Is this open to startups outside Andhra Pradesh?

No. The AP Build Grant is targeted at startups and MSMEs based in Andhra Pradesh, where RTIH has its central hub (Amaravati) and regional spoke centres.

Does RTIH take equity for the grant?

No. The ₹3–5 lakh AP Build Grant is positioned as equity-free prototype funding.

The program started on 25 May 2026 — can I still apply?

Yes. The application window stays open until 14 June 2026. Late applications join the in-flight cohort or a subsequent batch depending on RTIH's selection.

Do I need to be working on AI specifically?

Yes — the sprint is anchored on building a working AI prototype, even if the underlying domain is agri, health, climate, mobility, edtech or another sector.

AP Build Grant — Build with AI: RTIH Startup Sprint – Up to ₹5 Lakhs

The AP Build Grant is the funding leg of the Build with AI: RTIH Startup Sprint, run by the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH) under the Government of Andhra Pradesh. It is aimed at prototype-stage startups and MSMEs based in Andhra Pradesh that have a real operational bottleneck and want to ship a working AI prototype that solves it.

Grant component

Selected teams receive grant support of ₹3–5 lakh to underwrite the cost of building, testing and validating their prototype. The grant is positioned for teams that are past pure ideation and need fuel to put a real product in the hands of users.

Program component

The grant is bundled with a 4-week intensive sprint that runs in hybrid mode — virtual sessions plus in-person time at the RTIH central hub in Amaravati and the regional spoke centres (Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Anantapur). The sprint is execution-focused: domain mentors, technical builders and AI experts work alongside founders to move from a defined bottleneck to a deployable AI prototype in four weeks.

Sectors in focus

AI, HealthTech, Agritech, ClimateTech, DeepTech, Manufacturing, Mobility, EdTech, Drones and Rural Innovation. The sprint particularly favours teams whose AI use-case is anchored to a measurable operational problem rather than a general "AI for X" theme.

Who this is for

Andhra Pradesh-based startups and MSMEs at the idea / pre-prototype to MVP / beta-testing stage. Teams that already have a clear bottleneck statement, a small technical core, and the ability to spend four weeks on focused execution will get the most out of the program.

AP Build Grant — Build with AI: RTIH Startup Sprint

AP Build Grant — Build with AI: RTIH Startup Sprint

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