Uttishthati Foundation i-TBI Ignition Grant 2.0 , NIT Hamirpur

• A prototype or ignition grant of up to Rs. 10 lakh per startup.
• A DST NIDHI i-TBI scheme run by Uttishthati Foundation at NIT Hamirpur.
• Focus: deeptech and AI, renewable and green energy, smart and sustainable construction, agritech including Himalayan bio-resources, and healthtech and life sciences.
• Expert mentoring, industry guidance, and access to NIT Hamirpur's innovation ecosystem.
• Equity-free and non-dilutive, as a state-backed DST iTBI grant.

About this scheme

The Ignition Grant 2.0 (FY 2026-27) is a seed-funding scheme from Uttishthati Foundation i-TBI, the DST-NIDHI iTBI incubator at NIT Hamirpur. It is aimed at founders in their early days whose ideas span clean energy, deeptech, agritech, smart infrastructure, and life sciences, with particular weight on those solving problems that matter to hilly and Himalayan areas.

Up to Rs. 10 lakh of seed money is on the table for a chosen startup, paired with incubation at the Foundation's 7,118 sq ft space on the NIT Hamirpur campus. The support runs from sharpening the idea through prototype building and on to deployment, carrying a founder from a concept to a product that can be tested and sold. Guidance comes from NIT Hamirpur faculty, outside industry specialists, and a Board of Governors with members from IIT Mandi, DST, Ericsson, and private firms.

The themes in scope are broad: machine integration and AI; wind and solar power; construction that resists earthquakes and copes with the environment; smart infrastructure; technology for managing disasters; solutions for glacier and river water; tools for farming in the hills; supply chains for Himalayan medicinal plants; and processing technology for food and fruit.

Founders from any sector may apply, not only those in Himachal Pradesh, which makes this a handy on-ramp for idea-stage teams chasing non-dilutive money next to structured incubation.

Who can apply

• Open to inventive or early-stage startups with a product idea ready to be refined and prototyped.
• All sectors may apply, with priority for deeptech, AI, renewable energy, smart infrastructure, agritech, and healthtech.
• No state restriction is stated, so startups from anywhere in India can take part.
• Incubation at the NIT Hamirpur facility is on offer for the startups chosen.

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

Benefits & funding

• Up to Rs. 10 lakh of non-dilutive seed money to move from idea to prototype.
• Incubation in a 7,118 sq ft facility at NIT Hamirpur.
• Mentoring from NIT faculty, industry specialists, and a Board of Governors that includes members from IIT Mandi, Ericsson, and DST.

How the application process works

The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with Uttishthati Foundation i-TBI, NIT Hamirpur, in your own name.

1. 1

   Applications go in through a Google Form and are reviewed by the i-TBI evaluation panel.

2. 2

   Shortlisted founders pitch the idea, set out what support they need, and show a working prototype before the incubator committee makes its final call.

3. 3

   Those selected receive up to Rs. 10 lakh and start incubation at NIT Hamirpur.

Documents checklist 4

• Idea or concept brief
• Pitch deck
• 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