Startup grants & funding schemes in India

The Hair & Beauty Innovation Challenge is a thematic challenge under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, focused on redefining the future of personalized beauty innovation in India. The program invites startups and innovators developing solutions across beauty biotechnology, dermatology, organic and sustainable beauty products, and salon-tech platforms. The challenge aims to address gaps in scalp care, hair regrowth, product safety, personalization, and digital beauty experiences. Selected

The Amrita TBI x Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator Program is a highly competitive global accelerator designed to help high-potential Indian startups scale internationally through Silicon Valley exposure. Backed by UC Berkeley and leading Silicon Valley investors, the program enables startups to leverage an unparalleled global ecosystem of investors, mentors, and alumni. Selected startups receive significant investment support and gain access to one of the world's strongest innovation networks

The ARAMBH program, or Student Entrepreneurship program, is offered under the ICAR-CIRCOT RKVY-RAFTAAR Agri Business Incubator (R-ABI). It is designed to support student startups at the **ideation stage**. This grant-in-aid helps agri-startups receive funding to translate their innovative ideas into a **Proof of Concept (PoC)**, providing the initial boost needed for entrepreneurial success. The call is specifically for entrepreneurs from **Maharashtra & Goa** working in agriculture and

The UDAY program, or Agripreneurship Orientation Programme, is offered under the ICAR-CIRCOT RKVY-RAFTAAR Agri Business Incubator (R-ABI). It is designed to support startups at the **pre-seed stage**. This grant-in-aid helps agri-startups receive funding to translate their innovative ideas/Proof of Concept into **tangible prototypes**. The call is specifically for entrepreneurs from **Maharashtra & Goa** working in agriculture and allied sectors.

The ANKUR program, or Startup Agri Incubation Program, is offered under the ICAR-CIRCOT RKVY-RAFTAAR Agri Business Incubator (R-ABI). It provides **seed-stage funding** (grants-in-aid) to agri-startups to enable them to **commercialize Minimum Viable Products (MVPs)** and **scale up their activities**. This support is essential for sustainable growth in the competitive agricultural market. The call is specifically for entrepreneurs from **Maharashtra & Goa** working in agriculture and allied

The Chiratae Sonic DeepTech Program is a fast-track investment initiative designed to back India's most ambitious DeepTech founders. The program focuses on breakthrough technologies across SpaceTech, Robotics, Quantum Technologies, Energy and ClimateTech, AI, Advanced Manufacturing, BioTech, and MedTech. Startups accepted into the program receive up to $2 million in early-stage funding (Seed to Series A), with an exceptionally rapid 48-hour turnaround on initial application review. The

BluePrint is a national startup funding and incubation platform designed to support founders from the ideation stage through Series A readiness. Launched as a flagship initiative under Synapse 2026, the annual management fest of N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research, the program is built to help founders develop ventures with clarity, credibility, and long-term scalability. The initiative is powered by Venture Catalysts++, India's first integrated multi-stage venture

The MahaGAD AI Sahayak Grand Challenge is an initiative launched by the Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSInS) in collaboration with the General Administration Department (GAD), Government of Maharashtra. The challenge aims to onboard capable Indian startups to design, develop, and deploy an advanced AI-based Government Resolution (GR) Information Management System named "MahaGAD AI Sahayak". The proposed system is envisioned as an in-house, on-premise, secure, and scalable artificial

The DDWS Innovation Challenge 2025, 26 is a national-level innovation initiative launched by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, in collaboration with IIT Madras. The program aims to identify, support, and scale innovative technological solutions addressing critical challenges in drinking water quality and sanitation across India, with a strong focus on rural and decentralized contexts. The challenge is structured around two

The DST NIDHI i-TBI Ignition Grant 2.0 is an early-stage startup support program implemented at CSVTU Foundation for Rural Technology and Entrepreneurship (CSVTU-FORTE) under the Department of Science and Technology's NIDHI i-TBI initiative. The program aims to encourage innovation-led entrepreneurship by supporting innovative ideas and early-stage startups, particularly from Chhattisgarh. Selected applicants receive Ignition Grant support along with incubation benefits such as co-working

ImpactNest 2.0 is a flagship social impact acceleration program jointly led by IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre (IIML EIC) and BHARAT IMPACT, with support from the Jubilant Bhartia Foundation. The program is designed to support startups that are building scalable and high-impact solutions addressing critical societal and environmental challenges. The cohort focuses on nurturing impact-driven startups by providing structured acceleration, co-incubation support, and deep engagement with

For Indian conservation organisations working on lesser-known species and critical habitats