18 Startup Grants and Seed Funds Closing This Week (9-15 November 2026)

The coming week, from 9 to 15 November 2026, presents 18 critical deadlines for Indian startups to apply for various startup grants, seed funds, incubation programs, and competitions. These opportunities span a wide array of sectors and stages, offering financial backing and strategic support.

The opportunities include government grants, institutional seed funds, startup competitions, and incubation programs from Startup Karnataka, UNICEF Venture Fund, IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre, Blockchain for Impact, Ministry of Heavy Industries, MassChallenge, Cars24, PayPal, Google, and DARPA.

At a Glance

MassChallenge Challenge Programs (MassChallenge) Closes 9 November

The MassChallenge Challenge Programs 2027 connect pre-seed to Series A startups with leading industry organizations. This global program focuses on solutions aligning with challenge statements from corporate partners across sectors like FinTech, Insurance, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Security & Resiliency, Sustainable Food Systems, Climate, and Global Financial Systems.

Participants gain opportunities to develop their technology, build enterprise relationships, and accelerate commercial application through direct collaboration with industry leaders. The program emphasizes significant business development and fostering long-term strategic alliances.

Interconnect Innovation Catalyst Program (Blockchain for Impact) Closes 9 November

The Interconnect Innovation Catalyst Program 2026 aims to strengthen India's biomedical innovation ecosystem. Implemented by Bharathiya Vikas Trust (BVT) and supported by Blockchain for Impact (BFI), this program provides collaboration, visibility, structured support, and capital for high-potential innovators. It helps innovators overcome challenges in scaling, validation, and building viable pathways to impact.

Cohort 2 targets biomedical innovators at TRL 4+. Up to 50 fellows will be selected, receiving grant funding of up to ₹30 lakh over 12 months, disbursed quarterly based on milestone achievements. Beyond funding, participants receive in-depth technical mentoring and network access.

IIML EIC NIDHI Seed Support (IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre) Closes 9 November

The IIML EIC NIDHI Seed Support 2026 program, from the IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre (IIML EIC) and supported by the Department of Science & Technology's NIDHI program, invites pioneering DeepTech startups. It transforms cutting-edge innovations into impactful ventures by providing seed funding and incubation support.

The program targets startups leveraging scientific or engineering advancements to create novel products and services, addressing complex challenges across various sectors. Support is structured for different stages, from ideation to initial product development. Selected startups can receive up to ₹25 lakh in seed funding.

Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme For National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage (Ministry of Heavy Industries) Closes 10 November

The Ministry of Heavy Industries is selecting manufacturers for the last 10 GWh of ACC capacity under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme For National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage. This specific call targets grid-scale stationary storage solutions.

Selection is via tender, not an application form, with bids due on 10 November 2026. This scheme incentivises domestic and foreign investors to establish giga-scale ACC manufacturing in India, aiming to boost local production and reduce import dependency in critical battery technologies.

Cars24 Grand Startup Challenge (Cars24) Closes 10 November

The Cars24 Grand Startup Challenge 2026 is organized by Cars24 in collaboration with Startup India and the Startup Policy Forum. It identifies and empowers early-stage startups addressing critical challenges in India across four tracks: Fintech & Lending, Mobility & Road Safety, Supply Chain, and Sovereign AI.

Selected startups receive capital of up to ₹1 crore, strategic mentorship, real-world deployment opportunities through pilots, and investor visibility. The program offers a platform for innovators to develop solutions from ideation to practical implementation within a structured four-month period.

IIMCIP Bengal Business Accelerator (IIM Calcutta Innovation Park) Closes 10 November

The IIMCIP Bengal Business Accelerator 2026 is a joint initiative between the West Bengal Government and IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP). It supports innovative MSMEs and startups in West Bengal, helping them overcome hurdles in securing funding due to underdeveloped business models or lack of investor connections.

The program provides a framework to nurture investible businesses, open doors to funding, and enable sustainable business expansion. It fosters innovation and aims to stimulate job creation within West Bengal.

IIT Indore LAUNCHPAD Incubation Cohort 2.0 (IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation) Closes 10 November

The IIT Indore LAUNCHPAD Incubation Cohort 2.0 is a collaborative effort by IITI DRISHTI CPS FOUNDATION, IIT Indore, and MPSeDC. This second Incubation Program cohort focuses on fostering technology-driven startups.

