Food & Beverage Startup Grants and Funding Programs in India — October 2026

Food & Beverage startups in India currently have access to 10 active funding programs, encompassing government grants, incubation support, and competitive challenges. The funding landscape for this sector is primarily driven by substantial government schemes focused on food processing, fisheries, and animal husbandry infrastructure. These are complemented by institutional initiatives and innovation competitions that encourage sustainable practices, circular economy solutions, and general entrepreneurial growth.

Active Food & Beverage Grants and Programs

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (DAHD)

The PMMSY — Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is a flagship scheme from the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) with an allocation of ₹20,050 crore from 2020 to 2026, aimed at bolstering the fisheries sector. The scheme offers a substantial subsidy, covering 40% of the project cost for the General category and 60% for SC/ST/Women entrepreneurs.

This extensive program supports a broad range of activities within the fisheries value chain. Eligible projects include the establishment of aquaculture ponds, biofloc units, hatcheries, brood banks, and cage culture. It also covers seaweed farming, the acquisition of fishing vessels, and the development of crucial post-harvest infrastructure such as cold chain facilities, ice plants, and fish feed mills. Furthermore, the scheme extends to fish processing and value-addition units, alongside the setup of retail fish kiosks, enabling startups to integrate across the supply chain.

PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (MoFPI)

The PMFME — PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises scheme, administered by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), provides a 35% credit-linked capital subsidy, capped at ₹10 lakh, for individual micro food-processing units. This support is designed for units looking to upgrade existing facilities or establish new ones within the food processing sector.

Beyond capital subsidies, the PMFME scheme offers additional assistance to foster growth and market access. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) can receive a branding and marketing grant of up to ₹50,000. Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and cooperatives are eligible for grants to develop common infrastructure, promoting shared resources and efficiencies. The program also provides DPR (Detailed Project Report) preparation and handholding support through District Resource Persons, emphasizing a 'One District One Product' (ODOP) approach to specialize and scale local food products.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (MoFPI)

The PMKSY — Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana is an umbrella scheme from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), designed to create robust food processing infrastructure. This initiative aims to reduce post-harvest losses, enhance value addition, and boost farmer incomes.

PMKSY comprises several sub-schemes tailored to different needs within the food processing ecosystem:

• Mega Food Parks: Offers grants of up to ₹50 crore per park to establish integrated food processing zones.
• Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure: Provides 35% to 50% grant assistance on eligible project costs for cold chain and value addition facilities.
• Agro-Processing Clusters: Supports the creation of agro-processing clusters with grants up to ₹10 crore per cluster.
• Unit Scheme: Delivers grants for individual food processing units.

The scheme covers a wide array of food categories including fruits & vegetables, dairy, meat/poultry/fishery, Ready-to-Eat (RTE)/Ready-to-Cook (RTC) foods, cereals, spices, honey, and various beverages, making it a critical resource for diverse F&B ventures.

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (DAHD)

The AHIDF — Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, managed by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), is a ₹29,610 crore fund designed to promote investment in critical animal husbandry infrastructure. The fund offers a 3% interest subvention on loans, making capital more accessible for eligible projects.

This program supports projects related to dairy processing and value-addition infrastructure, meat processing and value-addition infrastructure, and the establishment of animal feed plants. It also covers breed improvement laboratories. Loans up to ₹50 crore per project are available, with 90% financed by banks and a 10% promoter contribution required. The loan tenure extends up to 8 years, including a 2-year moratorium period, providing financial flexibility for large-scale infrastructure development in the F&B supply chain.

Patent Reimbursement Incentives (KBITS, Government of Karnataka)

The Patent Reimbursement Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy offers financial support for intellectual property protection. This program, led by Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS) under the Government of Karnataka, aims to assist incubated startups officially registered with the Karnataka Startup Cell.

Eligible startups, including those in the food technology and processing sectors developing new products, processes, or machinery, can receive reimbursement of up to ₹10 lakh. The policy's objective is to mitigate the financial burden associated with securing patents, enabling technology-driven ventures within Karnataka to protect their innovations and maintain a competitive advantage in the F&B market and beyond.

Greenovation Circularity Challenge 2026 (EarthON Foundation)

The Greenovation Circularity Challenge 2026 is an initiative by EarthON Foundation, in collaboration with Greenovation Hub and SwitchON Foundation. It seeks to identify and scale innovations that promote circularity across waste streams in India, including plastic, textile, and food waste.

