In a decisive move to democratize India’s startup boom, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has announced the expansion of its accelerator network into India’s emerging innovation hubs. This strategic initiative, launched under the Ministry of Education’s flagship program, aims to establish world-class acceleration support in cities like Coimbatore, Indore, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Jaipur, and Lucknow, fundamentally challenging the notion that startup success requires a Bengaluru or Gurugram address.

Exponent Energy, the Bengaluru-based startup renowned for its breakthrough 15-minute rapid charging technology, has made a strategic move that could prove as transformative as its hardware innovation. The company has launched Exponent One, a comprehensive financing platform designed to dismantle the single largest barrier to mass EV adoption in India: the prohibitive upfront cost of vehicles and charging infrastructure.