Startup Grants and Funding Programs for Idea-Stage Startups in India — June 2026
8 funding programs are open for idea-stage startups in India as of June 2026. Programs include grants, incubation support, and competitions from IIT Kharagpur, IIM Kozhikode, and government initiatives. Funding ranges from ₹2.43 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
Eight active programs are currently accepting applications from idea-stage startups in India, offering grants, incubation, and competition prize money. These include the Agripreneurship Orientation Programme (AOP) at IIT Kharagpur, the WeaveX Textile Incubation Program at IIM Kozhikode, and the Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
For idea-stage startups — those with a validated concept but no product or revenue — the funding landscape in India includes non-dilutive grants, incubation support with seed funding, and hackathon-style competitions. Most programs require a minimum viable product or prototype, but several explicitly target pre-revenue founders. Typical eligibility includes being a registered entity or having a strong concept; some are restricted by sector, state, or community.
Active Programs for Idea-Stage Startups
| Program | Type | Deadline | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| AOP (Agripreneurship Orientation Programme) | Grant/Incubation | 30 June 2026 | Up to ₹5 lakh |
| SOP (Student Orientation Programme) | Grant/Incubation | 30 June 2026 | Up to ₹4 lakh |
| WeaveX Textile Incubation Program – IIM Kozhikode Live | Grant/Incubation | 30 June 2026 | Up to ₹50 lakh |
| Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) | Grant/Incubation | Rolling | Up to ₹30 lakh |
| Open Challenge Program (OCP) Cohort 1 at NERVE CoE, Nagpur | Competition | 15 July 2026 | Up to ₹50 lakh |
| Youth Code x AI | Competition | 27 June 2026 | Up to ₹2.43 lakh |
| Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026 | Competition | Rolling | Up to ₹25 lakh |
| United Hacks V7 | Competition | 12 July 2026 | Up to ₹23.72 lakh |
AOP (Agripreneurship Orientation Programme) (AFBIC, IIT Kharagpur)
The Agripreneurship Orientation Programme (AOP) is run by the Agri-Food Business Incubation Centre (AFBIC) at IIT Kharagpur under the RKVY-RAFTAAR program of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It supports idea-stage and prototype-stage entrepreneurs working in agriculture, food, and allied sectors. Selected agripreneurs receive grant-in-aid of up to ₹5 lakh after completing the AFBIC selection, training, and performance evaluation process. AOP also provides structured mentorship and market linkage support to help founders move from concept to a validated prototype.
The programme is open to founders from West Bengal or to ventures originating from West Bengal. The grant is non-dilutive: AFBIC does not take equity. Cohort 3.0 applications close on 30 May 2026.
SOP (Student Orientation Programme) (AFBIC, IIT Kharagpur)
The Student Orientation Programme (SOP) is also run by AFBIC at IIT Kharagpur under the same RKVY-RAFTAAR program. It backs student innovators working on technology or business ideas in agriculture, food, and allied sectors. Selected students receive grant-in-aid of up to ₹4 lakh after the AFBIC selection, training, and performance evaluation process. The programme provides technical and business mentoring along with networking opportunities through IIT Kharagpur's Agricultural and Food Engineering department and AFBIC's agripreneur ecosystem.
SOP is open to student founders from West Bengal or to ventures originating from West Bengal. The grant is non-dilutive.
WeaveX Textile Incubation Program – IIM Kozhikode Live (IIMK LIVE)
WeaveX is a sector-focused incubation programme by IIM Kozhikode Live (IIMK Live), designed to support startups working across the textile value chain, from sustainable materials and smart manufacturing to supply chain optimisation and textile recycling. The programme selects 10 companies per year and offers grants of up to ₹50 lakh per startup, alongside mentorship, industry connects, and investor access.