Startups, SMEs, and social enterprises with solutions for food waste are direct beneficiaries. The challenge's focus areas include innovations aimed at recovering, reusing, and recycling plastic waste, as well as solutions for small-scale recycling and developing sustainable materials. For food and beverage businesses, this translates to opportunities in food waste reduction, valorization, and circular packaging solutions. The deadline for applications is 31 October 2026, with grants up to ₹4 crore available for selected innovations.

FICCI Agri Innovation Hackathon 2026 (FICCI)

The FICCI Agri Innovation Hackathon 2026 is spearheaded by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and partnered by Pioneer. This national platform aims to revolutionize Indian agriculture through technology-led breakthroughs.

The hackathon seeks to identify and support promising agri startups, providing them with an opportunity to showcase scalable, high-impact solutions. For the Food & Beverage sector, this means addressing challenges in raw material sourcing, processing efficiency, supply chain optimization, and sustainable farming practices that impact food production. The initiative fosters innovation, economic growth, and sustainable practices, aligning with national priorities for food security and farmer welfare. Grants of up to ₹15 lakh are offered.

Social Alpha SpIN SpaceTech Innovation Program (Social Alpha)

Social Alpha's SpIN SpaceTech Innovation Program is a lab-to-market platform for SpaceTech startups and entrepreneurs, backed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). While focused on space technology, its applications extend significantly to the Food & Beverage sector.

The program applies space science and technology to areas such as urban planning, mapping, and crucial for F&B, disaster management, food security, sustainable agriculture, environmental monitoring, and natural resource management. Selected startups gain access to pooled testing infrastructure, R&D support, and curated go-to-market programs. Mentorship from subject matter experts, product development guidance, and potential seed investment through syndicated capital are also provided, enabling F&B startups to leverage space-based solutions for efficiency and sustainability.

The Liveability Challenge 2027 (Temasek Foundation)

The Liveability Challenge 2027, presented by Temasek Foundation, is Asia’s largest sustainability solutions platform. The tenth edition, launched on 10 September 2026, features a pool of over S$5.5 million (approx. ₹7.5 crore) and includes new Oceans and Decarbonisation themes relevant to the F&B sector.

Innovators are connected with catalytic funding and market pathways for high-potential climate and sustainability solutions. For F&B startups, this program offers opportunities under the Decarbonisation theme (e.g., reducing carbon emissions in food production and supply chains) and the Oceans theme (e.g., sustainable aquaculture, seafood processing, and marine resource management). Finalists pitch at the Grand Finale during Ecosperity Week 2027 in Singapore, with applications due by 12 February 2027.

Indian Innovation Icons 2027 (Marico Innovation Foundation)

Indian Innovation Icons 2027 is a biennial program from the Marico Innovation Foundation for founders and innovators addressing real-world problems. The 11th edition for 2027 is open to both for-profit businesses and not-for-profit organizations, including those in the Food & Beverage sector.

Winners receive a one-hour strategic diagnosis session with Harsh Mariwala, Chairman of Marico Limited, and six months of customized mentorship from Marico's senior leadership in Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, Operations, and Strategy. While there is no direct cash prize, the program facilitates introductions to venture capital firms, grant makers, and corporate partners. It also provides national media visibility, executive presence coaching, and long-term strategic guidance within the Marico Innovation Foundation ecosystem, offering significant non-financial support to F&B startups.

Before Applying

Eligibility criteria vary significantly across these programs. For instance, the Karnataka Patent Reimbursement Incentives are specifically for incubated startups registered with the Karnataka Startup Cell. The PMFME scheme targets individual micro food-processing units, while the Indian Innovation Icons program is open to both for-profit businesses and not-for-profit organizations tackling real-world problems.

Attention to deadlines is important for cohort-based programs. The Greenovation Circularity Challenge 2026 has an approaching deadline of 31 October 2026, requiring prompt action. Similarly, The Liveability Challenge 2027 closes on 12 February 2027. In contrast, several key government schemes like PMMSY, PMFME, PMKSY, and AHIDF operate on a rolling application basis, offering continuous opportunities for eligible Food & Beverage ventures.