Assistant Manager - Runway Incubator

UPES; Dehradun; On-site; INR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

UPES in Dehradun seeks an Assistant Incubation Manager to run the incubation program and collaborate with student founders to help them build real startups. The role focuses on selecting cohorts, guiding them through structured programs, and ensuring measurable progress.

The candidate will work hands-on with founders, run clinics and bootcamps, and coordinate mentors to accelerate MVPs and market validation. Strong execution and teamwork are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience working with startups, incubation programs, or early-stage ecosystems.
• Hands-on, execution-focused approach to building startups.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork across cohorts, mentors, and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Run incubation cohorts and manage the incubation program.
• Execute two cohorts per year with defined stages (idea → validation → MVP → early traction).
• Set milestones and review progress regularly across cohorts.
• Identify and evaluate startup ideas and teams; decide admissions and exits.
• Run clinics, bootcamps, and 1:1 sessions with founders to validate ideas and build MVPs.
• Push teams toward real customer engagement and market validation.
• Identify and onboard mentors; match them to startups based on need; ensure engagement.
• Prepare startups for funding: pitch, metrics, storytelling; connect to grants and early-stage investors.
• Monitor startup progress (MVPs, users, revenue, funding) and improve the program based on outcomes.
• Promote entrepreneurship across campus and convert events into serious startup applications.

Skills

Startup experience

Execution mindset

Team player

Mentor coordination

Job description

Role Summary

The Assistant Incubation Manager will run the incubation program and work closely with student founders to help them build real startups. The role focuses on selecting the right teams, supporting them through structured programs, and ensuring they make measurable progress.

Key Responsibilities

Run Incubation Cohorts

Execute two cohorts per year

Define stages: idea → validation → MVP → early traction

Set milestones and review progress regularly

Select & Filter Startups

Identify and evaluate startup ideas and teams

Decide who gets in and who doesn’t

Exit teams that are not making progress

Work Hands-on with Founders

Run clinics, bootcamps, and 1:1 sessions

Help founders validate ideas, build MVPs, and go to market

Push teams toward real customer engagement

Mentors & Ecosystem

Identify and onboard relevant, active mentors

Match mentors to startups based on need

Ensure mentors are actually engaged

Funding Support

Prepare startups for funding (pitch, metrics, storytelling)

Connect them to grants, competitions, and early-stage investors

Support founders through the fundraising process

Track Outcomes

Monitor startup progress (MVPs, users, revenue, funding)

Improve the program based on outcomes

Entrepreneurship Evangelising & Pipeline Building

Design and run startup-focused events (talks, founder sessions, bootcamps)

Actively promote entrepreneurship across campus

Convert event participation into serious startup applications

Build sustained interest, not one-time attendance

What Success Looks Like

Strong founders and focused cohorts

Startups reaching MVP and early validation

Active mentor involvement

Startups able to secure grants / early funding

Weak ideas filtered out early

Who This Role Suits

Experience in startups, incubation, or early-stage ecosystem

Hands-on and execution-focused

Team player