Position: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NSRCEL (IIMB Innovations – A Section 8 Company)

Reporting to: Chairperson NSRCEL and Board of IIMB Innovations

The Opportunity

NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore is looking for a CEO to lead one of India’s most credentialed incubation platforms at a moment when the opportunity to shape the ecosystem has never been larger.
NSRCEL’s track record speaks for itself – 3,178+ ventures incubated, 7,445+ ventures impacted, nearly 35,792 jobs created. NSRCEL launched India’s first social enterprise incubator and built one of the world’s largest communities of women entrepreneurs (recognized by the Hon’ble President of India). This financial year alone, we have engaged 662 ventures across 13 program tracks in 82 towns. We are certified as a Great Place to Work and rated among the top incubators in the country.
With a venture-first approach, a network of 120+ mentors spanning generalist and domain expertise, and ~100 technology partnerships (including AWS, Google, and Microsoft credits), NSRCEL offers a strong institutional and ecosystem backbone.
The CEO will take this to the next frontier – scaling the organization’s national and global influence, deepen impact across sectors, and shape the next generation of Indian ventures and incubators.

The Role

The CEO is the executive head of NSRCEL, operating through IIMB Innovations, a Section-8 company established by IIM Bangalore to advance entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem development.
The CEO will further NSRCEL’s vision to deliver nation-scale impact by being a leader in incubation and entrepreneurial learning. The CEO is responsible for translating NSRCEL’s mission and strategy into high-quality execution, overseeing all programs, operations, partnerships, and organizational capabilities. The CEO will provide leadership, ensure institutional excellence, operational rigour, and drive NSRCEL’s growth, impact, and sustainability in alignment with IIM Bangalore’s values and long-term vision.
The CEO will report to the Chairperson of NSRCEL and Board, and represent IIM Bangalore’s values across the entire startup ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Shape the Strategy

• Set NSRCEL’s direction and translate it into annual plans with clear milestones
• Stay ahead of trends in entrepreneurship and innovation to keep NSRCEL’s offerings sharp and relevant

Drive Program Impact

• Own the full portfolio: incubation, acceleration, and ecosystem development
• Set a high bar for program quality and founder experience

Build the Organization

• Attract and develop high-quality talent across programs, operations, and leadership
• Build a culture rooted in mission, professionalism, and learn

Lead Externally

• Be NSRCEL’s face and voice across startups, investors, corporates, government, and donors
• Build strategic partnerships that scale impact

Ensure Sustainability

• Drive fundraising, investments, and sustainable funding models
• Own financial planning and governance alongside the Board and CFO

Who We’re Looking For

• A post-graduate with 15+ years of experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, incubation, ecosystem development, management consulting, or related domains
• A deep understanding of India’s startup ecosystem and genuine passion for creating impact through it
• High energy: the kind of person who can motivate and mobilize partners, teams, and stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to formulate and implement strategy in complex, mission-driven organizations
• Board-level experience: comfort working with boards and non-executive leadership in accountable governance settings
• A strong stakeholder network spanning startups, academia, industry, government, and donors

NSRCEL: The Background & Legacy

NSRCEL, the NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning at IIM Bangalore, is one of India’s most influential startup hubs and incubation platforms, structured as a Section-8 not‑for‑profit entity with a clear mandate: nurture entrepreneurs who can move the needle on both economic growth and societal impact. In the current financial year alone, NSRCEL has engaged with 662 ventures through 13 distinctive program tracks, spanning 82 towns across the country, while also helping five emerging incubators establish and scale their own operations. Supported by key government bodies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and partnering with leading corporates including Alstom, Capgemini, HUL, SBI Foundation, Goldman Sachs, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Maruti Suzuki, NSRCEL sits at the intersection of policy, industry, and entrepreneurship.

Over the last 25 years, NSRCEL has incubated more than 3,178 ventures and positively impacted over 7,445 ventures, with its portfolio contributing to the creation of nearly 35,792 jobs. It has been a pioneer in the startup ecosystem, launching India’s first dedicated incubation program for social enterprises and building one of the largest communities of women entrepreneurs globally, an achievement that was acknowledged by the Hon’ble President of India. Through a mix of incubation and acceleration programs, NSRCEL offers high‑touch mentorship, curated learning, access to powerful networks, and critical connections to capital for founders.

NSRCEL today runs specialized initiatives across deep-tech, climate, fintech, healthcare, social impact, student entrepreneurship, and women-led ventures, and counts among its success stories companies such as Amagi, Go Desi, Mango Technologies, Milaap, and Zoojoo.be, among others. It has been certified as a Great Place to Work and is rated among the top incubators in the country by Atal Innovation Mission, Entrepreneur India and Hindu Business Line.