IIMA Ventures, in collaboration with SAP, launched the North East Growth Lab (NEGL)—a multi-state initiative to accelerate over 90 startups and social enterprises across all eight northeastern states.
Building on the success of the World Bank-supported Assam Agribusiness Growth Lab (AAGL), the NEGL aims to provide catalytic capital, mentorship, training, and market access to high-potential ventures. Over the next five years, the initiative targets to create an enterprise value of ₹100 crore and positively impact over 5 lakh individuals from low- and middle-income backgrounds.
The program is expected to be a game-changer for Guwahati, already emerging as a regional hub for innovation. With several startups like Dream Hives (mead from honey), Greengen (biofertilizer for tea plantations), and Pustikor Foods (Joha rice-based cookies) already gaining traction, the initiative is poised to energize local ecosystems and draw investor interest to Assam’s largest city. NEGL will also facilitate outreach programs, investor demo days, and bootcamps in the region and metro cities. It will actively collaborate with institutions like NABARD, NEDFI, NEHHDC, NERAMAC, and the Ministry of DoNER to ensure long-term regional impact.
