slice Small Finance Bank (slice SFB) has extended non-dilutive startup grants to early-stage founders at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, reinforcing its growing engagement with Assam’s startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The support was announced during Disrupt, the startup pitching platform of UDGAM, the annual entrepreneurship festival organised by the institute’s Entrepreneurship Cell.
The grants were awarded to two young ventures—Picapool and ImpactWeaver—recognised for building technology-led solutions rooted in real-world needs. Picapool is developing a collaborative commerce platform that enables users with similar purchasing requirements to pool demand and access better pricing. ImpactWeaver, an Assam-based startup, is focused on curating technology-driven solutions and partnerships aimed at addressing social challenges and improving the effectiveness of social investments aligned with regional development priorities.
slice said early institutional backing plays a key role in converting campus ideas into credible ventures and encouraging students to pursue entrepreneurship as a long-term career. Addressing founders and students, Nitin Basant, Chief Technology Officer at slice, highlighted the importance of early capital, mentorship, and ecosystem access in building scalable and meaningful solutions.
The initiative comes as slice completes one year since its merger with North East Small Finance Bank and enters its second year of operations as slice SFB. The bank has also outlined plans to set up Assam’s first digital bank branch in Guwahati, underlining its long-term regional strategy.
Guwahati is steadily emerging as a startup and fintech gateway for the Northeast, supported by rising digital adoption, academic talent, and increasing institutional participation. Initiatives like slice’s North East Launchpad focused on early funding, mentorship, tailored banking solutions, financial literacy, and support for women entrepreneurs and self-help groups are expected to strengthen investor confidence and accelerate the city’s role as a regional innovation hub.