The programme targets twelve focus domains: textile waste management, sustainable fabrics, AI-based quality inspection, supply chain transparency, water optimisation, smart wearables, open innovation in textiles, textile recycling marketplaces, energy efficiency, anti-counterfeiting and traceability, MSME automation, and e-commerce fit solutions. This coverage spans both hardware and software solutions. Applications close on 30 June 2026.
Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment)
The Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) is a Government of India initiative under the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC), launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The program promotes entrepreneurship among Scheduled Caste (SC) youth, particularly those working on innovative and technology-driven ideas. It focuses on enabling early-stage founders to transition from ideation to commercially viable businesses through structured incubation and financial support.
ASIIM operates through a network of Technology Business Incubators (TBIs), including those supported by the Department of Science and Technology and other recognized incubation centers. Startups are identified and supported within these ecosystems. The grant support is up to ₹30 lakh. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis — no fixed deadline.
Open Challenge Program (OCP) Cohort 1 at NERVE CoE, Nagpur (NERVE CoE)
NERVE CoE is a MeitY-backed deep tech incubator providing GPU infrastructure, seed funding, and hands-on mentoring to AI and DeepTech startups in HealthTech, AgriTech, Forestry, and Mining. This is an 18-month programme based at STPI Nagpur. Selected startups receive up to ₹50 lakh in seed support, GPUs for AI compute, bootcamp-style mentoring, go-to-market support, IPR and legal assistance, and introductions to VCs.
The programme is open to startups working in deep tech and AI. Applications close on 15 July 2026.
Youth Code x AI (Youth Code Foundation)
Youth Code x AI is an online hackathon organized by the Youth Code Foundation, designed to empower participants to explore AI. The event provides a collaborative platform for individuals and teams to develop creative solutions, enhance coding skills, and gain practical experience in AI, mobile, and web development. It is beginner-friendly, ideal for students and aspiring developers. The competition is entirely virtual, running from June 20 for a week. Prize money is up to ₹2.43 lakh. Applications close on 27 June 2026 (today).
Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026 (Ideabaaz Tech)
Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026 is India's founder-first national stage for startups, hybrid across a Zee TV/Zee5 pitch show and a 3-day live startup festival at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (26–28 August 2026). Produced by Ideabaaz Tech Pvt Ltd and presented by Zee TV & Zee5, the show takes founders from any Indian city — including Tier-2 and Tier-3 — and puts them in front of a panel of investor "Titans" for capital, mentorship, and mainstream media exposure across 8 regional languages. Season 1 reportedly closed ₹41 Cr in deals (single largest cheque ₹8.5 Cr) and reached 30M+ viewers.
Founders from any India city, all stages are welcome. Prize money up to ₹25 lakh. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
United Hacks V7 (Hack United)
United Hacks V7 is a global online hackathon organized by Hack United, bringing together innovators, developers, and designers. The virtual event allows participants to collaborate, build, and showcase projects. It is beginner-friendly, open to all skill levels. Tracks include Design and Education. Prize money is up to ₹23.72 lakh. Applications close on 12 July 2026.
Before Applying
Several programs have specific eligibility constraints. AOP and SOP at IIT Kharagpur are restricted to founders from West Bengal or ventures originating from the state. ASIIM is limited to Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs. WeaveX targets textile-focused startups, and NERVE CoE focuses on deep tech and AI. Most require at least a prototype or validated concept, but Youth Code x AI and United Hacks accept ideas at any stage. For competitions like Ideabaaz and United Hacks, pre-revenue teams are eligible as long as they can present a pitch.
Timing is critical. Youth Code x AI closes on 27 June 2026 — the same day as this article. AOP, SOP, and WeaveX close on 30 June 2026, leaving only three days. NERVE CoE's OCP closes on 15 July, and United Hacks on 12 July. ASIIM and Ideabaaz have rolling applications, but Ideabaaz's festival dates are fixed in August, so early application is advised. Most programs have a pre-screening or shortlisting step; AOP and SOP involve a selection process after application.
