DST-iTBI NIT Agartala Call for Incubation & Ignition Grant
Under NIDHI-iTBI (Ignition Grant) by NITA-FIIE, NIT Agartala
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Quick Answer
NIT Agartala's DST-iTBI incubator offers early-stage hardware/deeptech startups an grant-based an amount NITA-FIIE does not publish ignition grant plus a 6-month incubation program.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- NITA-FIIE, NIT Agartala
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 30 June 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by NITA-FIIE, NIT Agartala. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
DST-iTBI NIT Agartala — Call for Incubation & Ignition Grant
NITA-FIIE (NIT Agartala Foundation for Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship) invites early-stage startups to apply for incubation support and an Ignition Grant (amount not published) at the DST-iTBI Incubation Centre, NIT Agartala (Tripura).
The objective is to help startups and innovators raise their Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and secure follow-on funding. The application portal is open 15 May 2026 to 30 June 2026.
What you get
- Ignition Grant (amount not published)
- Co-working space, mentorship, training, and infrastructure access
- A minimum 6-month incubation program
- Fundraising support and investor connects via the DST-iTBI centre
- Registered startups can avail incubation benefits for up to 3 years
Who should apply
Early-stage startups less than 2 years old, with annual turnover under ₹25 lakh in every financial year since inception, whose product has not yet crossed the prototype level. The focus is hardware, deeptech, and innovation-driven domains.
Not eligible: Pure software development, e-commerce, app-based and service-only solutions; products that have already crossed the prototype level; and proposals purely for research or student internships.
Note: the grant amount previously shown here could not be sourced. Neither NITA-FIIE's own site nor NIT Agartala's publishes a figure or an equity position for this call.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
NIT Agartala Foundation for Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship (NITA-FIIE) runs the DST-iTBI Incubation Centre at the National Institute of Technology Agartala, Tripura. It supports early-stage hardware, deeptech and innovation-driven startups with incubation facilities,…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Selected startups receive an Ignition Grant (amount not published) (minimum ₹2 lakh, maximum ₹5 lakh) to advance their product. Beyond the grant, incubated startups get co-working space, structured mentorship, training, and access to NIT Agartala's infrastructure, plus fundraising support through the DST-iTBI centre. Registered startups can avail incubation benefits for up to 3 years.
The grant cannot be used to pay the grantee or relatives, repay existing loans or commitments, pay rent or build movable/permanent infrastructure, fund pure research or student internships, or serve as a stop-gap for other professional pursuits.
- Duration
- 6 months
- Cohort size
- 10 startups
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Selection follows a three-stage process: (1) Primary screening of applications; (2) a minimum 6-month incubation program — up to 20 startups are admitted to incubation; (3) final ignition-grant selection after ~3 months, where up to 10 startups receive ignition support based on merit and satisfactory progress.
Application Process
- 1
Submit the application form
Apply through the DST-iTBI NITA-FIIE form with your startup and product details.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
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
How much is the ignition grant?
Between ₹2 lakh (minimum) and ₹5 lakh (maximum), grant-based.
Who is eligible to apply?
Early-stage startups less than 2 years old, with annual turnover under ₹25 lakh in every financial year since inception, whose product has not yet crossed the prototype level.
Which startups are NOT eligible?
Pure software development, e-commerce, app-based and service-only solutions are excluded, as are products that have already crossed the prototype level and proposals purely for research or student internships.
How many startups are selected?
Up to 20 startups are admitted to incubation; up to 10 of them receive the ignition grant based on merit.
How long is the program?
A minimum 6-month incubation program. Registered startups can avail incubation benefits for up to 3 years.
Can the grant be used to pay rent or repay loans?
No. It cannot be used to pay rent, build movable or permanent infrastructure, repay existing loans, pay the grantee or relatives, or fund pure research or internships.
I already received NIDHI PRAYAS / NIDHI SSP — can I still apply?
Possibly. If any founder or co-founder has already availed a similar grant, the final decision rests with the incubation centre.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
