DST-NIDHI Seed Support Programme at SINE, IIT Bombay

• Equity or CCPS seed support under NIDHI-SSP.
• Disbursed in milestone-linked tranches.
• Funds for product development, marketing, salaries, and IP.
• Incubation with SINE, in person or virtual.
• Backed by the Department of Science and Technology.

About this scheme

SINE, backed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has opened a call under the NIDHI Seed Support Programme (NIDHI-SSP). It offers financial assistance to DPIIT-recognised startups across proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialisation.

Investment mode: equity or convertible preference shares (CCPS or OCPS) in a private limited company. Money is released in tranches tied to set milestones, once the Seed Support Agreement is signed.

Use of funds: product development, a share of team salaries, marketing, mentoring, and professional services, with contingencies held to a 10% cap.

Approved companies that are not yet incubated must take up incubation with SINE, in person or virtually, to draw the funding.

Who can apply

• An Indian private limited company with at least 51% Indian promoter shareholding, DPIIT-recognised or willing to secure a DPIIT certificate.
• It must not have taken NIDHI seed support before from any incubator.
• Indian subsidiaries of multinationals or foreign companies are not eligible.

Eligible entity types: Private Limited

Benefits & funding

• Financial assistance under NIDHI-SSP across proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialisation, given as equity or convertible preference shares (CCPS or OCPS) and released in milestone-linked tranches once the Seed Support Agreement is signed.
• Funds can cover product development (equipment, prototyping, testing, raw material, fabrication, and outsourced technical services), a share of team salaries, marketing, mentoring, and professional services such as legal, IP, accountancy, and regulatory work.
• Contingencies are held to a 10% cap, and approved companies not yet incubated must incubate with SINE, in person or virtually, to draw the funding.

How the application process works

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

1. 1

   Each application gets a two-level review: an internal look by experts, then a presentation to the Investment Committee for the teams that make the cut.

2. 2

   Reviewers weigh technology and innovation, the team's skills and ability to execute, the value proposition and edge over rivals, market size and impact, IP, the milestone plan, and regulatory risk.

3. 3

   The Investment Committee has the final say.

Frequently asked questions