The startup ecosystem around the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay is increasingly translating into wealth creation as companies incubated or supported by the institute’s entrepreneurship arm head toward the public markets.

Through its incubator, the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT Bombay has already seen significant gains from startup listings such as ideaForge and is now poised for another windfall from the IPO of Sedemac Mechatronics.

With companies like Atomberg Technologies and Gupshup also exploring public listings, the institute’s long association with technology startups is beginning to deliver substantial financial returns.

ideaForge: Early success story

One of the earliest examples of this success is ideaForge Technology, India’s leading drone manufacturer. The company was founded in 2006 by IIT Bombay alumni Ankit Mehta, Rahul Singh and Ashish Bhat and was incubated at SINE during its formative years.

ideaForge launched its IPO in July 2023 and the issue drew massive investor interest, being subscribed about 106 times. The stock listed at a strong premium, briefly doubling shareholder wealth on its debut.
For SINE, the listing translated into a meaningful monetisation opportunity. The incubator held roughly 1 lakh shares in the company prior to the IPO. At the upper end of the IPO price band of Rs 672 per share, the value of that stake was estimated at around Rs 6-7 crore.
SINE partially exited during the offer for sale, selling about 22,600 shares and realising roughly Rs 1.52 crore from the transaction, while continuing to retain a stake in the company.

Sedemac: A much larger windfall

The institute is now set to benefit even more from the IPO of Sedemac Mechatronics, another startup that emerged from the IIT Bombay ecosystem.

Sedemac was founded in 2007 by Shashikanth Suryanarayanan, an associate professor in the institute’s mechanical engineering department, along with other early team members who were students or researchers associated with the campus.

The company has grown into a manufacturer of electronic control units and genset controllers used across two-wheelers, electric vehicles and industrial applications.

SINE backed the company in its early stages and currently holds 4.08 lakh shares, representing about 0.92% stake.

At the upper end of the IPO price band of Rs 1,352 per share, the value of SINE’s holding stands at roughly Rs 55 crore.

As part of the offer for sale, the incubator plans to sell 2.04 lakh shares. At the IPO price, this portion alone would fetch around Rs 27.58 crore.

The scale of the return is remarkable given the acquisition price. SINE acquired the shares at an average cost of Rs 0.01 each, meaning the 2.04 lakh shares being sold cost only about Rs 2,040.

At the IPO price, the sale implies a gain of about Rs 27.58 crore and a return of roughly 1.3 lakh times the original investment. Even after the partial exit, SINE will continue to hold another 2.04 lakh shares in the company, leaving it with a residual stake worth roughly Rs 27-28 crore at the IPO price.

More IPO candidates emerging

The IIT Bombay startup ecosystem could see more companies head to the stock market in the coming years.

Consumer appliances company Atomberg Technologies is among the startups exploring a public listing. The Temasek-backed firm is weighing an IPO in Mumbai that could raise around $200 million, according to Bloomberg.

Founded in 2012 by IIT Bombay alumni Manoj Meena and Sibabrata Das, Atomberg began by manufacturing energy-efficient ceiling fans and has since expanded into products such as mixer grinders, water purifiers and smart locks.

The company has attracted several prominent investors over the years. In 2023 it raised $86 million in funding from Temasek, Steadview Capital, Jungle Ventures and Inflexor Ventures.

Another startup with links to IIT Bombay’s incubation ecosystem is Gupshup, a conversational messaging platform founded by Beerud Sheth.

The company received early incubation support from SINE during its formative years and has since grown into one of the world’s largest messaging platforms for businesses.

Gupshup recently raised $60 million in fresh funding from Globespan Capital Partners along with debt financing from EvolutionX Debt Capital. The San Francisco-headquartered firm is also considering shifting its domicile to India ahead of a potential public listing in the country within the next one to two years.

Founded in 2004, Gupshup processes more than 120 billion messages annually for over 50,000 businesses across 130 countries.

