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Nominations Open

Relentless Builders To World-Class Founders.

A 12-month venture studio + HackHouse in Bangalore for ambitious student founders building AI-native B2B startups.

Who This Is For

Are you ready to build?

StudioK HackHouse is designed for ambitious student talent who want to create, not just consume. If this sounds like you, keep reading.

🎓

Student or Recent Graduate

Current student or recent graduate (≤18 months) from a top-tier university. BTech, Dual, MTech, PhD, MS, etc.

🏠

Ready to Relocate

Ready to live in Bangalore and build full-time. This is a 100% in-person program — the HackHouse is where the magic happens.

🚀

Serious About Startups

Serious about building a VC-backable AI/B2B startup. You prefer ownership over a standard placement.

How It Works

The 12-Month Program

By month 12, the goal: you're a full-time founder with a live product, real users, and a credible funding path.

Step 01

4 teams/year

Nominate & Accept

Get nominated by someone who believes in you. Complete the founder assessment. We select on execution, resilience, and clarity of thought.

Step 02

Months 1–6

Move In & Build

Relocate to the Bangalore HackHouse. Together we lock in a high-upside AI/B2B problem, talk to customers, validate, design and ship your MVP, get first users and early revenue.

Step 03

Months 6–12

Launch & Raise

We help you formalize the company and cap table, make your metrics VC-ready, use warm intros to angels and funds, and aim at pre-seed (up to $500K).

Why StudioK

How StudioK is fundamentally
different from others:

Elite Student Founder Pool

Built specifically for top student talent, not generic cohorts. We understand the unique strengths and potential of ambitious student founders.

All-In, Not Part-Time

You live in the HackHouse. Housing, food, tools, and stipend are handled so you can focus 100% on building.

Studio, Not Just Incubator

We co-build with you on idea, product, GTM, and fundraising. Our success is tied directly to yours.

India → Silicon Valley

Mentors and investors across both ecosystems, with a clear line to SV pre-seed instead of cold outreach.

