Wed May 21 13:42:15 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, along with a brief summary:
**Summary:**
The Atal Incubation Centre at the Indian School of Business (AIC-ISB) is launching “Culture Catalyst 2025-26,” a startup accelerator program aimed at boosting cultural entrepreneurship in North India (Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh). The program seeks to support startups in areas like fashion, home decor, food & beverage, tourism, and wellness, offering mentoring, investor access, and a seed grant of ₹1 lakh to ten selected startups. The initiative is a partnership with the Punjab Cultural Project and the Network of Indian Cultural Enterprises.
**News Article:**
**ISB’s Atal Incubation Centre Launches Accelerator to Boost Cultural Entrepreneurship in North India**
**HYDERABAD, May 21, 2025** – The Atal Incubation Centre at the Indian School of Business (AIC-ISB) today announced the launch of “Culture Catalyst 2025-26,” a groundbreaking startup accelerator program designed to scale up cultural brands and entrepreneurship across North India. The initiative targets startups and entrepreneurs in the regions of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
The program focuses on key sectors including fashion, home decor, food and beverage, experiential tourism, and wellness. Aspiring entrepreneurs have until June 15th to apply for the highly competitive program.
Ten selected startups will receive significant support, including hands-on mentoring from industry experts, access to a network of investors, connections to vital market networks, and a seed grant of ₹1 lakh.
“Culture Catalyst 2025-26,” is a first-of-its-kind initiative, implemented by AIC-ISB in partnership with the Punjab Cultural Project (PCP) and the Network of Indian Cultural Enterprises (niceorg). The goal is to cultivate a thriving ecosystem that empowers cultural entrepreneurs to launch, grow, and scale purpose-driven and profitable brands, transforming local heritage into sustainable businesses across the region.
“This is a unique opportunity for artisans and cultural entrepreneurs to scale their enterprises and transform local heritage into global brands,” said an ISB representative.
The six-month program will offer a blend of in-person immersions, virtual masterclasses, sector-specific deep dives, and personalized mentorship to participating entrepreneurs. The initiative is expected to significantly boost the cultural economy of North India, creating new opportunities and preserving valuable heritage.
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