From campus labs to public markets

For IIT Bombay, the growing list of IPO-bound startups highlights how academic incubation programs are increasingly shaping India’s startup economy. Through SINE, the institute has supported hundreds of early-stage ventures over the past two decades. While many remain private, a handful are now reaching a stage where they can tap public markets.

As companies like Sedemac, Atomberg and potentially Gupshup move closer to listing, IIT Bombay’s long-running experiment with technology incubation is beginning to translate into tangible financial returns alongside entrepreneurial success.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Shares of **Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc.** (NASDAQ: IOVA) climbed sharply in early March 2026 trading, fueled by renewed analyst optimism and ongoing commercial progress for its flagship tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, **Amtagvi** (lifileucel). The biotech company’s stock, which has hovered in the low single digits for much of the year, gained traction after multiple price target increases and positive commentary on its revenue trajectory.

As of March 7, 2026, IOVA closed at approximately $5.13, up from recent lows around $4.58, with intraday highs reaching $5.16 in heavy volume sessions. The stock has seen notable volatility, trading in a 52-week range from $1.64 to $5.16, reflecting broader biotech sector pressures but also bursts of enthusiasm tied to clinical and commercial milestones.

The latest catalyst came from UBS, which raised its price target on IOVA from $2 to $4, citing strong fourth-quarter revenue growth for Amtagvi despite a challenging market environment. Other firms followed suit: Baird increased its target to $4 from $3, Barclays to $11 from $10, and Citizens upgraded the stock to Outperform from Market Perform. These adjustments highlight growing confidence in Iovance’s ability to scale its pioneering TIL platform beyond advanced melanoma.

Amtagvi, the first FDA-approved TIL therapy, received accelerated approval in February 2024 for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma previously treated with other therapies. The personalized cell therapy, manufactured from a patient’s own tumor tissue, has driven rapid revenue ramp-up in its first full commercial year.

Iovance reported preliminary full-year 2025 product revenue of approximately $264 million, within its guided range of $250 million to $300 million. This marked a 61% increase from 2024’s $164.1 million, largely propelled by Amtagvi’s U.S. sales of about $220 million and global Proleukin (aldesleukin) contributions of roughly $44 million. Fourth-quarter product revenue hit $86.8 million, up about 30% sequentially, with gross margins improving to around 50% as manufacturing efficiencies took hold.

Management emphasized accelerating demand through an expanding network of authorized treatment centers (ATCs), faster production turnaround times (32 days or less), and supportive real-world data demonstrating durable responses in advanced melanoma. In a February 2026 earnings update, executives described 2026 as poised for “remarkable” revenue growth, with detailed U.S. product guidance forthcoming soon. Long-term goals include gross margins approaching 70% through full internalization of lifileucel manufacturing.

Pipeline advancements further bolster the bullish case. On February 24, 2026, Iovance announced positive early results from the first clinical trial of lifileucel in soft tissue sarcomas, specifically undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) and dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS). The study showed a 50% confirmed objective response rate, prompting plans for a registrational trial. The data, presented at scientific meetings, sparked a 25%+ single-day stock surge earlier in the year.

In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lifileucel earned FDA Fast Track designation for second-line advanced non-squamous NSCLC, supported by interim data showing a 26% objective response rate and durable benefit compared to standard docetaxel. Management targets a supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) and potential accelerated approval/launch in the second half of 2027, eyeing a multibillion-dollar U.S. peak sales opportunity in lung cancer—potentially seven times larger than melanoma.

Additional trials explore frontline melanoma combinations (TILVANCE-301), second-line NSCLC (IOV-LUN-202), endometrial cancer (IOV-END-201), and next-generation engineered TIL therapies like IOV-5001, with an IND submission planned for the first half of 2026. International regulatory progress includes priority reviews in Australia and recommendations in Switzerland, with decisions expected in early 2026.

Financially, Iovance ended 2025 with about $303 million in cash, providing runway into the third quarter of 2027. Full-year costs and expenses totaled around $667 million, resulting in a net loss of $391 million, or $1.09 per share—improvements over prior periods but underscoring the cash-intensive nature of commercial-scale cell therapy.

