GIFT City opened applications on 10 June for the second cohort of its Fintech Residential Programme, inviting early-stage start-ups to apply by 5 July for a programme that combines an in-person residency with virtual support focused on product development and market validation.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
The programme was structured as a six-month engagement, with selected participants to undergo three months of in-person residency at GIFT City followed by three months of virtual support. The curriculum was described as being dedicated to product development, market validation and ecosystem engagement.
The programme is open to idea-stage, pre-product, minimum viable product-stage and early-validation start-ups working in areas such as cross-border finance; security, risk and compliance; Web3 and blockchain infrastructure; and GovTech and RegTech.
The programme is being delivered through the GIFT International Fintech Innovation Hub (GIFT IFIH) and participants will receive mentorship from industry experts, access to ecosystem stakeholders, regulatory exposure, and opportunities to engage with investors and strategic partners.
BACKGROUND
The first cohort of the programme supported 11 start-ups with structured mentorship, product development assistance, ecosystem access and investor engagement.
GIFT IFIH, established by GIFT City in January 2025, aims to support 250 fintech start-ups over the next four years.
Several of the hub's portfolio start-ups have taken part in the IFSCA FinTech Innovation Sandbox or obtained Payment Service Provider licences under the IFSCA regulatory framework.
Sanjay Kaul, Managing Director and Group CEO of GIFT City, said the programme aims "to support founders developing solutions for domestic and global markets while leveraging the unique ecosystem available at GIFT City".
Sources: The Hindu Business Line Banking
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