by Wooble Software Private Limited
Up to ₹3,000
Government Schemes & Bodies
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development — a development bank that funds startups and enterprises in agriculture, rural development, and allied sectors through a mix of grants, venture capital, and subsidised credit.
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development — a development bank that funds startups and enterprises in agriculture, rural development, and allied sectors through a mix of grants, venture capital, and subsidised credit. NABARD runs the Rural Innovation and Startup Promotion Scheme (RISPS) that supports rural and agri-startups with grants of up to ₹1 crore, as well as the Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) programme in partnership with universities and ICAR institutions. NABARD's funding is particularly relevant for startups working in farm technology, supply chain, dairy, fisheries, rural fintech, and handicrafts.
NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) is a development bank that funds startups and enterprises in agriculture, rural development, and allied sectors through a mix of grants, venture capital, and subsidised credit. As a development finance institution, NABARD plays a unique role in the startup ecosystem by focusing on enterprises that have the potential to transform rural livelihoods. Key programmes include the Rural Innovation and Startup Promotion Scheme (RISPS), which supports rural and agri-startups with grants of up to ₹1 crore for proof-of-concept, prototyping, and pilot deployment; the Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) programme, run in partnership with universities, ICAR institutions, and agricultural universities; the NABARD Venture Capital Fund that provides equity investments in agri-tech startups; and subsidised credit lines for self-help groups, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), and rural enterprises. NABARD's funding is particularly relevant for startups working in farm technology, precision agriculture, supply chain modernisation, dairy and fisheries, rural fintech, handicrafts, and renewable energy for rural applications. NABARD also provides capacity-building support, market linkages, and technical assistance to its portfolio startups.
1. Identify the right NABARD programme — RISPS for early-stage grants, ABI for incubation support, or the VC fund for equity investment. 2. Prepare a proposal that demonstrates clear rural impact — how your solution improves livelihoods, income, or access for rural communities. 3. For RISPS, apply through a recognised incubation centre or directly if your startup is in the agri-rural space. 4. Show evidence of field validation — NABARD values solutions that have been tested in real rural settings. 5. Demonstrate scalability and sustainability beyond the grant period.
A startup develops a mobile platform that connects dairy farmers in Maharashtra directly with bulk buyers (hotels, restaurants, and sweet shops), bypassing traditional middlemen. The farmers get 25% higher prices, and buyers get fresher milk with traceability. The startup applies for a ₹50 lakh NABARD RISPS grant for technology development and farmer onboarding. The proposal is supported by a pilot with 200 farmers that showed a 28% increase in farmer income over six months. NABARD approves the grant, and the startup uses the funds to build its technology platform, train village-level entrepreneurs as collection point operators, and scale from 200 to 2,000 farmers within 12 months.
NABARD is the most important funding institution for startups working in agriculture, rural development, and allied sectors. Its combination of grants, incubation, and venture capital — plus its extensive rural network — makes it a unique partner for founders building for Bharat.
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development — a development bank that funds startups and enterprises in agriculture, rural development, and allied sectors through a mix of grants, venture capital, and subsidised credit.
NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) is a development bank that funds startups and enterprises in agriculture, rural development, and allied sectors through a mix of grants, venture capital, and subsidised credit. As a development finance institution, NABARD plays a unique role in the startup ecosystem by focusing on enterprises that have the potential to transform rural livelihoods. Key programmes include the Rural Innovation and Startup Promotion Scheme (RISPS), which supports rural and agri-startups with grants of up to ₹1 crore for proof-of-concept, prototyping, and pilot deployment; the Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) programme, run in partnership with universities, ICAR institutions, and agricultural universities; the NABARD Venture Capital Fund that provides equity investments in agri-tech startups; and subsidised credit lines for self-help groups, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), and rural enterprises. NABARD's funding is particularly relevant for startups working in farm technology, precision agriculture, supply chain modernisation, dairy and fisheries, rural fintech, handicrafts, and renewable energy for rural applications. NABARD also provides capacity-building support, market linkages, and technical assistance to its portfolio startups.
