BITSoM VERTEX has moved 35 artificial intelligence startups into the next stage of its venture-building programme after a nationwide selection process that began with more than 2,300 registrations. The initiative, run by BITS School of Management (BITSoM) under the aegis of BITS Pilani, aims to help early-stage founders turn promising AI products into solutions that businesses can test and potentially adopt.

The milestone matters because building a working prototype is only one part of creating a viable startup. Founders also need to confirm that a real customer problem exists, meet enterprise requirements, build a dependable product and develop a path to revenue. VERTEX is designed to connect startups with business expertise and technical resources as they work through these challenges.

How the selection process progressed

The programme’s selection funnel narrowed the applicant pool in stages. More than 2,300 registrations were received, 150 startups were shortlisted for the BUILD stage at the BITSoM campus, and 50 advanced to the PITCH stage in Mumbai. Following the Builders Pitch Fest finale, 35 startups were selected to proceed to the next stage.

The startups are working across areas that include enterprise AI, automation, industry-specific AI, multilingual applications, education technology and financial services. The 35 are advancing participants; the announcement does not mean that all have already completed incubation, secured investment or won commercial contracts.

What support is planned for the selected startups?

BITSoM VERTEX says the next stage will provide venture-building mentorship, opportunities to explore enterprise pilots, investor-network access, AI infrastructure and dedicated student venture teams. These resources address different parts of the startup journey: mentors can help founders refine business plans, enterprise contacts can help test whether a solution fits a real workflow, and technical infrastructure can support product development.

ICICI Bank is the lead enterprise partner for startups focused on banking and financial services, offering sector expertise and domain mentorship. Technology partners named for the initiative include AWS, Google Cloud, MongoDB, Zoho and ClickUp, which are expected to support participating ventures with infrastructure credits and tools. Access to these resources can help founders explore enterprise needs, but it does not guarantee a pilot, funding or a customer contract.

BITSoM VERTEX timeline

• August 2026: BITSoM VERTEX was launched in partnership with Silicon Valley-based AI Innovation Studio LENZ.
• During the selection process: More than 2,300 registrations led to 150 BUILD-stage participants and then 50 PITCH-stage startups.
• October 13, 2026: The Builders Pitch Fest finale brought startups, enterprise representatives, technology experts and academics together in Mumbai.
• October 14, 2026: BITSoM announced that 35 startups would advance to the next stage.
• Next three years: The programme aims to graduate 100 enterprise-ready AI ventures.

What founders should take from the announcement

For founders considering future programmes, the VERTEX approach highlights questions worth asking before applying: Does the programme connect participants with potential users? Are enterprise pilots opportunities to test a product or confirmed deployments? What mentorship and technical resources are included, and are there fees, equity terms or participation commitments? Applicants should check the official programme details for current eligibility, deadlines and conditions rather than assume that this cohort’s arrangements will apply to a future intake.

The target of 100 ventures is a three-year ambition, not a count of startups already graduated. VERTEX’s next test will be whether the selected teams can use mentorship and enterprise access to validate their products, improve reliability and find repeatable business use cases. For students, the initiative also presents a practical learning model: BITSoM says dedicated student teams will work with startups, giving them exposure to venture building alongside their management studies.