Hyderabad’s T-Hub forges strategic startup partnership with French region
HYDERABAD: T-Hub has entered into a strategic partnership with the Hauts-de-France Regional Council to strengthen startup-led economic cooperation between India and France.
The partnership establishes a structured implementation framework to facilitate reciprocal market entry, investor access and ecosystem integration between India and the Hauts-de-France region.
Under the agreement, both sides will support structured immersion programmes, market access assistance and registration support for startups entering new geographies. Cross-border investment will be enabled through investor introductions, syndication pathways and co-investment opportunities.
Aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047 vision
The collaboration aligns with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, positioning the country as a globally connected innovation hub with capital access frameworks, advanced technology capabilities and international ecosystem linkages.
It complements national initiatives such as the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme and the revised deep-tech framework aimed at strengthening early-stage financing and accelerating high-technology ventures with global potential.
Acceleration, PoCs and founder exchanges planned
The partnership includes co-designed acceleration and market-readiness programmes to support product localisation, business model refinement and international scaling.
Corporate–startup platforms featuring cross-border challenges, pilot projects and Proof-of-Concept opportunities will also be rolled out. Founder exchanges through demo days, pitch showcases, bootcamps and mentor programmes are planned to strengthen integration between the two ecosystems.
The long-term objective is to facilitate the entry of over 10 French startups into the Indian market and 10 Indian startups into the French market.
A key component is the proposed Indo-French Startup Consortium, a structured bilateral platform linking incubators, academia, investors and corporates in both countries. The consortium aims to institutionalise cross-border cooperation, enabling sustained capital flows, knowledge exchange and coordinated growth.
Kavikrut, CEO of T-Hub, said the partnership builds on the shared strengths of the Indian and French startup ecosystems.
“By facilitating access to new markets, capital and industry networks, it will strengthen the startup ecosystems in India and France alike, supporting founders who are building with a global vision and driving long-term economic impact,” he said.
François Decoster, Vice-President in charge of international affairs at the Hauts-de-France Regional Council, said the collaboration would position the region within a globally connected startup corridor.
“It reflects our shared commitment to building cross-border collaboration with lasting global impact,” he added.
Strong innovation base in Telangana, northern France
T-Hub, based in Hyderabad, has supported over 2,000 startups through curated programmes, market access and funding initiatives. It drives capital access through the ₹1,000 crore Fund of Funds Telangana and supports advanced technologies via the Telangana Artificial Intelligence Innovation Hub and the State Innovation and Startup Funding Scheme.
The Hauts-de-France region, located between Paris and the northern French ports of Calais and Dunkirk, has a population of around 60 lakh. It has over 17,000 digital companies and more than 45,700 digital jobs, supported by 2,54,000 students and over 4,800 IT graduates annually.
The region hosts major French groups including Decathlon, Auchan, Leroy Merlin and OVH.
Innovation infrastructure includes EuraTechnologies, one of Europe’s leading incubators offering soft-landing pathways for international firms, and Cité de l’IA, which focuses on real-world artificial intelligence adoption.
The regional council, along with Nord France Invest and EuraTechnologies, has expressed interest in positioning the region as a gateway for Indian companies entering European markets.
T-Hub has previously collaborated with the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, La French Tech and Business France, supporting Indian startups in establishing French entities and piloting technologies in Europe.
The new agreement builds on these engagements to formalise structured Indo-French economic ties and expand cross-border growth pathways.