1. Identify the right NABARD programme — RISPS for early-stage grants, ABI for incubation support, or the VC fund for equity investment. 2. Prepare a proposal that demonstrates clear rural impact — how your solution improves livelihoods, income, or access for rural communities. 3. For RISPS, apply through a recognised incubation centre or directly if your startup is in the agri-rural space. 4. Show evidence of field validation — NABARD values solutions that have been tested in real rural settings. 5. Demonstrate scalability and sustainability beyond the grant period.
A startup develops a mobile platform that connects dairy farmers in Maharashtra directly with bulk buyers (hotels, restaurants, and sweet shops), bypassing traditional middlemen. The farmers get 25% higher prices, and buyers get fresher milk with traceability. The startup applies for a ₹50 lakh NABARD RISPS grant for technology development and farmer onboarding. The proposal is supported by a pilot with 200 farmers that showed a 28% increase in farmer income over six months. NABARD approves the grant, and the startup uses the funds to build its technology platform, train village-level entrepreneurs as collection point operators, and scale from 200 to 2,000 farmers within 12 months.
Registration with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade that certifies an entity as a recognised startup under the Startup India initiative. DPIIT recognition is a prerequisite for most central government grant programmes, provides access to the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, and offers benefits like self-certification under nine labour and environmental laws, tax exemption under Section 80-IAC, and fast-track patent examination. To qualify, a company must be incorporated as a Private Limited, LLP, or Partnership, be less than 10 years old, have annual turnover below ₹100 crore, and work towards innovation, development, or improvement of products or processes. More than 100,000 startups are now DPIIT-recognised as of 2025.
A flagship Government of India initiative launched on January 16, 2016 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country. The initiative operates through three pillars: simplified compliance and hand-holding (self-certification, easy exit), funding support (the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme of ₹945 crore and the Fund of Funds for Startups of ₹10,000 crore), and incubation and mentoring (a network of incubators, innovation hubs, and academic partnerships). Startup India has recognised over 100,000 startups, and the initiative continues to evolve with new schemes, state partnerships, and sector-specific programmes.
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council — a Government of India body under the Department of Biotechnology. BIRAC is India's primary funder of biotech and life sciences startups, offering a ladder of grant programmes from early-stage proof-of-concept (Biotechnology Ignition Grant, up to ₹50 lakh) through to translational and commercialisation support (SPARSH, BIG-BIRAC, and LEAP). BIRAC also runs fellowship programmes, innovation challenges, and international collaborations. Its grants are milestone-based and typically cover R&D costs, consumables, salaries, and equipment. Since inception, BIRAC has supported over 3,000 startups and played a central role in India's COVID-19 vaccine and diagnostic development.
The Department of Science and Technology — a Government of India ministry that funds deep-tech, science, and engineering startups through a portfolio of grant programmes. Key schemes include the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI, which runs incubator support and seed funding through a network of 50+ Technology Business Incubators), the Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST), and the PURSE scheme for university research. DST grants are competitive and milestone-based, typically ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹2 crore for early-stage tech ventures. DST also co-funds innovation challenges in strategic areas like quantum computing, clean energy, and AI with industry partners.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology — a Government of India ministry that funds technology startups, with a particular focus on AI, cybersecurity, electronics, semiconductor design, and digital governance. MeitY administers schemes such as SAMRIDH (which provides funding up to ₹1 crore for IT product startups), the TIDE (Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs) scheme supporting 50+ incubators, and the Digital India R&D initiatives. MeitY grants are open to startups working on national-priority tech stacks, and the ministry runs challenge-based funding calls that combine equity-free grants with mentorship from government technology departments.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries — a Government of India ministry that grants and subsidies for startups in food processing, cold chain logistics, agri-processing, and value-added food products. MoFPI administers the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), which includes component schemes for infrastructure development, quality assurance, and entrepreneurship in food processing. Startups in the agri-food value chain can access grants of up to ₹5 crore for processing units, cold storage, and testing labs. MoFPI also partners with state governments to run food processing incubation centres and innovation challenges.