Startup Grants and Funding Programs for Revenue-Stage Startups in India — June 2026
Eight active programs offer grants, seed funding, and competition prizes for revenue-stage startups in India. From agri-focus to deep tech, these opportunities support scaling startups. Deadlines in June-July 2026.
As of June 2026, there are 8 active programs open for revenue-stage startups in India, including grants, seed funds, incubation, and competition opportunities. Notable ones include the AIP Agri-Startup Incubation Programme, ELEVATE Unnati 2026, and GRO8 Cohort 2 by 888VC.
For revenue-stage startups—those generating early revenue and scaling their customer base—the funding landscape offers a mix of non-dilutive grant support, equity investments, and accelerator programs. Typical eligibility requires proof of revenue, a registered entity in India, and often a minimum viable product or early traction. Thresholds vary: some programs accept startups with up to 3 years of incorporation, while others target those with less than INR 10 crore in funding from institutional sources.
Active Programs for Revenue-Stage Startups
| Program | Type | Deadline | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIP (Agri-Startup Incubation Programme) | Grant/Incubation | 30 June 2026 | Up to ₹25 lakh |
| ELEVATE Unnati 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant for SC/ST Founders | Grant/Incubation | 4 July 2026 | Up to ₹50 lakh |
| GRO8 Cohort 2 by 888VC | Incubation/Equity | Rolling | Up to ₹4.2 crore |
| EngSUI Seed Fund | Seed Fund | Rolling | Up to ₹1 crore |
| Bharat Ke Super Founders — Season 2 | Competition | 30 June 2026 | Up to ₹40 crore |
| TiE Women Program 2026 – Global Women Entrepreneurs Initiative | Competition | 25 June 2026 | Up to ₹41.75 lakh |
| Open Challenge Program (OCP) Cohort 1 at NERVE CoE, Nagpur | Competition | 15 July 2026 | Up to ₹50 lakh |
| SLINGSHOT 2026 Deep Tech Startup Pitching Competition at SWITCH, Singapore | Competition | 30 June 2026 | Up to ₹2.97 crore (Grand Winner) |
AIP (Agri-Startup Incubation Programme) (AFBIC IIT Kharagpur)
The Agri-Startup Incubation Programme (AIP) 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 targets agri-food startups that have moved past the idea stage and are at MVP, beta, or expansion stage. Selected startups receive grant-in-aid of up to ₹25 lakh, disbursed after selection, training, and performance evaluation. The programme also includes one month of online mentorship and a 15-day on-campus incubation workshop at IIT Kharagpur, providing access to domain experts and AFBIC's agri-startup network. The program is designed for West Bengal–linked startups, but other criteria may apply. Applications close 30 June 2026.
ELEVATE Unnati 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant for SC/ST Founders (Startup Karnataka)
ELEVATE Unnati 2026 is the SC/ST call under Karnataka's ELEVATE grant-in-aid scheme, run by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS). It offers a one-time grant of up to ₹50 lakh for startups owned by SC/ST founders who hold at least 70% equity. The grant supports turning an idea into a working proof-of-concept. Revenue-stage startups with early traction are eligible. The deadline is 4 July 2026. Unnati runs alongside the general ELEVATE 2026 call and sibling calls for women-led and Bengaluru-outside startups.
GRO8 Cohort 2 by 888VC (888VC)
GRO8 is a 12-week AI-enabled venture accelerator by 888VC, designed to integrate AI into startup operations. Each cohort of 12 startups receives direct investment starting at $25,000, with potential for $50,000–$100,000 and access to seed funding up to $500,000. Participants get a startup kit valued at $60,000, GTM and investor readiness support, and connections to 200+ seed/early-stage investors. The program is suited for revenue-stage startups looking to scale with AI. Applications are rolling.
EngSUI Seed Fund (SIIC IIT Kanpur)
The EngSUI Seed Fund is a collaboration between Engineers India Limited (EIL) and SIIC IIT Kanpur, under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. It provides up to ₹1 crore in seed funding for startups working on energy, infrastructure, and related areas. Revenue-stage startups with a working product can apply. The fund is part of the larger EngSUI initiative supporting innovation in the energy sector. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Bharat Ke Super Founders — Season 2 (Rusk Media / Recur Club)
Bharat Ke Super Founders is an entrepreneurial reality series on Amazon MX Player, hosted by Suniel Shetty. Revenue-generating founders pitch to a panel of investor “Tycoons” for equity cheques, venture debt, and revenue-based financing from a pool of ₹100 crore+ (Season 1 committed capital to 100+ founders). The panel includes Dr. A. Velumani (Thyrocare) and Nitish Mittersain (Nazara). Season 2 casting is open until 30 June 2026. The program is suited for revenue-stage startups across sectors.
TiE Women Program 2026 – Global Women Entrepreneurs Initiative (TiE Pune)
TiE Women Program 2026 is a global pitch competition for women founders across all industries. The global winner receives $50,000 (≈₹41.75 lakh), with total prizes exceeding $100,000. Participants gain mentorship from TiE's network and investor access. The program is open to early-stage and revenue-stage businesses. Applications close 25 June 2026 (today).
Open Challenge Program (OCP) Cohort 1 at NERVE CoE, Nagpur (NERVE CoE)
NERVE CoE is a MeitY-backed deep tech incubator offering GPU infrastructure, seed funding up to ₹50 lakh, and 18 months of support for AI and DeepTech startups. The program includes bootcamp-style mentoring, GTM workshops, IPR/legal support, and VC introductions. It is suited for revenue-stage startups in HealthTech, AgriTech, Forestry, Mining, and related sectors. Based at STPI Nagpur. Deadline: 15 July 2026.
SLINGSHOT 2026 Deep Tech Startup Pitching Competition (Enterprise Singapore)
SLINGSHOT 2026 is Asia's leading deep tech pitching competition, held at SWITCH Singapore. Grand winner receives S$400,000 (≈₹2.97 crore), with total grant prize pool over S$2.2 million. Top 10 and Top 50 startups also receive cash prizes and sponsored trips. Five domains: Advanced Computing, Advanced Manufacturing, Digital Technologies, Environment/Energy/Sustainability, and Health/Wellness. Revenue-stage deep tech startups are encouraged to apply. Deadline: 30 June 2026.
Before Applying
Several programs have stage-specific eligibility constraints. For example, AIP requires startups to be beyond idea stage with an MVP or beta product, and is limited to agri-food sectors with a link to West Bengal. ELEVATE Unnati mandates at least 70% equity held by SC/ST founders. TiE Women is exclusive to women founders. Bharat Ke Super Founders targets revenue-generating startups but does not specify a minimum revenue threshold; however, the format suggests traction is expected. Most programs accept applications from registered Indian entities only.
Timing matters: TiE Women closes today (25 June 2026). AIP, Bharat Ke Super Founders, and SLINGSHOT all close on 30 June 2026. ELEVATE Unnati follows on 4 July, and NERVE OCP on 15 July. GRO8 and EngSUI have rolling applications, but cohort-based programs like GRO8 may have limited slots per cohort; missing one could mean a long wait. Some programs (e.g., AIP, ELEVATE) have a pre-screening or LOI step before the full application review.
