ONGC Start-up Fund

• Indian innovators, individuals and teams with an energy-sector idea or technology
• Early-stage founders who need funding plus incubation to reach a validated proof-of-concept
• Clean-energy, hydrogen, deep-tech, robotics and energy-data startups
• Academic-incubation-centre innovators working on oil, gas and energy solutions

About this scheme

The ONGC Start up Fund is a corporate startup initiative of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), India's flagship national oil and gas company and a Maharatna public-sector enterprise. Launched on ONGC's Diamond Jubilee in 2016 as a Rs. 100 crore fund under the Government of India's Startup India mission, it was created to support, incubate and foster startups in the energy sector by backing worthy ideas, innovations, products and processes.
ONGC's aim is to channel fresh, implementable ideas into India's energy value chain and take them up to the stage of a validated proof-of-concept through funding, intellectual mentoring and a structured incubation ecosystem. Selected projects receive physical and intellectual support, mentor guidance, and specific technical assistance such as testing on a need basis. Funding is disbursed against milestones, and no royalty is charged on the amounts disbursed under the scheme. For validated PoCs, ONGC further supports commercialisation through equity participation.
The fund targets high-potential areas across the energy landscape oil and gas, underwater ROVs and offshore robotics, data analytics and big data, smart and micro-grids, energy storage, traditional and alternative energy, solar, wind, biofuel, hydrogen and broader clean tech. Applications are invited through the ONGC Innovation Challenge, with specific problem statements often released around well productivity, pipeline flow improvement, data analytics and reservoir insights.
Beyond the original Rs. 100 crore fund of which close to ₹88 crore has reportedly been deployed since 2016 ONGC has announced plans for a second, ₹200 crore vehicle structured as a SEBI registered Category I Alternative Investment Fund, targeting energy, clean energy, deep tech and AI/ML startups. This newer fund signals a deeper, more institutional push into early-stage energy innovation; founders in those areas should watch for it opening.
Getting selected hinges on a strong business plan and a convincing presentation to ONGC's steering committee. IncorpX helps energy and deep-tech founders get application ready business-plan and project-proposal preparation, pitch-deck development, financial documentation for founders who want it for later-stage commercialisation so you reach the committee stage with a sharp, complete case. You apply on ONGC's official portal in your own name; IncorpX prepares you to qualify. (IncorpX is an independent advisory firm and is not affiliated with ONGC or the Government of India.)

Who can apply

• Open to all Indian nationals, including NRIs willing to work in India
• Applicant may be an individual or a team not limited to registered companies
• Incubatees of government approved academic incubation centres, or duly accredited associated individuals, may apply
• The idea must fall within ONGC's energy and oil-and-gas focus areas
• Bought out (externally acquired) technology is not considered
• DPIIT recognition is not a stated requirement, but an incorporated, DPIIT recognised startup strengthens the commercialisation and investment stage

Benefits & funding

• Milestone-based funding through incubation up to validated proof-of-concept
• No royalty charged on funds disbursed under the scheme
• Physical and intellectual incubation support, mentoring and capacity building
• Specific technical assistance, guidance and testing on a need basis
• Equity participation from ONGC to support commercialisation of validated PoCs
• Access to ONGC's energy-sector expertise, industry connect and academic partnerships

How the application process works

The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with ONGC STARTUP, in your own name.

1. 1

   Apply through the online form on the ONGC Startup portal during an open Innovation Challenge round

2. 2

   Receive acknowledgement by email and SMS on your registered contact details

3. 3

   Projects are shortlisted from the applications received on the portal

4. 4

   Shortlisted applications are evaluated against the first cut-off

5. 5

   Your application and business plan are verified, and you present the business plan to the ONGC steering committee

6. 6

   Final selection, term sheet finalisation, and signing of the joint incubation and investment programme agreement

Documents checklist 4

• Idea/innovation summary and a detailed business plan or project proposal
• Founder/team profiles and KYC
• Proof of association with an approved academic incubation centre (if applying as an incubatee)
• Prototype or PoC details / technical documentation, where available

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

Frequently asked questions