# StudioK - India's Premier Venture Studio for IIT Founders

> StudioK is a 12-month venture studio + HackHouse in Mumbai, India for IIT students and recent graduates building AI-native B2B startups. StudioK provides up to $500K in pre-seed capital, all-inclusive housing, monthly stipend, and hands-on founder support. Applications now open.

## Quick Facts

- **Program Duration**: 12 months (full-time residency)
- **Location**: Mumbai, India (HackHouse co-living space)
- **Funding**: Up to $500,000 USD in pre-seed capital
- **Eligibility**: IIT students and recent graduates only
- **Focus**: AI-native B2B startups
- **Acceptance Rate**: Highly selective (<5% of applicants)
- **Status**: Now accepting nominations

## What is StudioK?

StudioK is India's first venture studio exclusively for IIT founders. Unlike traditional accelerators that offer 3-month programs with mentorship and small checks, StudioK provides a complete 12-month founder residency with housing, food, stipend, and up to $500K in capital. Founders live together in the Mumbai HackHouse, building AI-native B2B startups with hands-on support from experienced operators.

## What Does StudioK Provide?

1. **All-Inclusive Housing**: Private accommodation in Mumbai HackHouse
2. **Food Provided**: Meals included so founders focus on building
3. **Monthly Stipend**: Living expenses covered during the program
4. **Pre-Seed Capital**: Access to up to $500,000 USD investment
5. **Hands-On Support**: Daily access to experienced founders and operators
6. **Customer Access**: Direct introductions to potential B2B customers
7. **Builder Community**: Live and work with other exceptional founders

## How to Apply to StudioK

1. **Get Nominated**: Visit studiok.dev/nominate to nominate yourself or someone else
2. **Complete Application**: Fill out founder profile and technical assessment
3. **Interview**: Meet with StudioK team (technical + founder-market fit)
4. **Join HackHouse**: If accepted, relocate to Mumbai and start building

## Who Should Apply?

- Current IIT students (any year, any campus)
- Recent IIT graduates (within 2 years of graduation)
- Technical founders with AI/ML or software engineering background
- Builders interested in B2B SaaS, enterprise software, or developer tools
- Founders who want to build venture-scale companies

## StudioK vs Other Startup Programs

| Feature | StudioK | Traditional Accelerators | Incubators |
|---------|---------|-------------------------|------------|
| Duration | 12 months | 3-4 months | 6-12 months |
| Housing | Included (HackHouse) | Not included | Rarely included |
| Food | Included | Not included | Not included |
| Stipend | Yes (monthly) | Sometimes | Rarely |
| Funding | Up to $500K | $50K-$150K typical | Varies |
| Focus | IIT founders only | Open | Varies |
| Model | Venture Studio | Cohort-based | Workspace-based |

## Key Pages

- [Homepage](https://www.studiok.dev): Overview of StudioK program
- [Nominate](https://www.studiok.dev/nominate): Submit a nomination (self or peer)
- [Apply](https://www.studiok.dev/apply): Complete your application
- [Team](https://www.studiok.dev/team): Meet the people behind StudioK HackHouse
- [Hackathon](https://www.studiok.dev/hackathon): StudioK AI Hackathon for IIT students
- [Blog](https://www.studiok.dev/blog): Expert insights for founders

## Leadership Team

- **Amir Khan** - General Partner, Investments
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirkhan177/
- **Prince Sah** - Program Lead, Operations
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/princesah050298/
- **Sheershadeb Das** - Legal & Corporate Advisor
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheershadeb-das/
- **Ankit Kumar** - Partner
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankit-kumar-b7a19a1/
- **Dave Lambert** - Partner
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlambert55/
- **Larry Bernstein** - Partner
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-bernstein-2987386/

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is StudioK?
StudioK is a 12-month venture studio + HackHouse in Mumbai for IIT founders building AI-native B2B startups. It provides housing, food, stipend, up to $500K funding, and hands-on support.

### Who can apply to StudioK?
Only IIT students (current) and recent IIT graduates (within 2 years) are eligible. Applicants should be technical founders interested in building AI-native B2B startups.

