Bengaluru, Aug 12 (TIWN) E-commerce marketplace Flipkart on Monday launched its first startup accelerator programme to help new and upcoming companies in technology and consumer Internet space to grow, scale and navigate challenges.

Called Flipkart Leap, the program will help new and upcoming companies in technology and consumer Internet space to grow, scale and navigate challenges.

The program will identify business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) startups and help them scale through an intensive 16-week virtual program, the company said in a statement.

Throughout the program, Flipkart’s leadership from business, operations, product and technology will mentor the selected startups and share best practices, in addition to master class sessions hosted by industry experts.

The 16-week program, curated in partnership with global management and strategy consulting firm Zinnov, will open opportunities for startups to prepare their innovative solutions to be market-ready and allow them to win an equity-free grant of $25,000.

The startups applying for Flipkart Leap should be based out of India and should have a working prototype with early adoption metrics, Flipkart said, adding that the call-for-entries began Monday.

Post the completion of the program, the final participants will pitch their successful model to investors, corporates and other ecosystem players on the demo-day and may also be considered for funding by Flipkart.