17 Startup Grants and Seed Funds Closing This Week (25 August-30 August)

A total of 17 programs supporting Indian startups are reaching their application deadlines between August 25 and August 30, 2026. These opportunities span startup grants, incubation programs, and competitions, offering a range of support from financial assistance to mentorship and infrastructural resources.

Key organizations behind these initiatives include FIED IIM Kashipur, the Incubation Centre IIT Patna, SIIC IIT Kanpur, IHFC IIT Delhi, the Department of Science & Technology, IIT Madras Incubation Cell, the Technology Development Board, The Estée Lauder Companies, StartupTN, and various hackathon organizers.

At a Glance

BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 (Estée Lauder Companies) Closes 25 August

BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 is a beauty entrepreneurship and innovation program from The Estée Lauder Companies, Nykaa, and Startup India, DPIIT. It empowers founders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and creatives shaping the future of beauty for Indian consumers.

The program welcomes applications from pre-launch concepts, early-stage ideas, established beauty brands, creative projects, and breakthrough technologies. It covers skincare, hair care, fragrance, makeup, wellness, and beauty-adjacent areas, offering funding up to ₹4 crore and ecosystem support.

RKVY-RABI Program 2026, IIM Kashipur FIED (FIED, IIM Kashipur) Closes 25 August

The RKVY-RABI Program 2026, organized by IIM Kashipur FIED and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, targets Agri-Startups in Uttarakhand. It aims to strengthen the agricultural innovation ecosystem by providing financial aid, strategic guidance, and infrastructural resources.

Selected startups participate in an intensive one-month entrepreneurship development program. This program helps them acquire business acumen, market understanding, and operational strategies to support growth and commercialization. Funding is available up to ₹2.5 crore.

AIIDE-COE Cohort 6 Accelerator (SIIC IIT Kanpur) Closes 25 August

The Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Driven Entrepreneurship (AIIDE) Centre of Excellence at SIIC, IIT Kanpur, offers its 6th cohort accelerator program for deep-tech startups using AI and Machine Learning. The program assists innovators building impactful AI/ML products in sectors such as Medtech, Agritech, Fintech, and Cleantech.

Participants gain access to resources, expert guidance, and networking opportunities for scaling their ventures. The program supports early-stage startups in product development and market navigation.

IIT Patna Pre-Incubation Grant 2026 (IIT Patna) Closes 25 August

The IIT Patna Pre-Incubation Grant 2026 is an open call for idea-stage innovators and student startups. The Incubation Centre at IIT Patna provides support to transform concepts into viable businesses, fostering innovators in Bihar.

The program focuses on scalable growth and social impact by offering grant funding up to ₹2 lakh, access to advanced technical labs, expert mentorship, and networking. It seeks technology-driven solutions in Electronic System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), MedTech & Life Science, and AgriTech & Sustainability.

AI Builders Hackathon (OSC) Closes 25 August

The AI Builders Hackathon is an online, open-ended competition organized by OSC. Participants build AI-powered projects. The hackathon welcomes individuals and teams globally, including Indian participants, with a total prize pool of ₹3.6 lakh.

The Great Agent Hackathon (Women In Product India) Closes 25 August

The Great Agent Hackathon from Women In Product India focuses on building AI agents for enterprise use cases. The competition invites participants to create innovative agent-based solutions using machine learning and AI technologies. It offers prizes up to ₹1 lakh.

Hack Synthesis 3.0 - 2026 (UEM Kolkata) Closes 25 August

Hack Synthesis 3.0 is a 30-hour hackathon by the University of Engineering and Management, Kolkata. It invites student innovators, designers, and developers from across India to build solutions under an open innovation theme. Prizes are available up to ₹60,000.

CyberHack 2026 (SRMS CET&R) Closes 25 August

CyberHack 2026 is a 24-hour cybersecurity hackathon organized by Shri Ram Murti Smarak College of Engineering, Technology & Research (SRMS CET&R), Bareilly. The event features Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges to test cybersecurity, ethical hacking, and problem-solving skills, with prizes up to ₹51,000.

RakshaTech Synapse 2026 (IHFC, IIT Delhi) Closes 26 August

RakshaTech Synapse 2026 is an innovation initiative by IHFC (TIH of IIT Delhi) in collaboration with the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME) of the Indian Army. This program supports researchers, innovators, deep-tech startups, and organizations with working prototypes.

It aims to accelerate deep-tech innovation by bridging research with field-ready deployment, fostering industry collaboration, and providing funding up to ₹5 crore. The initiative targets AI, Robotics, Cobotics, and Autonomous Systems for national security, defense, space, and disaster management.

