Startup grants & funding schemes in India

The Social Impact Innovation Program is a 4-6 month long acceleration program designed for Tech-based Social Enterprises already in the market with revenue. It specifically targets start-ups in the Environment, Waste Management, or Clean Energy sectors. The program aims to provide a small grant and acceleration support to help these start-ups contribute to a green recovery stimulus in Post Covid India, amplify their impact, and/or make them sustainable. Key program highlights include:

The Open Challenge Program (OCP) 8.0 at STPI NEURON is designed to identify and support startups innovating in Animation & Gaming (AVG) and allied emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Analytics (DA), and Internet of Things (IoT). The initiative aims to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem, foster high-value job creation, and encourage experimentation in advanced media and technology domains. The program offers access to specialized labs including AI/DA Lab

The Spark Program at Atal Incubation Centre, GGSIPU is a fast-paced, high-impact pre-incubation and early acceleration platform designed to support early-stage ventures building innovative, future-ready solutions. Each cohort focuses on a specific theme, bringing in domain experts, investors, partners, and mentors to help startups grow faster and more efficiently. Spark Cohort 13 focuses on Sustainability & Climate Tech, supporting startups working in areas such as Alternate Energy and Green

The Samriddhi Agripreneurship Incubation Programme under RKVY-RAFTAAR supports seed-stage startups in the agriculture, animal science, and allied sectors. It provides grant-in-aid of up to Rs. 25 lakhs for startups that have developed a minimum viable product (MVP) based on innovative technologies, services, or business models. This program helps startups refine their product, scale operations, conduct trials, prepare for market launch, and build business viability. Selected startups undergo

The Technology Business Incubator (TBI) at KIET Group of Institutions invites applications for its Incubation & Startup Scheme Support program. The program aims to nurture innovators and early-stage startups by providing financial assistance along with a comprehensive incubation ecosystem. Selected startups can receive startup grants of up to Rs. 10 Lakhs along with structured incubation support. The program focuses on helping founders scale their ideas into sustainable ventures through

The ClimaFii Alliance is a five-year initiative anchored by Shell Foundation in partnership with Accion, with co-funding from UK aid through the UK government's Transforming Energy Access platform. Upaya Social Ventures leads the India program, supporting SMEs and startups delivering clean energy and Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) solutions to micro-entrepreneurs. The program targets sectors such as Food, Agriculture & Allied, Waste Management & Circularity, Mobility & Logistics

The MeitY TIDE 2.0 Grant/Fellowship Program at DERBI Foundation is an early-stage startup support initiative designed to help founders build, validate, and scale impact-driven ventures. Supported by MeitY Startup Hub and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, the program focuses on nurturing innovation-led startups working in high-impact technology and sustainability-driven sectors. Selected startups receive financial grant support along with

The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) aims to make India a global leader in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) by establishing strong linkages between academia, industry, Government, and international organizations. It supports the development of technology platforms, R&D, translational research, product development, incubating & supporting start-ups, and commercialization in areas like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Robotics, Cyber Security, Data

The Fintech Centre of Excellence is an impact-focused initiative by NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore in partnership with HDFC Bank Parivartan, the CSR arm of HDFC Bank. The program invites early to growth-stage fintech startups that are expanding access to banking, strengthening financial inclusion, and addressing meaningful financial challenges across diverse population segments in India. Selected startups receive milestone-based grant support along with structured capacity-building to strengthen

TiHAN, IIT Hyderabad invites innovative Indian startups working in autonomous navigation, robotics, AI-driven mobility, and connected systems to apply for startup funding support. Selected startups receive funding support along with structured incubation, technical mentorship, and access to advanced testbed infrastructure. The program is designed to help startups validate, test, and scale autonomous and intelligent navigation solutions. The initiative also enables startups to connect with

Circular economy accelerator with pilot grants for TRL 5+ startups.

The NMICPS Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN) Foundation at IIT Hyderabad focuses on the research, design, and development of autonomous navigation and data acquisition systems for UAVs, ROVs, and related platforms. Under the SSS (Startup Support Scheme) Program, TiHAN invites proposals from startups with proven track records to undertake translational research and development with a clear focus on commercialization. The program supports startups working on