FundingFunding opportunities up to ₹10 Lakh through ACIC-VGU schemes
Equity-free Idea AI, SaaS & Enterprise
ClosesAug 15, 2026
Rolling Grant Equity-free Women founders
Women Startup Program
The Women Startup Program by NSRCEL, powered by Kotak BizLabs, is an equity-free entrepreneurship programme that supports women founders from idea validation to business growth through mentorship, incubation, investor readiness, networking, and ecosystem access.
Check your readinessShare a few details and an IncorpX advisor will walk you through fit, documents and timelines for this scheme. Free, no obligation.
- Equity-free programme.
- Designed exclusively for women entrepreneurs.
- Structured support from idea to scale.
- Mentorship by industry experts.
- Investor readiness support.
- Entrepreneurship bootcamps.
- Peer learning community.
- Networking opportunities.
- Access to equity-free grant opportunities.
- Sector-agnostic programme.
About this scheme
The Women Startup Program is an equity-free entrepreneurship initiative by NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore, powered by Kotak BizLabs, designed to support women entrepreneurs at different stages of their startup journey.
The programme provides structured support to founders from idea validation through incubation and business growth by combining entrepreneurship education, expert mentorship, founder communities, investor readiness, workshops, ecosystem access, and networking opportunities.
Participants progress through multiple stages based on their startup maturity, beginning with entrepreneurial foundations, followed by pre-incubation, incubation, and continued scale support for eligible ventures. Throughout the programme, founders receive personalized guidance to strengthen business models, validate products, understand customers, prepare for fundraising, and build sustainable businesses.
The programme is sector agnostic and welcomes women entrepreneurs building innovative and scalable ventures across India. It does not take equity from participating startups, and selected ventures may also receive access to equity-free grant opportunities during the incubation journey.
Who can apply
- Woman founder aged 18 years or above.
- Business idea, early-stage startup, or growth-stage venture.
- Founder must actively participate throughout the programme.
- Startup should have the potential to build a scalable and sustainable business.
- Applications are open across India and across sectors.
Benefits & funding
Headline support
Access to equity-free grant opportunities for eligible startups
- Structured entrepreneurship programmes.
- Idea validation support.
- Customer discovery and MVP guidance.
- One-on-one mentorship.
- Investor readiness.
- Networking opportunities.
- Peer learning community.
- Workshops and bootcamps.
- Access to equity-free grant opportunities.
- Long-term incubation support.
How the application process works
The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore, in your own name.
- 1
Submit the online interest registration form on the Women Startup Program website with your personal and startup details.
- 2
After expressing your interest, complete the official application form when invited as part of the registration process.
- 3
Provide information about your startup stage, business idea, founder profile, and venture details for programme evaluation.
- 4
Eligible applications are reviewed by the NSRCEL team based on founder commitment, startup potential, scalability, and programme fit.
- 5
Shortlisted founders may be invited for interactions or further assessment before cohort selection.
- 6
Selected entrepreneurs join the programme at the stage best suited to their startup, ranging from entrepreneurship foundations and pre-incubation to incubation or scale support.
- 7
Throughout the programme, founders participate in mentoring sessions, workshops, networking events, investor readiness activities, and structured venture-building support.
Want a second pair of eyes before you submit?IncorpX provides assistance for structuring proposals and organising the paperwork this process expects.
Documents checklist 5
- Founder details
- Startup information
- LinkedIn profile
- Business details (during application)
- Additional documents, if requested during later stages
Need help getting these in order? IncorpX provides assistance for incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST registrations along with document preparation.
Official application
Ready to apply? Get the official link
Applications are submitted directly with NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore, in your own name. Share a few details and we will point you to the official application portal and help you prepare a complete submission.
Here is the official application link
Apply in your own name with NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore. Want a second pair of eyes before you submit? An IncorpX advisor can help you prepare.
Open the official applicationFrequently asked questions
What is the Women Startup Program?
The Women Startup Program is an equity-free entrepreneurship programme by NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore, powered by Kotak BizLabs, that supports women entrepreneurs from idea to scale.
Who can apply for the Women Startup Program?
Women founders aged 18 years or above with a business idea, early-stage startup, or growing venture are eligible to apply.
Does the Women Startup Program take equity?
No. NSRCEL does not take equity from startups participating in the Women Startup Program.
How is the Women Startup Program structured?
The programme includes multiple stages such as entrepreneurship foundations, pre-incubation, incubation, and scale support based on the maturity of the startup.
How long does the Women Startup Program last?
Support may extend across different programme stages for up to one to two years depending on the startup's progress.
Does the Women Startup Program provide funding?
Selected startups may receive access to equity-free grant opportunities during the incubation phase, subject to eligibility and programme criteria.
Is there an application fee?
No. Participation in the Women Startup Program is largely free of cost.
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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