The program provides an ecosystem designed to support startups from prototype development and technology validation to preparation for commercialisation. Participants gain access to IIT Indore's research environment, infrastructure, and a network of industry experts and investors.

UNICEF Femtech Ventures Fund (UNICEF Venture Fund) Closes 11 November

The UNICEF Femtech Ventures Fund 2026 is a five-year initiative from the UNICEF Venture Fund. This call selects companies using frontier technology to build open-source solutions for the health and wellbeing of girls and women in emerging markets. India is one of the UNICEF programme countries.

Selected for-profit companies can receive up to US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh) in equity-free funding, along with 12 months of technical mentoring and access to UNICEF's global network, including government relationships.

Australia Direct Aid Program Delhi 2026-27 (Australian High Commission, New Delhi) Closes 11 November

The Australia Direct Aid Program Delhi 2026-27 is a small-grants scheme from the Australian Government, run by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi. It offers grants of up to ₹25,00,000 per project to non-government organizations and social enterprises engaged in development work in northern India or Bhutan.

The program seeks projects that strengthen Australia-India bilateral relations through partnerships with local organizations, focusing on practical and sustainable outcomes. Funding is a grant for defined development projects.

IHFC TECHSETU 2026 Tech Transfer Call (IHFC, IIT Delhi) Closes 11 November

The IHFC TECHSETU 2026 Tech Transfer Call is a global call for technology transfer and commercialization, spearheaded by IHFC (Innovation Hub for Cobotics) at IIT Delhi. Its mission is to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial deployment.

IHFC seeks ecosystem partners, including deep-tech startups, individual innovators, and established organizations, to adopt and transform IHFC's validated lab technologies into scalable, market-ready products. The initiative aims to dismantle engineering development barriers.

DARPA Surgical Competition (DARPA) Closes 13 November

The DARPA Surgical Competition (DSC) is a prize competition from the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. It seeks a scalable, manufactured autonomous trauma surgical robot that can perform procedures independently, assist human surgeons, and learn new skills.

The total prize pool is US$3,500,000 (about ₹33.25 crore), with up to US$1,000,000 (about ₹9.5 crore) for first place in each of two lanes. Qualification closes on 13 November 2026 (US Eastern Standard Time). The contest is open to all nationalities, but finalists must compete in person at a US military installation.

ELEVATE NXT 2026 Deeptech Grant-in-Aid Program (KBITS, Government of Karnataka) Closes 13 November

ELEVATE NXT 2026 Deeptech Grant-in-Aid Program is the DeepTech call of the Government of Karnataka's ELEVATE scheme, managed by KBITS. It supports startups building novel solutions to unsolved problems using advanced technology like AI/ML, IoT, Blockchain, AR/VR, Robotics, 3D printing, and Drones, or inventing new technology.

Selected startups can receive grant-in-aid of up to ₹1 crore, released against milestones, with mentorship. The call is open to startups registered anywhere in India, up to 20 years old and with turnover under ₹300 crore. Winners outside Karnataka must relocate their registered office to the state within four months.

ELEVATE Minorities 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant for Minority Founders (Startup Karnataka) Closes 13 November

ELEVATE Minorities 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant for Minority Founders is a call under the Government of Karnataka's ELEVATE scheme, specifically for startups led by founders from minority communities. It provides a one-time grant of up to ₹50 lakh.

This funding supports early-stage startups needing capital to build prototypes, develop market presence, and scale up. The call is for founders from communities defined by the Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation, with specific equity holding requirements.

PayPal AI Hackathon 2026 (PayPal) Closes 13 November

The PayPal AI Hackathon 2026 is an online hackathon from PayPal, run on Devpost. It focuses on building or significantly updating an application that uses the PayPal developer platform alongside an AI tool, model, or platform.

Cash prizes total US$67,500 (about ₹64 lakh), with US$12,000 (about ₹11.4 lakh) for first place. Individuals, teams, and registered organizations can enter, and submissions close on 13 November 2026 (IST).

Farm Robotics Challenge 2027 (UC ANR Innovate) Closes 13 November

The Farm Robotics Challenge 2027 is organized by UC ANR Innovate and the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS). This competition is for student teams from colleges, universities, and trade/technical schools.

