CNEST TBI 2.0 — KLE Tech Belagavi, Karnataka
By Centre for Next-Gen Entrepreneurship in Science & Technology Foundation (CNEST), KLE Tech
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Quick Answer
Up to ₹10L equity-free seed support + TBI 2.0 incubation at KLE Tech Belagavi — for MedTech, AgriTech, AI/ML & Smart Manufacturing founders across Karnataka, Goa & Maharashtra.
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 13 June 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Centre for Next-Gen Entrepreneurship in Science & Technology Foundation (CNEST), KLE Tech. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
CNEST – Centre for Next-Gen Entrepreneurship in Science & Technology Foundation is the Technology Business Incubator (TBI 2.0) at KLE Technological University, Dr M S Sheshgiri Campus, Belagavi. CNEST is one of eleven Technology Business Incubators launched by the Department of IT, BT (Government of Karnataka) under the TBI 2.0 initiative, with each parent institution receiving ₹10 crore in government backing to catalyse deep-tech entrepreneurship in tier-2 / tier-3 Karnataka and the wider "Beyond Bengaluru" startup belt.
CNEST is the successor / scaled-up version of the prior NAIN Centre at KLE Tech Belagavi (operational since 2018). Anchored at the Dr M S Sheshgiri Campus, it runs out of a dedicated 5,100 sq. ft. facility (CNEST, CTIE Office, KLE Technological University, Udyambagh, Belagavi) and offers a structured incubation pathway covering mentorship, infrastructure (co-working space, labs and equipment), prototype and MVP development support, investor readiness, industry networking and national-level exposure.
The current call invites students, faculty-led ventures, alumni, early-stage innovators and registered startups working in Smart Healthcare (MedTech), Sustainable AgriTech, AI/ML and Smart Manufacturing. Adjacent science / technology domains aligned with the wider TBI 2.0 thesis (biotech, clean-tech, robotics, ICT) are also welcomed.
Geographic scope: CNEST's TBI 2.0 mandate explicitly covers deep-tech founders from Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra — positioning Belagavi as a tri-state incubation node rather than a Karnataka-only programme.
Funding: Selected startups receive up to ₹10 lakh of equity-free seed support, deployed alongside the structured incubation programme. Applications close 13 June 2026.
Eligibility
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Grant providers
Provider
Centre for Next-Gen Entrepreneurship in Science & Technology Foundation (CNEST), KLE TechBelagavi · Karnataka · India
CNEST is a technology business incubator at KLE Technological University's Dr. M. S. Sheshgiri Campus in Belagavi, Karnataka. Its full name is the Centre for Next Gen Entrepreneurship in Science & Technology, and it is supported by the Department of IT and BT, Government of…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Amount
- ₹10L
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Up to ₹10 lakh of equity-free seed support per startup, plus a dedicated 5,100 sq. ft. incubation facility at the Dr M S Sheshgiri Campus, structured mentorship, prototype and MVP development support, access to co-working space and lab/equipment infrastructure, investor readiness support, industry networking and national-level exposure as part of Karnataka's TBI 2.0 ecosystem.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Applications submitted via the official Google Form are screened by the CNEST team for fit with the programme's focus areas and the applicant's stage. Shortlisted applicants are invited for a pitch / discovery conversation with the CNEST review committee (internal team + external mentors / domain experts). Final incubation decisions are made post-pitch based on the venture's USP, market opportunity and feasibility.
Application Process
- 1
Application Submission
Submit the official Google Form with idea/solution details, founder/team profile, sector fit (AgriTech, MedTech, AI/ML, DeepTech or adjacent) and supporting documents (pitch deck, idea brief).
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
See the questions before you start
Download every question this programme's application form asks, so you can prepare your answers offline before opening the portal.
- 3
Line up your documents
Keep every document from the checklist ready in one folder. Missing docs are the #1 reason applications get bounced.
- 4
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 5
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to CNEST TBI 2.0?
Students, faculty-led ventures, alumni, early-stage innovators and registered startups working in Smart Healthcare (MedTech), Sustainable AgriTech, AI/ML and Smart Manufacturing — or adjacent deep-tech domains such as biotech, clean-tech, robotics and ICT.
Do I have to be from Karnataka?
No. CNEST's TBI 2.0 mandate explicitly covers Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra. There is a stated bias toward founders from North Karnataka and the wider Beyond Bengaluru ecosystem, but applicants from Goa and Maharashtra are equally welcome.
How much funding does CNEST provide?
Up to ₹10 lakh of equity-free seed support per startup, alongside the incubation programme.
What does the programme offer beyond cash?
A dedicated 5,100 sq. ft. incubation facility, structured mentorship, prototype and MVP development support, co-working space, lab and equipment infrastructure at KLE Tech Belagavi, investor readiness, industry networking and national-level exposure.
Does CNEST take equity?
No. The seed support is positioned as equity-free under Karnataka's state TBI / NAIN-2.0 framework.
Where is the programme run from?
CNEST, CTIE Office, KLE Technological University, Dr M S Sheshgiri Campus, Udyambagh, Belagavi, Karnataka. Contact: cnest.mss@kletech.ac.in, 0831-2491836.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
