Measured by pilots, not promises.
₹50L
PoC Grant
25M+
Tonne Network
0%
Equity
About the Foundry
The shortest path from prototype to plant floor.
JK Cement's seed-stage program helps industrial startups fund, test, and deploy solutions inside real plant environments, with JK Cement as a working customer from day one.
JK Cement's seed-stage program for industrial startups. We fund the proof-of-concept, deploy it inside our plants, and become the first paying customer. Not a pitch competition. A working customer on day one.
The industrial ecosystem behind the Foundry
Backed by 50 years of operational scale across 20 plants.
Part of the national startup ecosystem, with policy-grade visibility.
Recognised under DPIIT's corporate-startup partnership framework.
Startup Benefits
What startups gain through the Foundry.
Venture client advantage
Work with JK Cement as a potential customer and validate your solution through real industry use cases.
Industrial sandbox
Access real-world industrial facilities to test, validate, and refine your solution in practical environments.
Industry expert guidance
Learn from leading industrial experts who can guide your solution, approach, and scale readiness.
Strategic investment
Get financial backing and equity participation opportunities for high-potential startup solutions.
Build your network
Build and expand your network across industry, startup, and business ecosystems.
Become a global player
Strengthen your solution for wider market adoption and move closer to becoming a global player.
The Offer
Four things we put on the table. No catch.
Grant
Up to ₹50L
Grant support may be provided to selected startups, based on project fit, evaluation, approved scope, and actual expenditure.
Deployment
Plant access
Plant access may be provided to selected startups for testing with relevant teams, plant data, and operational context.
Investment
Strategic pathway
Investment may be explored at the right stage, based on pilot outcomes, strategic fit, growth potential, and valuation.
Terms
No fee
No participation fee applies for eligible startups, with mentorship, R&D support, and ecosystem access included.
EMERGING SOLUTIONS
Challenge winners with pilot potential.From challenge winners to industrial pilots
Each selected startup brings a focused solution with the potential to address real operational needs, creating a pathway from problem discovery to pilot execution.
The Foundry processHow the Foundry works
A clear path from fit to scale.A clear path. From application to pilot readiness.
Build with JK Cement's industrial network.
Apply if your startup is ready to test at plant scale, or submit a real plant challenge for JKCSF to solve with vetted startup technology.
- PoC Pathway
- R&D Testing
- Plant Access
- Scale Up
Areas of Interest
Where startup solutions can create industrial impact.
Building MaterialsSolutions reducing emissions and improving cement resource efficiency.
Artificial IntelligenceSolutions reducing emissions and improving cement resource efficiency.
Clean EnergySolutions reducing emissions and improving cement resource efficiency.
LogisticsSolutions reducing emissions and improving cement resource efficiency.
Robotic Process AutomationSmarter systems for robotics, monitoring, safety, and plant-level workflow efficiency.
Circular EconomySolutions reducing emissions and improving cement resource efficiency.
FintechSolutions reducing emissions and improving cement resource efficiency.
B2B SoftwareSolutions reducing emissions and improving cement resource efficiency.
PeopleSolutions reducing emissions and improving cement resource efficiency.
Industrial Footprint
A network built for real-world scale.
Across 22 Indian states and Union territories, JK Cement creates real industrial environments for testing, validation, and scale.
With a presence in 38 countries, JK Cement gives startups access to wider market visibility and long-term scale opportunitines beyond a single geography.
Industrial Access
Built around JK Cement's ecosystem.
Industrial access for scalable innovation
JK Cement gives startups access to real industrial environments, manufacturing operations, material systems, and business use cases where solutions can be tested, validated, and prepared for wider deployment.
From the Leadership
“The Foundry brings startup speed closer to our plant floors. Through the DPIIT MoU, JK Cement aims to deploy technologies across clinkerisation, alternative fuels, and cement operations faster.”
Mr. Madhavkrishna Singhania
Joint MD & CEO, JK Cement Ltd.
Latest News
What we've been up to.
May 12, 2026
JK Cement opens startup foundry: will be the first paying customer for industrial deeptech
April 28, 2026
How a Foundry cohort startup is replacing coal with biomass in JK Cement's kilns
April 15, 2026
The 'venture client' model arrives in Indian manufacturing and JK Cement is going first
Frequently asked questions
What founders and teams ask the most.
DPIIT-recognised startups in the Seed–Series A range with a deployable solution relevant to one of the six published problem statements. Applications are submitted via the Startup India portal.There is no participation fee.
DPIIT-recognised startups in the Seed–Series A range with a deployable solution relevant to one of the six published problem statements. Applications are submitted via the Startup India portal.There is no participation fee.
DPIIT-recognised startups in the Seed–Series A range with a deployable solution relevant to one of the six published problem statements. Applications are submitted via the Startup India portal.There is no participation fee.
DPIIT-recognised startups in the Seed–Series A range with a deployable solution relevant to one of the six published problem statements. Applications are submitted via the Startup India portal.There is no participation fee.