TechPioneer Grant 2026 (IIT Madras) Closes 26 August

The TechPioneer Grant, from the IITM Incubation Cell and School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, IIT Madras, supports early-stage DeepTech startups from prototype to scale. It offers financial support through grants up to ₹20 lakh, coupled with pre-incubation and incubation support.

The program targets innovators building solutions in critical sectors, providing resources and an environment for advanced technologies to flourish. It addresses the funding gap for deep-tech ventures, enabling de-risking of technologies and accelerating commercialization.

NIDHI iTBI Ignition Grant at downtown Venture Labs (AdtU) (dtVL-AdtU) Closes 26 August

The NIDHI iTBI program at down town Venture Labs (dtVL-AdtU), supported by DST, invites innovative startups in Healthcare and ICT. This incubation program supports early-stage tech startups from idea to impact by providing comprehensive support for prototyping, R&D, and market entry.

The program offers financial assistance up to ₹10 lakh, infrastructure, and guidance. Participants benefit from an environment that fosters innovation, facilitates product development, and connects them with resources for growth.

Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2026 (Africa Deep Tech Foundation) Closes 27 August

The Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2026 is an online hackathon by the Africa Deep Tech Foundation. It invites innovators, developers, and entrepreneurs globally, including Indian participants, to build deep tech solutions addressing real-world problems. The competition focuses on machine learning, AI, and productivity tools, with a prize pool up to ₹14.85 lakh.

Technology Development Board (TDB) India-Finland Joint Innovation Call 2026 (TDB) Closes 28 August

The Technology Development Board (TDB) India-Finland Joint Innovation Call 2026, in collaboration with Business Finland, fosters bilateral R&D partnerships. The program supports market-driven projects developing new products, processes, or enhanced services for global commercialization.

Indian entities can receive grant funding up to ₹2.5 crore per project, capped at 50% of the total Indian project cost, disbursed on a reimbursement basis.

Synq-a-thon (Ignite Room & Synq AI) Closes 29 August

Synq-a-thon is a hackathon hosted by Ignite Room in collaboration with Synq AI. It focuses on developers, engineers, and AI enthusiasts solving enterprise challenges using Synq AI's context layer. Solo participants can build AI-powered solutions that work with real enterprise data. Prizes are available up to ₹1 lakh.

UAE-India Start-up Series 2.0 (UAE-India CEPA Council) Closes 30 August

The UAE-India Start-up Series 2.0 is an initiative designed to foster cross-border innovation between India and the UAE. Anchored in the UAE–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), it targets high-potential Indian startups for expansion into the UAE.

This series provides market access, investment pathways, and strategic partnerships for Indian startups looking to scale globally. It offers prizes up to ₹56.75 lakh.

Mudhal Padi 2.0 – Investor Demo Day (StartupTN) Closes 30 August

Mudhal Padi 2.0 – Investor Demo Day, organized by StartupTN's Erode Regional Hub and Yi (Young Indians), Karur Chapter, is a platform for emerging startups. Founders can present ideas and business models directly to investors, including venture capitalists, angel investors, and industry veterans.

The event aims to foster a vibrant ecosystem where early-stage ventures secure funding, receive strategic mentorship, and forge connections. Participants engage in live pitch sessions to articulate their vision and demonstrate their products or services.

Hackfinity 3.0 (RIT Tamil Nadu) Closes 30 August

Hackfinity 3.0 is a 24-hour hackathon by Ramco Institute of Technology (RIT), Tamil Nadu. It encourages innovation, collaboration, and creativity among student participants. Teams build prototypes or solutions addressing specific themes or challenges. Prizes are available up to ₹30,000.

Before Applying

Several programs feature specific eligibility criteria. The RKVY-RABI Program is specifically for Agri-Startups in Uttarakhand, while IIT Patna's Pre-Incubation Grant targets idea-stage innovators and student startups. RakshaTech Synapse seeks deep-tech prototypes in AI, Robotics, Cobotics, and Autonomous Systems for national security applications, and NIDHI iTBI focuses on Healthcare and ICT domains. The TechPioneer Grant supports deep-tech startups from prototype to scale. Hackfinity 3.0 has a strict eligibility for students from the same college in teams of 2-4, and the UAE-India Start-up Series is for Indian startups aiming for international expansion.

Many of these programs, particularly the hackathons and pre-incubation grants, have immediate deadlines on August 25. This includes CyberHack, The Great Agent Hackathon, Hack Synthesis 3.0, AI Builders Hackathon, BEAUTY&YOU India, RKVY-RABI, AIIDE-COE, and IIT Patna Pre-Incubation. Synq-a-thon is a single-day event on August 29, requiring preparation for that specific date. Hackfinity 3.0 involves an initial online proposal round followed by a prototype development phase.