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Applications Open! Culture Catalyst 2025-26 Accelerator Program

Updated: May 27


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Setting up a cultural brand is hard, and scaling it up is even harder.

But we have you covered!


The Culture Catalyst 2025-26 is a unique business accelerator program curated specially to meet the needs and challenges of setting up and scaling a cultural brand in Punjab and neighbouring states. 

Purpose of the Cultural Accelerator Program

This accelerator is an initiative by Punjab Cultural Project (PCP) in partnership with Indian School of Business (AIC ISB) and Network of Indian Cultural Enterprises (NICEorg) to build an enabling ecosystem for cultural brands in North India to grow and scale.


What is the Culture Catalyst 2025-26 Accelerator Program?

It is a 6 month accelerator program for early stage cultural businesses in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi NCR.


Applications are open. Deadline: 15 June 2025. Only 10 spots open for this cohort.


What is a "cultural brand"? Do you qualify as a cultural brand?


There are 3 must-haves for a brand to qualify as a ‘cultural brand’


  1. Tangible brand: Cultural brands are not hobby projects or charity cases. The entrepreneur must have done some ground work to establish a concrete business entity to sell their cultural product or service.


  1. Nature of product or service: The product or service being offered is rooted in a traditional heritage, craft, technique, community or ecology. This includes brands building products and services in verticals such as:

    1. Experiential tourism

    2. Health and wellness

    3. Food and beverages

    4. Home decor and furnishings

    5. Fashion and accessories


  1. Responsible operations: The brand must treat its suppliers - artisans, craftspeople, local communities, the environment - as key stakeholders in their commercial success. It must balance profit with purpose to ensure it is not exploitative of the communities and ecologies that enable its products and services. 


If you identify as a cultural brand operating in North India, and meet the below additional eligibility criteria, then we encourage you to apply for the Culture Catalyst 2025-26 Accelerator Program!

Who can apply? (eligibility)

Founders or senior leadership of:

  • Registered company under Companies Act, 2013

  • Must be registered in North India or actively working with artisans and sourcing products from North India- Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh or Delhi NCR.

  • Must have been in existence for at least one year

  • Should have a minimum annual turnover of INR 1 Lakh

  • In the 5 verticals: Fashion and accessories, home decor and furnishings, health beauty and wellness, food and beverages, experiential tourism


Program outcome for participants (benefits)


At the end of the program, participating founders and brands will:

  • Have a good understanding of fundamental business concepts

  • Be able to develop their brand story and narrative as a ‘cultural brand’

  • Have a strategy to balance profit and purpose

  • Have a strategy to grow and scale their business with access to funding 


Program structure


There are 3 pillars to the program, namely Capacity Building, Market Access and Investor Readiness.

  • 12 Virtual Masterclasses

  • 3 in-person Immersions in July 2025, October 2025 and January 2026 at ISB Mohali

  • 3 Virtual Industry Talks

  • 5 Angel Investor-Mentors

  • 10 Peer-buddies

  • 1 Demo Day

  • 1 Pitch Day


    For more details, click here.


Program Timelines


  1. Applications: Start 01 May to 15 June 2025

  2. Cohort Selection: 15 June to 30 June 2025

  3. Announcement of selected cohort: 02 July 2025

  4. Program will run from: 04 July 2025 to 10 January 2026


How To Apply

Your application must include: 


  1. The Application Form - CLICK HERE FOR THE FORM


  2. The Pitch Deck Template  

    Download the pitch deck template from here


  3. Save it on your desktop with the name <COMPANY NAME-PitchDeck>


  4. Fill in all the details as per instructions provided in the slides


  5. Upload it to the google application form in the space provided


TIP: First get your pitch deck ready, and then fill up your Application Form.

 


And that's it! Let's get started - the application deadline is 15 June 2025!

Got questions? Email us at PunjabCulturalProject.pcp@gmail.com



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