Electronics & Hardware Startup Grants and Funding Programs in India — October 2026
Indian Electronics & Hardware startups can find significant support through 10 active grants, incubation programs, and competitions in October 2026. Opportunities range from prototype funding and incubation to large-scale challenge prizes, backed by government bodies and private institutions.
As of October 2026, ten active programs are available to Electronics & Hardware startups across India, encompassing grants, incubation support, and innovation competitions. These initiatives target ventures from the prototype stage through to growth and scale.
The funding landscape for Electronics & Hardware in India is characterized by a mix of government-backed schemes, institutional incubation programs, and sector-specific challenges. This ecosystem aims to foster innovation, product development, and market entry for technology-driven startups.
Active Electronics & Hardware Grants and Programs
| Program | Type | Deadline | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway Prototype/PoC Funding Support | Grant | Rolling | ₹2 L – ₹30 L |
| NASSCOM CoE – IoT & AI Gurugram Incubation Program | Grant | Rolling | Varies |
| Soma Fellows | Equity | Rolling | ₹90 L – ₹18 Cr |
| IHFC Startup Incubation Program | Grant | Rolling | Varies |
| Patent Reimbursement Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy | Subsidy | Rolling | ₹2 L – ₹10 L |
| Maruti Suzuki - NSRCEL Mobility Incubation Program | Competition | Rolling | ₹1 Cr |
| Social Alpha SpIN SpaceTech Innovation Program | Competition | Rolling | Varies |
| STPI IGNITE Open Challenge Programme 2026 | Grant | 25 Oct 2026 | ₹2.5 L – ₹15 L |
| The Liveability Challenge 2027 | Grant | 12 Feb 2027 | ₹7.5 Cr |
| CoE Innovation Challenge: AI Exam Scheduling Assistant for GSSSB | Competition | Rolling | Varies |
iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway Prototype/PoC Funding Support (iCreate)
The iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway Prototype/PoC Funding Support serves as a critical entry point for startups aiming to transform a proof-of-concept (PoC) or prototype into a viable product. iCreate, a government-recognised Technology Business Incubator, offers access to various schemes from the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat.
This program provides funding of up to ₹30,00,000, alongside holistic support that includes business and technical mentorship, access to prototyping and digital innovation labs, incubation services, and connections with investors and industry stakeholders. Participants also benefit from hostel accommodation on the iCreate campus, facilitating dedicated development.
NASSCOM CoE – IoT & AI Gurugram Incubation Program (NASSCOM)
The NASSCOM CoE – IoT & AI Gurugram Incubation Program, supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Government of Haryana, offers a subsidized, zero-equity incubation opportunity. This program is designed to accelerate technology startups in emerging domains like IoT and Artificial Intelligence.
Startups gain access to a subsidized co-working environment, advanced prototyping labs for product development, and technical validation. Shared complimentary GPU access is also provided, enabling AI-focused startups to train and test computational models efficiently without significant initial hardware investment. The program emphasizes infrastructure and ecosystem access over direct capital grants.
Soma Fellows (Soma)
Soma Fellows is an initiative by Soma, an investment firm with extensive experience in building and investing in startups. With a track record of seeding over 30 unicorn companies, Soma aims to be a primary resource for founders throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
The program offers uncapped funding, with initial investments potentially reaching up to ₹18.6 crore. Beyond capital, Soma Fellows provides deep strategic guidance derived from years of direct involvement in startup growth and investment, leveraging its global network.
IHFC Startup Incubation Program (IHFC, IIT Delhi)
The IHFC Startup Incubation Program supports ventures in Cyber Physical Systems (CPS), Robotics, Autonomous Systems, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). IHFC (I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics) operates as a Section 8 company under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NMICPS) and is hosted at IIT Delhi.
Selected startups receive funding following a multi-stage evaluation process by expert panels. This funding is allocated for technology development, R&D, and market expansion. Additional support includes co-working and co-location space, business support, technical assistance, and opportunities for research engagement and upskilling.
Patent Reimbursement Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (KBITS, Government of Karnataka)
The Patent Reimbursement Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy offers financial support for incubated startups officially registered with the Karnataka Startup Cell. Spearheaded by the Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS), this program aims to alleviate the financial burden of securing intellectual property rights.
