Key Points
- NetApp Excellerator Cohort 15 includes five startups from India, US and Israel
- Programme has supported 90 startups raising over $600 million since 2017
- Two startups join ExcellerateHER initiative for women-led ventures
NetApp has launched the 15th cohort of its startup accelerator programme, NetApp Excellerator, selecting five companies working on artificial intelligence applications in software development, cybersecurity and enterprise data management.
The cohort announced on Thursday (15 October) includes startups from India, the United States and Israel, the company said. The six-month programme offers selected founders access to mentorship, data infrastructure expertise and opportunities for proof-of-concept engagements, which are pilot projects that allow startups to test their products in real enterprise environments, according to NetApp.
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The five startups selected are LightSprint AI, which builds software development automation tools using AI agents; Wald.ai, which provides data loss prevention for AI communications; Lasso Security, a cybersecurity platform for AI applications and large language models; Cogover, a workflow automation platform; and QUIPU AI, which transforms enterprise data into structured intelligence for AI systems.
ExcellerateHER initiative
Two of the selected startups, Cogover and QUIPU AI, are also part of ExcellerateHER, an initiative within the programme that supports women-founded and women-led startups. The initiative has supported 23 women-led startups since its launch, the company said.
Vasanthi Ramesh, vice president of engineering and site leader, NetApp India, said the startups in Cohort 15 address challenges enterprises face when deploying AI at scale.
“Through NetApp Excellerator, we are helping founders turn breakthrough ideas into scalable solutions by connecting them with technical expertise, mentorship, and enterprise opportunities, while also expanding and strengthening a more inclusive deep tech innovation system,” Ramesh said.
Naren Meadem, founder and chief executive officer of QUIPU AI, said joining the programme was a significant milestone.
“The hardest part of deep tech is taking it from the lab into a real enterprise, and we believe NetApp is the right partner to help us make that leap,” Meadem said. “We are excited about the opportunity to work alongside NetApp’s teams, validate our technology in real enterprise environments, and explore how QUIPU AI’s long-term memory capabilities can power AI initiatives at scale.”
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Mina Nguyen, co-founder and chief growth officer of Cogover, said the platform connects data, applications and workflows so that people and AI can work with the same information.
“Joining the NetApp Excellerator gives us a chance to learn from businesses in India and help their teams follow through on the work that matters,” Nguyen said.
By the numbers
Key figures from this story
- $600M
- Funding raised by 90 startups across 14 cohorts
- $15,000
- Grant for proof-of-concept engagement
- 23
- Women-led startups supported by ExcellerateHER
Since launching in 2017, NetApp Excellerator has supported 90 startups across 14 cohorts, with participating companies collectively raising more than $600 million in funding, according to the company. The programme has enabled 30 proof-of-concept engagements and led to six commercial contracts within NetApp.
Each cohort runs for six months, during which selected startups work with NetApp teams on potential use cases and pilot projects. The programme provides a $15,000 grant for a potential proof-of-concept engagement, the company said.
The programme has attracted founders with doctoral degrees, with more than 20 PhD holders among participants, according to NetApp. The company said this reflects the programme’s focus on deep technology ventures that require significant technical expertise.
Your Questions, Answered
What is NetApp Excellerator Cohort 15?
It is the 15th batch of NetApp’s startup accelerator programme, selecting five companies from India, the US and Israel working on AI applications in software development, cybersecurity and enterprise data management.
Which startups were selected for NetApp Excellerator Cohort 15?
The five startups are LightSprint AI, Wald.ai, Lasso Security, Cogover and QUIPU AI, working on AI software engineering, data protection and workflow automation.
What is the ExcellerateHER initiative?
ExcellerateHER is a programme within NetApp Excellerator that supports women-founded and women-led startups, having supported 23 such ventures since its launch.
What benefits do startups receive from NetApp Excellerator?
Selected startups receive mentorship, data infrastructure expertise, opportunities for proof-of-concept engagements and a $15,000 grant over the six-month programme duration, according to NetApp.