Startup grants & funding schemes in India

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

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

The NIDHI Seed Support Program (NIDHI-SSP) at IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre is an equity-based seed funding initiative implemented under the Department of Science and Technology's National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations. The program is designed to support and accelerate promising DeepTech startups by providing early-stage capital along with structured incubation and ecosystem support. Through this program, selected startups receive equity-based investment of

This initiative is designed to support Scheduled Tribe innovators who are building innovative and technology-driven business ideas with strong commercial potential. The program focuses on nurturing early-stage startups by providing equity-based financial support rather than loans, enabling founders to concentrate on product development and market validation without immediate repayment pressure. The scheme aims to empower young innovators, students, and early entrepreneurs from the Scheduled

PropelX 2.0 is a flagship startup support initiative by the Technology Business Incubator Foundation at IIT Ropar, aimed at nurturing visionary founders, researchers, and innovators working on cutting-edge technologies. The program is designed to help early-stage startups transform bold ideas into scalable and high-impact ventures by providing a structured incubation environment. Selected startups gain access to expert mentorship, advanced R&D laboratories, and strong technical infrastructure

The Investor Readiness Program (IRP) , Cohort 4 is a 24-week, equity-free and fee-free accelerator designed to prepare healthcare startups for successful fundraising. Supported as a **CSR initiative by Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Ltd.**, the program focuses on enabling startups to raise **Rs. 1, 10 Cr within the next 12, 18 months**. ### Benefits - Assured **grant of up to Rs. 5 Lakhs** for selected startups - **1:1 active investor-led mentoring** aligned with fundraising goals

FutureSites Innovation Program is a joint initiative by DPIIT Startup India and the CII Centre of Excellence for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Startups, in collaboration with a leading Oil and Gas corporate retail business unit. The program is designed to accelerate next-generation retail technology solutions by enabling startups to solve real-world operational challenges in live retail environments. The program focuses on three strategic challenge areas including agentic store operations