Ask, and NSRCEL Shall Give: How to Actually Use the Ecosystem

I engage with around 50 to 100 startups annually at NSRCEL. I keep reminding startups to stay in touch with the NSRCEL team and seek as much help as possible, not just during the incubation period, but after it too. But very few actually leverage the NSRCEL network to its full potential. One founder asked me, “What’s the best way to do it? This blog helps answer just that.

As a startup founder, you already know your respective program team. Ensure you are in constant touch with them. Share what progress you have made, what challenges you are facing, and what you are looking for. They are the best sounding board for brainstorming. The NSRCEL association alone often unlocks doors! NSRCEL has a vast network. The more proactive you are, the better you will be able to tap into it. Whenever you are looking to connect with someone, check whether they are part of NSRCEL. If yes, check with the program team to see if they can make a soft introduction for you.

NSRCEL mentors are the backbone of the incubation and support we offer. Mentors offer their time, energy and effort for your growth. Some founders treat mentors, transactionally – please don’t, whether it’s an NSRCEL mentor or not. Don’t treat mentors as a shortcut to business development or introductions. Take the right approach, and they can help you carve out an entirely new path. If a mentor’s advice genuinely helped you, write to them and tell them how. For a mentor to open doors, they need to believe in you, and that trust has to be earned. It won’t happen in the first meeting. Build rapport first, and watch the magic unfold. Build rapport first, and watch the magic unfold.

I have also noticed that when a mentor or program team say “I know someone,” they usually do follow through and connect you. But founders often don’t follow up. And when they do, it’s often just one email. Don’t stop there; the email might have been missed. Being persistent helps more than you think.

In most cases, you will get a response. If you don’t, assume it’s a dead lead and move on. It’s like sales: you need a good volume of conversations to get a few conversions. Same story here.

NSRCEL has also developed a Startup Kit where 100+ partners offer their services at a free or subsidised rate for the initial years. You may not need it during incubation, but if the need arises later, you can still approach the NSRCEL team. Please write to shloka.sachdev@nsrcel.iimb.ac.in and avail of it.

To conclude, sharing the famous dialogue of Prof Dumbledore, slightly revised in NSRCEL’s context by my colleague Akshay Bapte. “Help will always be given at NSRCEL to those who ask for it.”

The author Akshay Joshi is a Senior Program Manager at NSRCEL, working closely with founders through their incubation journey in the Climate Centre of Excellence.