Our Network

Investor Network

Y Combinator logo

Y Combinator

Partner

Learn More

Sequoia logo

Sequoia

Network

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a16z logo

a16z

Network

Learn More

Accel logo

Accel

Partner

Learn More

Benchmark logo

Benchmark

Partner

Learn More

Greylock logo

Greylock

Network

Learn More

Lightspeed logo

Lightspeed

Network

Learn More

NFX logo

NFX

Network

Learn More

500 Startups logo

500 Startups

Network

Learn More

ICONIQ Capital logo

ICONIQ Capital

Partner

Learn More

Peak XV logo

Peak XV

Partner

Learn More

Blume Ventures logo

Blume Ventures

Network

Learn More

Kalaari Capital logo

Kalaari Capital

Network

Learn More

3one4 Capital logo

3one4 Capital

Partner

Learn More

Prime Venture Partners logo

Prime Venture Partners

Partner

Learn More

Elevation Capital logo

Elevation Capital

Network

Learn More

Matrix Partners India logo

Matrix Partners India

Partner

Learn More

Titan Capital logo

Titan Capital

Network

Learn More

Indian Angel Network logo

Indian Angel Network

Network

Learn More

9Unicorns logo

9Unicorns

Partner

Learn More

Venture Catalysts logo

Venture Catalysts

Network

Learn More

Fireside Ventures logo

Fireside Ventures

Partner

Learn More

Tribe Capital logo

Tribe Capital

Network

Learn More

Village Global logo

Village Global

Network

Learn More

On Deck logo

On Deck

Network

Learn More

Plug and Play logo

Plug and Play

Partner

Learn More

Alchemist logo

Alchemist

Network

Learn More

AngelPad logo

AngelPad

Partner

Learn More

Pioneer Fund logo

Pioneer Fund

Partner

Learn More

SV Angel logo

SV Angel

Network

Learn More

Polychain Capital logo

Polychain Capital

Partner

Learn More

Dragonfly logo

Dragonfly

Partner

Learn More

Root Ventures logo

Root Ventures

Network

Learn More

Heavybit logo

Heavybit

Partner

Learn More

Precursor Ventures logo

Precursor Ventures

Network

Learn More

Designer Fund logo

Designer Fund

Network

Learn More

Better Tomorrow logo

Better Tomorrow

Partner

Learn More

Day One Ventures logo

Day One Ventures

Partner

Learn More

Eniac Ventures logo

Eniac Ventures

Network

Learn More

Crosslink Capital logo

Crosslink Capital

Partner

Learn More

Y Combinator logo

Y Combinator

Partner

Learn More

Sequoia logo

Sequoia

Network

Learn More

a16z logo

a16z

Network

Learn More

Accel logo

Accel

Partner

Learn More

Benchmark logo

Benchmark

Partner

Learn More

Greylock logo

Greylock

Network

Learn More

Lightspeed logo

Lightspeed

Network

Learn More

NFX logo

NFX

Network

Learn More

500 Startups logo

500 Startups

Network

Learn More

ICONIQ Capital logo

ICONIQ Capital

Partner

Learn More

Peak XV logo

Peak XV

Partner

Learn More

Blume Ventures logo

Blume Ventures

Network

Learn More

Kalaari Capital logo

Kalaari Capital

Network

Learn More

3one4 Capital logo

3one4 Capital

Partner

Learn More

Prime Venture Partners logo

Prime Venture Partners

Partner

Learn More

Elevation Capital logo

Elevation Capital

Network

Learn More

Matrix Partners India logo

Matrix Partners India

Partner

Learn More

Titan Capital logo

Titan Capital

Network

Learn More

Indian Angel Network logo

Indian Angel Network

Network

Learn More

9Unicorns logo

9Unicorns

Partner

Learn More

Venture Catalysts logo

Venture Catalysts

Network

Learn More

Fireside Ventures logo

Fireside Ventures

Partner

Learn More

Tribe Capital logo

Tribe Capital

Network

Learn More

Village Global logo

Village Global

Network

Learn More

On Deck logo

On Deck

Network

Learn More

Plug and Play logo

Plug and Play

Partner

Learn More

Alchemist logo

Alchemist

Network

Learn More

AngelPad logo

AngelPad

Partner

Learn More

Pioneer Fund logo

Pioneer Fund

Partner

Learn More

SV Angel logo

SV Angel

Network

Learn More

Polychain Capital logo

Polychain Capital

Partner

Learn More

Dragonfly logo

Dragonfly

Partner

Learn More

Root Ventures logo

Root Ventures

Network

Learn More

Heavybit logo

Heavybit

Partner

Learn More

Precursor Ventures logo

Precursor Ventures

Network

Learn More

Designer Fund logo

Designer Fund

Network

Learn More

Better Tomorrow logo

Better Tomorrow

Partner

Learn More

Day One Ventures logo

Day One Ventures

Partner

Learn More

Eniac Ventures logo

Eniac Ventures

Network

Learn More

Crosslink Capital logo

Crosslink Capital

Partner

Learn More

Program Highlights

The Numbers

StudioK is designed for deep focus and maximum support. Here's what the program looks like by the numbers.

4

Teams Per Year

12

Month Program

$500K

Up To

Pre-Seed Path

100%

All-Inclusive

24/7

HackHouse Access

Our Values

What We Value

01

Founder-First

We believe in backing exceptional founders above all else. Your vision, resilience, and execution ability are what matter most to us.

02

Deep Partnership

We're not passive investors. We roll up our sleeves and co-build with you on product, GTM, and fundraising — every step of the way.

03

AI/B2B Focus

We concentrate on AI-native workflows and B2B software where technical talent has real leverage and can build category-defining companies.

04

Global Ambition

We bridge India and Silicon Valley, connecting you with mentors and investors across both ecosystems to build truly global companies.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

StudioK is India's premier 12-month venture studio + HackHouse in Bangalore for ambitious students and recent graduates building AI-native B2B startups. It provides all-inclusive housing, food, monthly stipend, up to $500K in pre-seed capital, and daily hands-on support from experienced founders. It's the most comprehensive founder residency program in India.

StudioK is for current students and recent graduates (within 18 months of graduation) from top-tier universities in India. Applicants should be technical founders interested in building AI-native B2B startups.

StudioK is invite-only. You need to be nominated by someone who believes in your potential—a professor, mentor, founder. Nominations help us find high-conviction founders, not just applicants. Once nominated, you'll receive an invite to complete the application.

Apply through the nomination system at studiok.dev/nominate. You can nominate yourself (self-nomination) or be nominated by someone else. After nomination, complete the founder application and technical assessment, then interview with the StudioK team.

Not strictly. Having a co-founder helps, but we can also match complementary founders within the program where it makes sense.

Having a startup idea is helpful but not required. You should have problem spaces and interests. StudioK values exceptional technical talent and builder mindset—you can develop and refine your idea during the first few months of the program with support from the team.

StudioK provides: 1) All-inclusive housing in Bangalore HackHouse, 2) All meals included, 3) Monthly stipend for personal expenses, 4) Up to $500,000 USD in pre-seed capital, 5) Daily hands-on support from experienced founders, 6) Direct access to B2B customers, 7) A community of exceptional student founders.

The StudioK program is 12 months long, significantly longer than typical 3-month accelerators. This extended duration allows for deeper product development, market validation, and building sustainable startups.

No. This is a full-time, in-person program in Bangalore. The HackHouse, stipend, and structure are designed so you can focus only on the startup.

StudioK HackHouse is located in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. All accepted founders live and work together in the HackHouse for the full 12-month program duration.

A HackHouse is a co-living and co-working space where startup founders live together. The StudioK HackHouse in Bangalore provides private accommodation, meals, high-speed internet, meeting rooms, and a collaborative environment for building startups 24/7.

StudioK focuses exclusively on AI-native B2B startups. This includes enterprise software, developer tools, infrastructure, vertical AI applications, and B2B SaaS products. Consumer/B2C startups are not accepted.

Yes, there is no upfront cost to join StudioK. You get all-inclusive accommodation, food, tools, and a monthly stipend, so your basic living and working costs are covered while you build.

StudioK supports you during the 12 months and, once you hit defined revenue milestones, helps you access up to $500K in pre-seed capital from Silicon Valley investors. Funding is deployed based on milestones as you build your startup.

We follow a founder-friendly studio model with a minority stake in exchange for capital, the HackHouse, and hands-on support. Exact numbers are shared at the final interview stage.

While both provide startup funding, StudioK differs from YC in several ways: 1) 12 months vs 3 months duration, 2) Housing and food included, 3) Located in Bangalore vs San Francisco, 4) Focused on student founders, 5) Daily hands-on support vs weekly office hours, 6) Focus on AI B2B startups only.

StudioK is highly selective with an acceptance rate below 5%. The program looks for exceptional technical talent, strong founder potential, and commitment to building AI-native B2B startups.

Ready to Build Your Startup?

If you'd rather build your own company than sit for placements, join the next cohort of founders.