Directors -Startups, Incubation Centre

About Us :

CMR University (CMRU), Bengaluru, is a new-age university fostering creative learning, interdisciplinary research, and innovation-driven education. With a mission to nurture thinkers, innovators, and change-makers, CMRU blends academic excellence with real-world relevance.

At the heart of this mission lies the Centre for Innovation, Startups & Excellence, a dynamic hub designed to empower entrepreneurs, support industry-academia collaboration, and build sustainable ecosystems of innovation.

Scope of Work :

The Director - Startups, Incubation & Centre of Excellence

will play a pivotal role in driving CMRU’s innovation agenda, strengthening its startup ecosystem, and creating centers that bridge academia and industry for scalable impact.

Role & Responsibilities :

Drive Innovation & Entrepreneurship : Build, lead, and scale CMRU’s startup and innovation ecosystem by fostering a culture of creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking across the university.

Establish Centres of Excellence : Set up and oversee domain-specific Centres of Excellence in areas such as entrepreneurship, product design, sustainability, systems development, and emerging technologies, ensuring alignment with institutional goals.

Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Development : Develop strong partnerships with investors, venture capitalists, corporates, and government agencies to enable mentorship, funding, collaborative projects, and knowledge exchange.

Startup Mentorship & Research Commercialization : Provide structured support to startups through incubation, mentoring, and access to networks; promote patent filings, technology transfer, and IP commercialization.

Operational & Financial Oversight : Manage budgets, grants, and revenue-generation strategies; ensure compliance with university and funding policies; track and report performance metrics of incubation and CoE initiatives.

Candidate’s Profile

Master’s in Business, Engineering, Science, or Entrepreneurship. Ph.D. preferred.

12–15 years of leadership experience in innovation, incubation, or startup ecosystems.

Proven track record in building institutional partnerships and managing accelerators / incubators.

Strong entrepreneurial mindset, networking ability, and strategic vision.

Experience in handling government grants, CSR initiatives, and multi-stakeholder projects.

Location :

CMR University (Lakeside Campus)

To apply, please share your resume. We would love to hear from you!