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Government Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Est. 2014

Kerala Startup Mission

Kerala's nodal startup agency since 2014, running incubators, seed grants, LEAP Coworks, and 400+ college innovation centres.

4,000+ startups supported 12 programs listed

About Kerala Startup Mission

Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is the Government of Kerala's nodal agency for entrepreneurship development and incubation. Set up in 2014 under the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, it works to build a sustainable startup ecosystem by linking entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, and markets, operating from Thiruvananthapuram and maintaining a statewide presence through technology incubators and innovation centres. KSUM has supported over 4,000 startups and facilitated the registration of more than 6,500 in the state, with programmes that run from student entrepreneurship through college Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centres to growth-stage support via technology parks and co-working spaces.

It serves as the single-window interface between the Kerala government and the startup community, implementing the Kerala Technology Startup Policy and coordinating with national programmes such as Startup India. Its grassroots reach is distinctive: a network of more than 400 IEDCs in engineering and arts colleges embeds entrepreneurship deep into education. Its flagship programmes include LEAP Coworks, a chain of co-working spaces; the KSUM Seed Fund; Innovation Grants; and specialised facilities such as the Maker Village for hardware startups in Kochi, the BioNest incubator for life sciences, and the BRINC accelerator for drones, alongside the Seeding Kerala early-stage funding initiative and a Scale-Up programme for growth-stage companies.

KSUM-backed startups include Genrobotics, SurveySparrow, Entri App, Fin Robotics, EyeROV, and Navalt Solar Boats, spanning hardware, SaaS, and deep tech. First-time founders, student entrepreneurs at IEDCs, hardware teams needing prototyping labs, and growth-stage companies after co-working infrastructure and investor connections benefit most, particularly founders in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. It is online at startupmission.kerala.gov.in.

Who they work with

Stages
Idea MVP / Prototype Early Revenue Growth
Sectors
Agritech & Food Fintech Biotech, Health & Pharma Deeptech & Robotics AI, SaaS & Enterprise Climate, Energy & EV Edtech & Skilling Logistics & Mobility Consumer & D2C Social Impact Space, Drones & Defence
Notable alumni
Genrobotics Fin Robotics SurveySparrow Entri App EyeROV Navalt Solar Boats

Programs by Kerala Startup Mission 12

Closed Grant
FundingUp to Rs. 25 lakh
Equity-free MVP / Prototype Early Revenue

AgriNext is a flagship initiative under the Kerala Climate Resilient Agri Value Chain Modernization Project (K-CRVAMP), a collaboration between the Government of Kerala and the World Bank. The Startup Innovation subcomponent, led by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), aims to support 150 agri-tech startups with funding and incubation. The objective is to help commercialize products and integrate them into the agri-value chain by connecting them with over 40,000 farmers and

ClosesClosed
Rolling Grant

Idea Grant

by Kerala Startup Mission

FundingUp to Rs. 3 lakh
Equity-free Idea MVP / Prototype

Early-stage funding for innovative tech startups based in Kerala.

ClosesRolling
Rolling Debt / Loan
FundingUp to Rs. 15 lakh
Equity-free MVP / Prototype Early Revenue DPIIT

Kerala Startup Mission soft loan up to Rs. 15 lakh at 6% for DPIIT-recognised, product-stage startups, with a 12-month moratorium.

ClosesRolling
Closed Grant
FundingSupport amount varies
Equity-free Idea MVP / Prototype

WE START is a structured 3-month pre-incubation program by Kerala Startup Mission designed exclusively for women-led startups and aspiring women entrepreneurs. The program focuses on supporting founders in converting innovative ideas into functional MVPs through structured learning, expert mentorship, and practical guidance. Participants gain access to workshops, industry insights, and resources covering the entire early-stage startup journey, from ideation to market readiness. The

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Rolling Debt / Loan

Scaleup Seed Fund

by Kerala Startup Mission

FundingUp to Rs. 25 lakh
Equity-free Early Revenue DPIIT

Funding for Kerala-registered revenue-stage tech startups with collateral-free debt.

ClosesRolling
Rolling Grant

Scaleup Grant

by Kerala Startup Mission

FundingUp to Rs. 15 lakh
Equity-free Early Revenue

Supports technology-based startups with market validation ready to scale operations, up to Rs. 15 lakhs.

ClosesRolling
Rolling Grant

Market Acceleration Grant

by Kerala Startup Mission

FundingUp to Rs. 10 lakh
Equity-free Early Revenue

Supports early-revenue tech startups in Kerala with up to Rs. 10L for market acceleration.

ClosesRolling
Rolling Grant

Productisation Grant

by Kerala Startup Mission

FundingUp to Rs. 7 lakh
Equity-free MVP / Prototype

Grant by KSUM for technology startups converting MVP to market-ready product, up to Rs. 7 lakhs.

ClosesRolling
Closed Grant

Idea Grant (Student Innovator)

by Kerala Startup Mission

FundingUp to Rs. 2 lakh
Equity-free Idea

This Idea Grant specifically targets student innovators, providing funding to help them develop their initial ideas and concepts.

ClosesClosed

Frequently asked questions

What funding programs does Kerala Startup Mission run?

Kerala Startup Mission currently has 12 programs listed in this directory, including AgriNext Startup Innovation Grant by Kerala Startup Mission, Idea Grant, Seed Fund Scheme - Kerala Startup Mission. Each program page covers the funding amount, eligibility and application process.

Is Kerala Startup Mission a government organisation?

Yes. Kerala Startup Mission is listed under the government category. Its programs follow official government processes, and applications are submitted through official channels in your own name.

How do I evaluate whether a Kerala Startup Mission program fits my startup?

Start with the stages and sectors shown on this profile, then open the program pages for eligibility conditions and document checklists. If you want a structured view, send an enquiry below and an IncorpX advisor will walk you through fit and readiness.

Do I apply to these programs through IncorpX?

No. Applications are always submitted in your own name with the respective program authority. IncorpX is independent of Kerala Startup Mission and provides assistance for application preparation, document organisation and prerequisite registrations such as incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST.

Enquire about Kerala Startup Mission

Tell us what you are building and which Kerala Startup Mission program you are evaluating. An IncorpX advisor will help you assess fit and get application-ready.

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Your enquiry goes to the IncorpX advisory team, who will help you evaluate fit and prepare. We are independent of Kerala Startup Mission and never contact organisations on your behalf.

Important disclaimer

IncorpX is a private platform operated by a private company. It is not a government department, agency or official portal, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government body or of any organisation, incubator, accelerator, investor or partner listed in this directory. All program names, logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only.

This directory is compiled from publicly available official sources and is provided for general information only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax or professional advice. Funding amounts, eligibility criteria, required documents, deadlines and availability are determined by each program authority and change with every cycle, so the details shown here may be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm the current terms on the official program source before you apply or take any decision.

IncorpX charges no fee for the information in this directory and does not collect, process, lodge or submit any application on your behalf. Applications are made by you, in your own name, directly with the respective program authority. IncorpX provides assistance only for application preparation and for related registrations such as company incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME (Udyam) and GST. Eligibility, approval, disbursement and selection rest solely with the respective program authority, and IncorpX makes no representation or guarantee as to any outcome.

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