CNEST TBI 2.0 , KLE Tech Belagavi, Karnataka

• Up to Rs. 10 lakh of equity-free seed support per startup.
• A Karnataka TBI 2.0 programme at KLE Tech Belagavi, with Rs. 10 crore of state backing per incubator.
• A dedicated 5,100 sq ft incubation facility at the Dr. M. S. Sheshgiri Campus.
• A tri-state mandate, open to founders from Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.
• Focus areas: smart healthcare (MedTech), sustainable AgriTech, AI/ML, and smart manufacturing.

About this scheme

CNEST, the Centre for Next-Gen Entrepreneurship in Science and Technology Foundation, runs the TBI 2.0 incubator housed at the Dr. M. S. Sheshgiri Campus of KLE Technological University in Belagavi. The Government of Karnataka's Department of IT and BT set up eleven such Technology Business Incubators under its TBI 2.0 initiative, funding each host institution with Rs. 10 crore to grow deep-tech ventures across tier-2 and tier-3 Karnataka and the broader Beyond Bengaluru corridor.

It is the scaled-up successor to the NAIN Centre that KLE Tech Belagavi has operated since 2018. Working out of a dedicated 5,100 sq ft space on the same Dr. M. S. Sheshgiri Campus, CNEST provides a structured incubation pathway: mentorship, co-working space, labs and equipment, support for prototype and MVP development, investor readiness, industry networking, and national-level visibility.

This round is open to students, faculty-led teams, alumni, first-time innovators, and already-registered startups whose work sits in smart healthcare (MedTech), AgriTech with a sustainability focus, AI and ML, or smart manufacturing; neighbouring deep-tech fields like biotech, clean tech, robotics, and ICT are welcome too. Because the TBI 2.0 remit reaches founders in Goa and Maharashtra as well as Karnataka, Belagavi acts as a tri-state hub rather than a state-bound one. Each chosen venture can draw equity-free seed money of as much as Rs. 10 lakh, paid out in step with the incubation track. The window for this cycle shut on 13 June 2026.

Who can apply

• Open to students, faculty, alumni, early-stage innovators, startups, and entrepreneurs.
• Working in AgriTech, MedTech, AI/ML, deep tech, or adjacent science and technology domains such as biotech, clean tech, robotics, and ICT.
• A strong focus on founders from north Karnataka and the wider tier-2 and tier-3 region, though it is not limited to Karnataka residents.
• Open to individuals with innovative ideas, with no incorporation needed to apply, as well as registered startups.
• The applicant must be willing to engage with CNEST and KLE Tech Belagavi during the incubation programme.

Eligible entity types: Private Limited, LLP, Partnership, Individual Innovator

Benefits & funding

• Equity-free seed capital, up to Rs. 10 lakh for each selected startup.
• Workspace in a purpose-built 5,100 sq ft centre on the Dr. M. S. Sheshgiri Campus, complete with co-working desks, labs, and equipment.
• A guided incubation track: mentoring, help taking a prototype to MVP, investor-readiness coaching, industry connections, and national visibility inside Karnataka's TBI 2.0 network.

How the application process works

The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with Centre for Next-Gen Entrepreneurship in Science & Technology Foundation (CNEST), KLE Tech, in your own name.

1. 1

   Submit the application via the official form, which the CNEST team screens for fit with the focus areas and the applicant's stage.

2. 2

   Shortlisted applicants are invited to a pitch and discovery conversation with the CNEST review committee of internal team members and external mentors.

3. 3

   Final incubation decisions are made after the pitch, based on the venture's unique selling point, market opportunity, and feasibility.

Documents checklist 4

• Idea or concept brief
• Pitch deck or business plan
• Founder KYC (PAN or Aadhaar)
• Certificate of incorporation (if registered)

Need help getting these in order? IncorpX provides assistance for incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST registrations along with document preparation.

Frequently asked questions