PACE
Idea Validation Program
2 cohorts completed successfully. Cohort 3 launching soon.
Validate your idea before you build your startup. An intensive 4-week online program for early-stage startups and aspiring entrepreneurs to test assumptions, build a strong Proof of Concept, and refine their idea with expert mentorship.
What is PACE?
PACE is curated for startups and entrepreneurs to validate their ideas and create a strong Proof of Concept. Over four weeks, you work on your idea with the guidance of expert mentors from the ecosystem — challenging your assumptions, testing demand, and refining your idea into a solid business plan.
Validate Your Idea
Prove or disprove your core assumptions through customer discovery and market validation before building at scale.
Build a Strong PoC
Work on weekly assignments to build, test, and refine your idea into a strong Proof of Concept.
De-Risk Your Startup
Test your assumptions and validate market demand before investing significant time and capital into your venture.
Expert-Led Mentoring
Engage in mentoring sessions with esteemed mentors from the ecosystem and work on the key areas essential to building your startup.
Key Details
Everything you need to know at a glance.
Early-stage startups or aspiring entrepreneurs with innovative ideas seeking idea validation or initial support to build their startups.
4-Week Program Structure
A structured journey with clear assignments, mentorship, and deliverables each week.
Pitch & Problem Discovery
Week 1
Shortlisted startups pitch their idea for pre-screening and need analysis, then work on assignments identifying problems, crafting solutions, and running customer feedback surveys.
Competitor & Founder Fit
Week 2
Receive personalised feedback from expert mentors on your assignments, and work on Competitor Analysis and Founder–Problem Fit.
Segmentation & Pitch Deck
Week 3
Get expert feedback on your submissions while working on Story Creation, Customer Segmentation, and Pitch Deck Development.
Final Pitch & Certificate
Week 4
Pitch your idea to mentors and industry experts, receive valuable feedback, and earn your program completion certificate.
What You Get
Complete support to validate and launch your idea with expert guidance and peer learning.
Expert-Led Mentoring
Guidance from esteemed mentors in the ecosystem on the key areas essential to building your startup.
Weekly Assignments
Structured weekly assignments to build, test, and refine your idea into a strong Proof of Concept.
Recorded Sessions
Free access to recorded knowledge sessions so you can learn at your own pace.
Startup Community
Access to the AIC-GIM startup community and a chance to work and collaborate with students.
30-Day Free Co-working
Avail 30 days of free access to the co-working space at AIC-GIM.
Who Should Apply?
PACE is for early-stage startups and aspiring entrepreneurs with innovative ideas seeking idea validation or initial support to build their startups.
Working Professionals
Explore a startup idea on the side with flexible, intensive guidance designed for your schedule.
Student Entrepreneurs
Test your early-stage concept before graduation with peer support and expert mentorship.
Domain Experts
You have deep expertise in a field but lack startup experience—we'll help you build the business.
First-Time Founders
Ready to validate and launch, but want proven methodology and mentorship before diving in.
What Founders Say
Hear from participants of our first two cohorts about how PACE shaped their ideas.
It was a really good program. The sessions were planned and executed in a timely manner. Follow-up on the important topics so that the startup can benefit from the program was done.
Before the start, I did not have a clear focus. At the end of the sessions, I was able to zero down to a particular domain and the pitch deck fell in place beautifully.
The Idea Validation Program was very helpful. It made me look at my concept more clearly and understand the real market need. The guidance from mentors gave me practical direction and helped me refine my idea into a more solid business plan. Overall, it was a good learning experience that added confidence to my journey.
It gave us the right point to work on and improve on existing points, and gave us confidence. Gentle and proper guidance, and most importantly all-year-round mentorship along with added materials — all-round development for our startup.
Honestly, it was very useful for me. I came into the program with a built MVP and confidence that I understood the Goa rental market because I'm from here. The program made me slow down and write down my assumptions, testing them instead of just trusting my gut. That was uncomfortable but exactly what I needed.
The program gave me the right direction, expert mentorship, and valuable feedback to validate my idea, refine my strategy, and accelerate my entrepreneurial journey with greater confidence.
The Idea Validation Program was an extremely valuable and insightful experience for me. It helped me bring structure and clarity to my startup idea, PropX, by challenging my assumptions and encouraging a deeper focus on real market problems, customer validation, and scalable business strategy.
Ready to Validate Your Idea?
Join the next cohort of PACE and transform your concept into a validated startup.
Questions? Email us at startups@aicgim.in