Analysts maintain a mixed but increasingly positive consensus, with average price targets around $9–$10 implying substantial upside from current levels. High-risk elements persist: competition in solid tumors, manufacturing complexities, and the need for consistent revenue scaling amid biotech funding challenges. Yet, Iovance’s leadership in TIL therapy positions it as a potential platform player if label expansions materialize.

Upcoming investor visibility includes presentations at the TD Cowen 46th Annual Healthcare Conference on March 2 and the Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference on March 11, where leadership will likely discuss growth drivers and 2026 guidance.

As Iovance transitions from launch-year execution to multi-indication expansion, the stock’s performance hinges on Amtagvi’s sustained momentum and pipeline catalysts. Investors watch closely for first-quarter 2026 results, expected in May, which could provide clearer visibility into the year’s trajectory.

With its innovative approach to solid tumor immunotherapy and accelerating commercial story, Iovance Biotherapeutics remains a high-conviction name in the biotech space amid 2026’s evolving oncology landscape.

Many investors begin thinking seriously about mutual fund investments later in their careers as they look to grow their savings and prepare for retirement. While starting early offers the advantage of a longer investment horizon, financial experts say it is never too late to begin investing. Even investors in their 50s can build a disciplined portfolio through systematic investments if they align their strategy with their risk appetite and financial goals.

This was highlighted in a recent investor query from Dhiraj Kumar, a 50-year-old professional, an investor and a viewer of The Money Show on ET Now, who wants to start investing Rs 40,000 per month in mutual funds. He described himself as someone who is not familiar with handling market risk and prefers a portfolio with moderate risk.

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Responding to the query, Pankaj Mathpal, CEO of Optima Money Managers, said that while understanding market risk is important, mutual funds are managed by professional fund managers who actively manage investments and attempt to control risk within the scheme’s mandate.

“As he does not know how to manage market risk, that is very, very important. But the most important thing is that when you invest in a mutual fund, you have to understand that fund managers are also doing that job for you. They are trying to manage the risk but, at the same time, selection of funds should be proper and schemes you select should be suitable as per your financial goals,” Mathpal said.

According to Mathpal, investors should focus on selecting the right mix of funds based on their financial goals and investment horizon. In this case, the investor did not specify a target corpus or a specific financial goal. However, given his age, Mathpal assumed that he could be investing for at least five years or possibly longer.
For someone new to equity-linked investments and looking for moderate risk, he suggested beginning with a combination of hybrid and diversified equity funds.
“To start with, some hybrid funds like multi-asset allocation or dynamic asset allocation funds, flexi cap fund and an index fund can be a good starting point for him,” the expert said.
Mathpal recommended starting with schemes such as ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund, WhiteOak Capital Multi Asset Allocation Fund, HDFC Flexi Cap Fund, and SBI Nifty Index Fund. These funds represent different investment styles, including dynamic asset allocation, multi-asset exposure, actively managed diversified equity and passive index investing.

Also Read | Women’s Day 2026: India’s leading 3 female portfolio managers. Check how they navigate market cycles

Hybrid funds such as balanced advantage or multi-asset allocation funds can help moderate risk by spreading investments across different asset classes like equities, debt and commodities. Flexi-cap funds offer diversification by allowing fund managers to invest across large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap companies depending on market opportunities. Meanwhile, index funds provide low-cost exposure to broader markets by tracking benchmark indices.

Mathpal also highlighted an important behavioural aspect for new investors: patience. With markets expected to remain volatile at times, he advised investors not to track their portfolios too frequently.

Instead, investors should remain disciplined with their investments and review their portfolios periodically rather than reacting to short-term market movements. “Once you start investing, have patience, keep investing and once in a year you can review your portfolio, but your goal should be long term,” he said.

For investors starting later in life, consistency and realistic expectations become even more important. A structured SIP approach, a diversified portfolio and regular but not excessive monitoring can help investors gradually build wealth over time while managing market volatility.

One should always consider their risk appetite, investment horizon and goals before making any investment decision.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

If you have any mutual fund queries, message on ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in alongwith your age, risk profile, and twitter handle