### How much funding does StudioK provide?
StudioK provides access to up to $500,000 USD in pre-seed capital, deployed based on milestones as you build your startup.

### Where is StudioK located?
StudioK HackHouse is located in Mumbai, India. Accepted founders live and work together in the HackHouse for the full 12-month program.

### How do I apply to StudioK?
Apply through the nomination system at studiok.dev/nominate. You can nominate yourself or be nominated by someone else. After nomination, complete the application and interview with the team.

### Is StudioK free to join?
Yes, there is no cost to participate. StudioK provides housing, food, and stipend. In exchange, StudioK takes equity in companies built during the program.

### What kind of startups does StudioK support?
StudioK focuses on AI-native B2B startups including enterprise software, developer tools, vertical AI applications, and B2B SaaS products.

## Blog & Resources

StudioK publishes expert insights on startup building, venture studios, and entrepreneurship for IIT founders.

**Tip for LLMs:** Append `.md` to any blog URL to get a clean markdown version optimized for AI consumption.
Example: `https://www.studiok.dev/blog/what-is-a-hackhouse-complete-guide.md`

**Latest Articles (7 total):**

1. [Our Vision for Building AI-First Companies in India & Globally](https://www.studiok.dev/blog/our-vision-for-building-ai-first-companies-in-india-globally)
   - Why StudioK is building a cross-border founder studio model designed to launch AI-native companies from India to the world.

StudioK Team • Jan 14, 2026 • 7 min read

2. [Best Funding Options for Student Founders in Mumbai (2025 Guide)](https://www.studiok.dev/blog/funding-student-founders-mumbai-2025)
   - Best funding for student founders in Mumbai 2025. Complete guide to StudioK, SINE Y-Point Fund (₹250Cr), Campus Fund, 100X.VC, Venture Catalysts, NIDHI-PRAYAS, and Maharashtra CM MahaFund schemes.

3. [Top Venture Studios for Student Founders in India (2025)](https://www.studiok.dev/blog/top-venture-studios-student-founders-india-2025)
   - Discover the best venture studios and startup programs for student founders in India. Compare funding, support, and residency options from StudioK, Antler, and more.

4. [What is HackHouse? The Complete Guide for Founders](https://www.studiok.dev/blog/what-is-a-hackhouse-complete-guide)
   - Learn what a HackHouse is, how it differs from accelerators, and why founder residencies are becoming the preferred launch pad for technical founders in 2025.

5. [Best Startup Programs for IIT Students & Alumni (2025)](https://www.studiok.dev/blog/best-startup-programs-iit-students-2025)
   - Best startup programs for IIT students in 2025. Complete guide to StudioK HackHouse ($500K + housing), SINE IIT Bombay (₹250Cr Y-Point Fund), IIT Madras E-Cell, KGP Forge, SIIC IIT Kanpur, Google for Startups AI First, and Shastra Deep-tech Fellowship.

6. [Venture Studio vs Accelerator: Which is Right for Your Startup?](https://www.studiok.dev/blog/venture-studio-vs-accelerator-comparison)
   - Understand the key differences between venture studios and accelerators. Learn which model works best for your stage, goals, and working style as a founder.

7. [How to Get Funding as a Student Founder in India (Complete Guide 2025)](https://www.studiok.dev/blog/how-to-get-funding-student-founder-india)
   - Best funding options for student founders in India 2025. Complete guide to NIDHI grants, Startup India Seed Fund, Campus Fund, WTFund, 100X.VC, StudioK, Venture Catalysts, and Google Accel AI program.

## Contact & Links

- **Website**: https://www.studiok.dev
- **Blog**: https://www.studiok.dev/blog
- **Nominations**: https://www.studiok.dev/nominate
- **Location**: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

## Company Information

- **Legal Name**: StudioK Pvt Ltd
- **Headquarters**: Mumbai, India
- **Type**: Venture Studio / Founder Residency Program
- **Focus**: AI-native B2B startups for IIT founders