expert support and resources.
Startups Accelerated
Funds Invested
Expert Mentors
Success Rate
This program is designed for ambitious founders and teams looking to raise funding and ready to take their startup to the next level.
Startups in PoC, or early revenue stage
Startups building AI-driven FinTech solutions
India or South-East Asia
Every startup journey is unique. If you’re passionate about solving a real problem and committed to growth, we encourage you to apply. Our team will review your application and determine the best fit.
15 mins
2-3 week
2-3 weeks
We support startups across diverse technology domains, helping them innovate
and scale in their respective industries
Solutions enabling fast, secure, and low-cost domestic or cross-border payments
Digital banking, credit products, and consumer-first financial experiences
Flexible checkout financing and credit-based payment experiences for consumers
Tech solutions powering merchants, online commerce, and transaction infrastructure
Software tools that automate financial ops, planning, and enterprise finance workflows
Solutions ensuring secure onboarding, authentication, and fraud prevention
Financial products integrated directly into non-financial platforms and journeys
Platforms enabling community-based, peer, or group-driven financial services
Credit solutions designed for underserved, thin-file, or emerging-market consumers
Tools to identify, prevent, and mitigate transactional and behavioral fraud
Financing solutions supporting suppliers, distributors, and trade flows
Digital platforms transforming distribution, claims, underwriting, and policy management
Tools automating compliance, reporting, and regulatory alignment for financial entities
Solutions powered by secure data-sharing, banking APIs, and interoperable financial services
Innovations supporting open digital commerce, logistics, and financial layers of ONDC
We’re open to innovative startups across all financial sub-domains. If you’re
building something unique and impactful, we’d love to hear from you.
A structured journey designed to transform your startup
15 mins
2-3 weeks
2-3 weeks
4-6 weeks
3-5 days
11 weeks & ongoing support
Intensive workshops, expert mentoring, and growth focused business support
A structured journey designed to transform your startup from ideation
to investor-ready
Get familiar with the program, meet your cohort, and establish your growth foundation
A hybrid learning experience combining online sessions, in-person workshops, and one-on-one mentoring
Workshops & Sessions
A structured 12-week journey designed to transform your startup from ideation
to investor-ready
Get familiar with the program, meet your cohort, and establish your growth foundation
Pulse Team will be hosting program roadshow in major hubs across country to answer your queries
India
India
India
Find answers to common questions about our program
Pulse is a 24-weeks program for early-stage AI-driven FinTech startups, jointly run by Thinkuvate VC and SanchiConnect. It offers ₹2 Crore investment per startup, deep mentorship, access to BFSI partners, and a curated Demo Day with investors and corporates.
Startups building solutions in FinTech, AI, and data-led financial innovation can apply. Focus areas include Payments, Lending, Risk & Identity, RegTech, InsurTech, Open Banking, Embedded Finance, Supply Chain Finance, and ONDC-aligned domains
However, we are also open to investing in audacious entrepreneurs – change-makers using a deep tech or product-led approach to solve real-world challenges in the physical and industrial world.
We are looking for startups across various stages – starting from a Minimal Viable Product* stage – upto those that are in an early stage and are generating revenues.
(* Minimal Viable Product is a stage wherein the product/solution is ready for early customers who would be able to give useful feedback. Companies that do not have a Minimal Viable Product ready and have not provided their product/solution for pilots to early customers should refrain from applying.)
No, DPIIT registration is not mandatory to apply for the Maxcel program. However, it is always beneficial for startups to register with DPIIT to avail various government benefits such as tax exemptions, easier compliance, and access to startup schemes.
For Pulse, your startup just needs to meet the program’s eligibility criteria—having an MVP, early traction (revenue/pilots/LOIs), and working in the relevant sectors.
The startup must be incorporated in India or South-East Asia.
Yes, however, its chances of selection may be reduced.
It means that a product/service is not restricted to a particular market and can expand to multiple geographies outside India.
Yes, such startups can also apply to the program. We always encourage co-investors so that a startup has access to a larger pool of capital as it grows.
Yes, you may apply again – but only if there have been any significant changes since the last time you applied.
No, your application will not be considered. All applications must be submitted via this link
Stage 1 : Selection of applicants will be on the basis of the Initial application form
Stage 2 : Basis the details provided in the questionnaire, calls/demos will be scheduled
Stage 3 : We may call for more information basis our findings during calls/demos
Stage 4 : If your startup has passed the above stages, we will set up meetings with the partners at Thinkuvate to evaluate you on your entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
Stage 5 : If all goes well, we would issue a term sheet that will have all the legal/commercial aspects covered.
Stage 6 : An external third party will conduct due diligence.
Cohort Finalization: By 09th Jan 2026
Acceleration Program: 5th Mar 2026 – 30th Apr 2026
Demo Day: May 2026
Stage 7 : If the due diligence report is clear, and all the commercials and legal have been agreed to, we shall sign the Shareholders’ Agreement. Post signing of Shareholders’ Agreement, the funding amount will be allocated.
Pulse team will communicate the result directly via email after the end of each round to all the eligible startups.
Shortlisted founders, at each stage, will be contacted for further evaluation.
If you receive a rejection email, it does not mean that your venture is not worth funding but that it does not meet with our investment thesis and criteria. We would encourage you to persevere and search for funding elsewhere.
Post the deadline, we shall evaluate each deal and communicate via email whether a startup has progressed to the next round or has been rejected. We will be sending you an email in both the circumstances i.e. at the time of rejection or when a startup progresses to the next round.
The final selection will be communicated to the startups after the deadline of application.
Selected companies will receive a term sheet from Thinkuvate & SanchiConnect.
The selected founders will be mentored by the partners at Thinkuvateand the SanchiConnect team, who have experience in technology, strategy, financial management, global operations, etc. Also 1-on-1 sessions with industry leaders, seasoned founders, and functional experts will be done during the 24-weeks accleration program.
If the startup dors well we may participate in the follow-on funding rounds with even larger cheques.
Yes, You can email your queries at programs@sanchiconnect.net
Note: Any applications sent directly to the above email-id will not be considered for the Pulse Program
We are a founder friendly program & do not charge any program fee from startups. We do reserve right to invest in each selected company through partly paid equity.
The program is intended to assist founders in the early stage in developing a successful business through:
– Accelerators offer initial capital in exchange for equity. Some are equity-free and backed by corporates, governments, or nonprofits.
– Collaboration/ Partnership with ecosystem partners
– Mentorship around IP frameworks, & relevance, compliances, roadmap to $10 million ARR
Selected startups are announced for grant disbursement under Catalyst For Impact.
Present your solution to a panel of domain experts in a live virtual session.
All submissions shall be evaluated by an esteemed & independent jury
All registered participants get access to exclusive content curated for startups
Finalists to make in-person pitch to top VCs, investors for a funding opportunity and will be featured in Leap to Unicorn Finale aired on CNBC TV18
Shortlisted participants create a video pitch basis insights from the boot camp for further evaluation
Top 400 participants participate in extensive 15-day virtual knowledge sharing sessions on creating impactful pitch-decks
All submissions shall be evaluated by an esteemed & independent jury
All registered participants get access to exclusive content curated for startups
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