Teams build and field-test robotics, AI, or automation solutions for real farm problems. Over US$200,000 in prizes and startup support will be awarded. Project proposals are due on 13 November 2026.

Startup Buildathon India 2026 (Google) Closes 13 November

The Startup Buildathon India 2026, powered by Google AI and Hack2Skill, is a nationwide initiative to empower founders and aspiring entrepreneurs. It helps transform AI startup ideas into market-ready products, leveraging Google's AI stack and infrastructure.

The program provides tools, mentorship, and community support through online applications, city-based buildathons, regional showcases, and a grand finale at Google's Bengaluru campus. It emphasizes hands-on product development and achieving initial customer validation. First place receives up to ₹9.5 lakh.

NLDSL DigiTwin Grand Challenge 2026 (NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd.) Closes 14 November

The NLDSL DigiTwin Grand Challenge 2026 is an initiative by NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDSL) in partnership with NICDC and DPIIT Startup India. It aims to revolutionize India's logistics sector using Digital Twin technology.

The challenge seeks to leverage Digital Twins across critical logistics domains such as port operations, freight corridors, warehousing, multimodal hubs, and supply chain networks. It facilitates data-driven decision-making and invites a diverse group of innovators to apply for prizes up to ₹5 lakh.

SEMI Chip the Future Challenge 2026 (SEMI Foundation) Closes 14 November

The abstract round of the SEMI Chip the Future Challenge 2026 is a global student competition run by the SEMI Foundation, the education arm of the semiconductor industry association SEMI. University students tackle real semiconductor problems in chip design, manufacturing, AI hardware, advanced packaging, and related applications.

The 2026 edition is fully virtual, and India is one of its eligible countries. Prizes are up to ₹4.75 lakh, and the abstract submission deadline is 14 November 2026.

AwardX Pitch Competition 2026 (LaunchX) Closes 14 November

AwardX Pitch Competition 2026 is an online startup pitch competition by LaunchX, an entrepreneurship education organization. It is open to high school students globally, applying alone or as a team.

The grand prize is an equity-free cash prize of US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh). Applications close on 14 November 2026. The competition is free to enter for currently enrolled high school students.

CRM Startup Innovation Challenge 2026-27 (CII Foundation) Closes 15 November

The CRM Startup Innovation Challenge 2026-27, presented by the CII Foundation in collaboration with Cadence Design Systems, addresses crop residue burning in India. It aims to identify startups offering market-ready or near-market-ready solutions for crop residue management (CRM).

One selected startup will receive financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh, mentorship, and field-level facilitation to accelerate solution scale-up and adoption. The program seeks to reduce stubble burning, mitigate air pollution, and foster a sustainable agricultural economy.

Before Applying

Careful attention to eligibility criteria is essential for each program. For instance, the Interconnect Innovation Catalyst Program targets biomedical innovators at TRL 4+, while IIML EIC NIDHI Seed Support and IIT Indore LAUNCHPAD focus on DeepTech startups. The IIMCIP Bengal Business Accelerator specifically supports MSMEs and startups in West Bengal. UNICEF Femtech Ventures Fund is for legally registered for-profit companies, and the Australia Direct Aid Program is for non-government organizations and social enterprises in northern India or Bhutan. Similarly, the ELEVATE Minorities grant is reserved for founders from specific minority communities with equity holding requirements, and programs like Farm Robotics Challenge, SEMI Chip the Future, and AwardX Pitch Competition are exclusively for student teams. The DARPA Surgical Competition requires finalists to compete in person in the US and potentially a US taxpayer number to receive prizes.

Given the tight deadlines, immediate action is advised. Programs like Interconnect Innovation Catalyst, IIML EIC NIDHI Seed Support, and MassChallenge close as early as 9 November. Several significant programs, including the PLI ACC Battery Storage, Cars24 Grand Startup Challenge, and IIMCIP Bengal Business Accelerator, have deadlines on 10 November. Many other opportunities, such as the ELEVATE grants from Startup Karnataka and the PayPal AI Hackathon, conclude by 13 November. Missing these fixed application windows for annual cohorts, such as ELEVATE and UNICEF Femtech, often means waiting another year for the next cycle. The Farm Robotics Challenge has conflicting deadlines listed, so applicants should plan for the earlier 13 November date.