11 Startup Grants and Seed Funds Closing This Week (18 June-25 June)
Eleven startup grants, seed funds, and incubation programs are closing between 18 June and 25 June 2026. Opportunities from Startup Karnataka, SINE IIT Bombay, IIM Lucknow, and more offer funding up to ₹1.5 crore, mentorship, and support.
A total of 11 startup grants, seed funds, incubation programs, and competitions have application deadlines between 18 June and 25 June 2026. These programs provide capital, mentorship, and ecosystem access to early-stage ventures across India.
The opportunities include government grants, institutional seed funds, startup competitions, and incubation programs from Startup Karnataka, SINE IIT Bombay, IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre, AIC Banasthali, PIEDS, and TiE.
At a Glance
| Program | Type | Deadline | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| UDBHAV 3.0 Blockchain Incubation — IIML EIC CoE | Incubation | 18 Jun | No-cost incubation |
| SMT. Raj Kumari Jain Seed Fund at PIEDS BITS Pilani | Seed Fund | 19 Jun | Up to ₹50L |
| NIDHI Seed Support Program at AIC Banasthali (For Women) | Seed Fund | 20 Jun | Up to ₹50L |
| SIDBI Seed Fund Programme at SINE, IIT Bombay | Equity | 25 Jun | ₹25L–₹1Cr |
| IITB-IoE Seed Fund at SINE, IIT Bombay | Equity | 25 Jun | Up to ₹1Cr |
| DST-NIDHI Seed Support Programme at SINE, IIT Bombay | Equity | 25 Jun | Up to ₹1Cr |
| SIDBI-iDEX Seed Fund Programme at SINE, IIT Bombay | Equity | 25 Jun | Up to ₹1.5Cr |
| ELEVATE Aspire 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant | Grant | 25 Jun | Up to ₹50L |
| ELEVATE 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant-in-Aid Program | Grant | 25 Jun | Up to ₹50L |
| ELEVATE Unnati 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant | Grant | 25 Jun | Up to ₹50L |
| TiE Women Program 2026 – Global Initiative | Competition | 25 Jun | $100k+ prizes |
UDBHAV 3.0 Blockchain Incubation (IIML EIC) Closes 18 June
The UDBHAV 3.0 Blockchain Incubation — IIML EIC CoE is a six-month, no-cost program from the IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre. Backed by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, it supports startups that are building, validating, and scaling blockchain-based solutions.
Selected startups receive co-incubation access, mentorship from industry experts, and support for product validation and commercialisation. The program also provides operational support through legal, IPR, and financial helpdesks, along with access to IIML EIC's Supercomputer, IoT, and 3D Printing labs.
SMT. Raj Kumari Jain Seed Fund (PIEDS) Closes 19 June
Run by the Pilani Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS) at BITS Pilani, the SMT. Raj Kumari Jain Seed Fund for Innovation is an early-stage funding initiative for innovation-driven startups. The program is designed for ventures founded by BITS Pilani students or recent alumni.
The fund helps startups validate ideas, build prototypes, develop minimum viable products, and accelerate early commercialization. It offers a combination of non-matching and matching funding to encourage startups to attract external investment alongside institutional backing.
NIDHI Seed Support Program for Women (AIC Banasthali) Closes 20 June
The NIDHI Seed Support Program at AIC Banasthali is a DST, Government of India initiative that channels seed capital to early-stage startups. This specific fund, deployed by AIC Banasthali Vidyapith, is exclusively for women-led startups in science and technology and other sectors.
The capital is intended for startups that have moved beyond the idea stage and require funding to build their financial foundation before seeking follow-on rounds from angels or VCs. The support can be used for operational costs, proof-of-concept studies, product development, hiring, and market research.
ELEVATE 2026 Grant Programs (Startup Karnataka) Close 25 June
Startup Karnataka's ELEVATE program is a flagship grant-in-aid scheme offering up to ₹50 lakh for early-stage startups to move from idea to proof-of-concept. The program is run by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) and has three concurrent calls closing on the same date:
- ELEVATE 2026: This is the general call, open to any startup registered anywhere in Karnataka.
- ELEVATE Aspire 2026: This call is specifically for startups registered outside the Bengaluru Urban region, as part of the state's 'Beyond Bangalore' initiative.
- ELEVATE Unnati 2026: This call is reserved for startups where founders from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities hold at least 70% equity.
A startup may apply to more than one ELEVATE call if it meets the respective eligibility criteria. However, a single pitch is evaluated across all applied calls, and the total support per startup is capped at ₹50 lakh across all categories.
Seed Funds at SINE, IIT Bombay Close 25 June
SINE, the incubator at IIT Bombay, has opened applications for four seed funding programs. These initiatives provide capital to technology-focused startups, primarily through equity or equity-linked instruments. For companies not already incubated, selection for funding requires subsequent incubation with SINE.
- SIDBI Seed Fund Programme: Offers ₹25 lakh to ₹1 crore as an equity investment to startups already incubated at SINE for scaling business activities.
- IITB-IoE Seed Fund: Provides up to ₹1 crore in equity or equity-linked instruments to IIT Bombay-associated technology startups for product development and go-to-market acceleration.
- DST-NIDHI Seed Support Programme: Delivers up to ₹1 crore via equity or convertible preference shares to DPIIT-recognised startups for PoC, product trials, and commercialization.
- SIDBI-iDEX Seed Fund Programme: Provides ₹10 lakh to ₹1.5 crore in equity to MSMEs and startups in the defence sector that have been selected or supported through iDEX challenges.
TiE Women Program 2026 (TiE Pune) Closes 25 June
The TiE Women Program 2026 – Global Women Entrepreneurs Initiative is a global pitch competition for businesses founded or co-founded by women. Organized by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), the program is open to entrepreneurs across all industries, from early-stage to established businesses.
Participants gain visibility, structured mentorship from TiE's network, and access to investors. The program offers over $100,000 in equity-free prizes, including a $50,000 global winner prize, to support business growth.
Before Applying
Founders should prepare standard documents, as most applications require an incorporation certificate, DPIIT recognition certificate, a detailed pitch deck, financial projections, and founder ID proofs. Specific requirements will vary by program, so review each application portal carefully.
Many of these programs are annual or cohort-based, meaning a missed deadline could result in waiting several months for the next cycle. Several opportunities are restricted by affiliation (IITB, BITS Pilani), location (Karnataka), or founder demographics (women, SC/ST). Verify all eligibility criteria before investing time in an application.
