Startup grants & funding schemes in India

The MeitY GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Program at IC IIT Patna is designed to nurture early-stage innovators and founders working in high-impact technology sectors. The program offers financial support of up to INR 10 lakh to help innovators transition from concept to prototype, strengthen problem, solution fit, and validate their ideas. Focused on fostering innovation in electronics, deeptech, and ICT, this initiative provides structured mentoring, incubation support, and access

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 Gramam Thorum Puthozhil Scheme is a flagship initiative of the Government of Tamil Nadu implemented through StartupTN and TANSIM to foster rural innovation and grassroots entrepreneurship. The scheme aims to create startups in selected villages across Tamil Nadu by enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to transform village-based ideas into viable and sustainable businesses. It focuses on inclusive entrepreneurship, rural innovation, and local economic development. Selected startups receive

This is a **12-month Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) program** under the MeitY TIDE 2.0 initiative, specifically designed to support young innovators who are working on ICT-enabled ideas and solutions to solve a pressing need of national priority. The benefits include: * A **Rs. 4 Lakhs grant** for one year for idea validation and development. * Incubation at IIM Calcutta Innovation Park. * Opportunities to pitch for seed funding on completion of the program.

The Open Challenge Program (OCP) 8.0 is an initiative by STPI OctaNE CoE, Kohima, to invite startups and entrepreneurs to develop innovative IT-driven solutions in the graphic design sector. The program aims to support and accelerate early-stage design-tech ventures by providing strategic networking, seed funding, expert mentorship, and access to state-of-the-art incubation facilities.

The cATalyst Acceleration Program is India's exclusive startup acceleration initiative dedicated to scaling Assistive Technology ventures that empower Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). The program provides deep mentoring, strategic partnerships, access to funding resources, and a supportive community. It is designed to accelerate startups with a working MVP into scalable, impactful solutions that enhance learning, livelihood, and independent living for PWDs.

The MeitY TIDE 2.0 Grant Program, implemented through IIT Mandi Catalyst, provides **financial and technical support** to young innovators and startups engaged in **ICT-enabled ideas**, primarily in Electronics and Communication solutions. The scheme's purpose is to bridge the gap between **Proof of Concept (PoC) and Prototype/MVP** by helping innovators test their ideas and develop a viable prototype ready for commercialization. The period of prototyping support can be up to 12 months. The

The **MeitY GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) Program - Cohort 2** is a MeitY-funded initiative to empower early-stage, first-generation entrepreneurs, particularly from **Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities**. The program runs for a period of **12 months**. It provides comprehensive support to accelerate entrepreneurial growth from **idea validation** to **product development** and market entry in deep-tech domains. Key Offerings: * **Grant Funding Support:** Up to **Rs. 10 Lakhs** for product

The **Womenpreneur For Bharat 3.0** initiative is an acceleration program designed to empower women founders from **Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities**. The program provides selected startups with **funding of up to Rs. 15 Lakhs** along with comprehensive support including incubation, mentorship, and access to a robust ecosystem. The program aims to support startups that are building solutions for and from "Bharat," which refers to non-metro, semi-urban, and rural areas of India. The initiative is

The MeitY GENESIS Matching Investment Scheme offers equity-based matching investment up to **Rs. 50 Lakhs** to technology startups. This program is specifically designed to empower tech startups from **Tier II and Tier III cities** to secure the capital needed for scaling. The scheme includes a structured **6-Month Acceleration Program** and access to global markets. Focus Sectors include: * Artificial Intelligence (AI) * Deep Tech * Cybersecurity * IoT * Blockchain * Electronics Design &

The **DISHA 2.0 (Developing Innovations for Successful Harnessing and Adoption) Grand Challenge** is an initiative by IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation (a Section 8, TTRP at IIT Indore) to accelerate the **commercialization of deep-tech innovations** in the **Digital Healthcare** domain. Building on the success of DISHA 1.0, this program aims to identify, fund, and mentor innovations to aid in their journey from research (academic IP) to market-ready products and successful startup

The NIDHI Seed Support Program (SSP) is a flagship initiative by the **Department of Science & Technology (DST)**, providing financial assistance to promising early-stage tech startups to transition from prototype to commercialization (lab to market). Implemented at **ACIC-VGU Foundation**, the program offers seed funding support of up to **Rs. 50 Lakhs** through a flexible structure of **Equity** or **Equity-linked instruments** (with a minority equity stake taken by the incubator). Key