Mumbai: WaveX, the startup accelerator platform under India’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, has announced the launch of seven new incubation centres aimed at supporting early-stage ventures in the media, entertainment and AVGC-XR sectors. The move marks a significant expansion of the government’s WAVES initiative, which seeks to foster innovation in animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality technologies.
The new centres will be located at five campuses of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) — Delhi, Jammu, Dhenkanal, Kottayam and Amravati — as well as at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata. These facilities join the existing flagship incubator at the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) in Mumbai, creating a nationwide network of support for creative technology startups.
Each centre will offer access to advanced infrastructure for film production, game development, editing and testing. Startups will be able to use high-end equipment such as 8K cameras, Dolby Atmos preview theatres, virtual production stages, photogrammetry systems and VR testing kits. The IICT Mumbai facility, which serves as the model for the new centres, also includes professional sound and colour-mix theatres, 4K HDR edit suites and the latest gaming consoles. These resources are designed to help startups develop and validate content to global standards.
In addition to physical infrastructure, WaveX will provide structured mentorship, industry and government connections, and opportunities for international exposure. Startups will be eligible to participate in events such as VivaTech in Paris and the Game Developers Conference in the United States. The programme also includes access to cloud services, AI compute resources, and sandbox testing environments across various media formats including OTT, VFX, VR and publishing.
The incubation model operates in two phases. The active phase focuses on business modelling, product development, branding and fundraising, while the passive phase offers lighter mentorship and global showcasing opportunities. Selected startups may also be prioritised for projects outsourced by media units under the Ministry, including Doordarshan, All India Radio and the Press Information Bureau.
Applications for the first cohort are now open, with 15 startups to be selected at each location. A monthly fee of ₹8,500 plus GST will apply. Preference will be given to ventures in the Media-Entertainment and AVGC-XR sectors. Startups can apply via the WaveX portal by selecting their preferred incubation centre.
WaveX’s expansion reflects a broader effort to build a robust ecosystem for creative technologies in India. By partnering with institutions such as IITs and T-Hub, the initiative aims to provide startups with access to wider innovation networks and learning opportunities. The programme’s emphasis on early-stage support, including ventures that are still in conceptual or 'unreal' stages, sets it apart from traditional incubators that typically require market-ready products.
The announcement comes at a time when India’s AVGC-XR sector is gaining momentum, driven by rising demand for immersive content and digital entertainment. With the launch of these new centres, WaveX is positioning itself as a key enabler of growth in this space, offering startups the tools and guidance needed to compete on a global stage.
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