Eligible startups can receive reimbursement of up to ₹10,00,000 for patent-related expenditures. This incentive is designed to protect innovations and enhance the competitive edge of technology-driven ventures within Karnataka.
Maruti Suzuki - NSRCEL Mobility Incubation Program (NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore)
The Maruti Suzuki - NSRCEL Mobility Incubation Program is a 6-month initiative by NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore’s innovation hub, in partnership with Maruti Suzuki India Limited. It aims to accelerate technology and mobility startups transforming the automotive sector.
Targeting ventures at the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or paid pilot stage up to those focused on growth and scale, the program fosters innovation in areas such as electric vehicles, advanced driver-assistance systems, data analytics, and sustainable manufacturing. Selected startups can receive funding up to ₹1,00,00,000.
Social Alpha SpIN SpaceTech Innovation Program (Social Alpha)
Social Alpha’s SpaceTech Innovation Network (SpIN) is a lab-to-market platform for SpaceTech startups and entrepreneurs, backed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It focuses on applying space science and technology to various sectors including aviation, urban planning, disaster management, and sustainable agriculture.
Selected startups gain access to pooled testing and validation infrastructure, R&D support, and curated go-to-market programs. Mentorship from subject matter experts, product development guidance, and opportunities for international collaborations are also provided. Seed investment through syndicated capital may be available to selected winners.
STPI IGNITE Open Challenge Programme 2026 (STPI)
The STPI IGNITE Open Challenge Programme 2026, from the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), is a national program for aspiring and early-stage startups and individual innovators working on Industry 4.0. Key areas include Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT).
Selected startups receive seed funding of up to ₹15,00,000, disbursed in three milestone-linked parts. Support includes mentoring, a 2500 sq ft plug-and-play incubation space, access to emerging technology labs, workshops, and patent facilitation. Indian startups at idea, prototype, pre-revenue, or revenue stage are eligible to apply. The deadline for applications is 25 October 2026.
The Liveability Challenge 2027 (Temasek Foundation)
The Liveability Challenge 2027 (TLC), presented by Temasek Foundation and organized by Eco-Business, is a global sustainability solutions platform. The tenth edition features a record pool of over S$5.5 million and themes including Oceans, Decarbonisation, and Cool Earth.
TLC connects innovators with catalytic funding and pathways to market for high-potential climate and sustainability solutions. Finalists pitch at the Grand Finale during Ecosperity Week 2027 in Singapore. The deadline for applications is 12 February 2027.
CoE Innovation Challenge: AI Exam Scheduling Assistant for GSSSB (nasscom CoE – IoT & AI)
The CoE Innovation Challenge: AI Exam Scheduling Assistant for GSSSB from the nasscom Centre of Excellence for IoT & AI seeks AI-powered solutions for the Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board (GSSSB). This challenge addresses the manual and time-consuming process of scheduling 50–150 recruitment examinations annually.
The challenge specifically looks for AI and deep-tech solutions capable of aggregating multi-agency exam calendars, detecting clashes, and scoring factors like attendance, center readiness, and weather impacts. This program provides an opportunity for startups to apply advanced technology to a real-world administrative problem.
Before Applying
Careful consideration of program-specific eligibility is essential. For instance, the Patent Reimbursement Incentives are exclusively for startups registered with the Karnataka Startup Cell and officially incubated. The iCreate Pro-Fund specifically targets startups with a proof-of-concept (PoC) or prototype, while the Maruti Suzuki - NSRCEL program requires ventures to be at the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or paid pilot stage. The IHFC program focuses on specific deep tech areas like Cyber Physical Systems and AI, and the STPI IGNITE program is open to Indian startups at various stages from idea to revenue in Industry 4.0 domains.
Several programs, including iCreate Pro-Fund, NASSCOM CoE, Soma Fellows, IHFC, Karnataka Patent Reimbursement, Maruti Suzuki - NSRCEL, Social Alpha SpIN, and the CoE Innovation Challenge, operate on rolling deadlines, allowing applications at any time. However, the STPI IGNITE Open Challenge Programme 2026 closes on 25 October 2026, making it the most immediate deadline. The Liveability Challenge 2027 has a firm deadline of 12 February 2027.
