Nikhil Kamath and Kishore Biyani Launch The Foundery to Build India’s Next Founders

India’s startup ecosystem is set to gain a fresh catalyst with the launch of The Foundery, a new business launchpad co-founded by Nikhil Kamath and Kishore Biyani. Designed as a co-founder factory, The Foundery aims to identify, mentor, and co-build the next generation of Indian entrepreneurs through a hands-on, experience-driven model.

A 90-Day Immersive Startup Journey

The Foundery combines elements of a school, accelerator, and venture studio into a single 90-day immersive programme. Participants are taken from idea stage to an investible business within a short but intense timeframe. Rather than focusing on classroom learning, the programme emphasises building, testing, failing, and iterating in real market conditions.

Nikhil Kamath described the initiative as a response to outdated education models that prioritise conformity over creativity. According to him, The Foundery is meant for individuals who want to build their own path rather than follow established templates.

Learning by Building, Not by Theory

Kishore Biyani highlighted that The Foundery is neither a traditional incubator nor a classroom. Instead, it is a live business-building environment where founders learn through direct experience. Participants work alongside the Foundery team and seasoned mentors to validate ideas, develop products, and shape scalable business models.

Selected participants can retain up to 25% equity in the ventures they help create. Promising startups may also receive seed funding of up to ₹4 crore, along with continued strategic and operational support after completing the programme.

Founder-Focused Selection Process

The Foundery is open to aspiring entrepreneurs, mid-career professionals, and early-stage founders. The selection process prioritises potential over polish, evaluating applicants through idea articulation, problem-solving exercises, and interviews focused on creativity, resilience, and founder mindset. The goal is to identify individuals capable of growth rather than those skilled only at pitching.

Santosh Desai, who helped conceptualise the initiative, said the programme seeks people who combine imagination with intent and can think differently while acting decisively.

Mentorship and Ecosystem Support

Participants will be guided by a diverse group of mentors including Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Kunal Bahl, Aakash Chaudhry, Mithun Sacheti, Varun Berry, Haresh Chawla, Aditya Sehgal, Garima Deveshwar Bahl, Jacob Mathew, Ireena Vittal, Rama Bijapurkar, Aakrit Vaish, among others. Mentorship will span opportunity design, validation, execution, leadership, and scale.

Each cohort concludes with a Demo Day where founders present their ventures to a curated investor network. Alongside business building, The School of Life focuses on emotional resilience, curiosity, and purpose.

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Conclusion

With its immersive structure, strong mentorship, and focus on experiential learning, The Foundery aims to redefine how startups are built in India, nurturing founders equipped for real-world challenges rather than theoretical success.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a private recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.