AI, SaaS & Enterprise Startup Grants and Funding Programs in India — August 2026

Ten active programs are currently open for AI, SaaS, and Enterprise startups across India, encompassing grants, incubation support, seed funds, and competitions. These initiatives aim to provide capital, mentorship, and ecosystem access to early-stage ventures. The funding landscape for AI, SaaS, and Enterprise startups in India features a mix of government-backed schemes, institutional incubation programs, and sector-specific challenges. These programs support product development, market entry, and scaling, offering resources tailored to technology-driven businesses without resorting to hype or exaggerated claims. ## Active AI, SaaS & Enterprise Grants and Programs | Program | Type | Deadline | Funding ||---|---|---|---|| ACE $100k High-Touch AI Accelerator by Invention Engine | Grant/Incubation | Rolling | Up to ₹90 lakh || iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway Prototype/PoC Funding Support (iCreate) | Grant/Incubation | Rolling | Up to ₹30 lakh || Vision 2 Venture Incubation Program – IC IIT Patna (IC IIT Patna) | Incubation | Rolling | Varies || NASSCOM CoE – IoT & AI Gurugram Incubation Program (NASSCOM) | Incubation | Rolling | Subsidized Access || Soma Fellows (Soma) | Seed Fund | Rolling | Up to ₹18 crore || Maruti Suzuki NURTURE Cohort 4 (IIM Calcutta Innovation Park) | Competition | Rolling | Up to ₹13 lakh || Scheme for Goa Rajya Vidnyanik Puraskar (GRVP) (Goa State Innovation Council) | Competition | Rolling | Up to ₹2 lakh || CoE Innovation Challenge: AI-Powered Foreign Object Detection in Bulk Cargo Unloaders (NASSCOM CoE-IoT&AI) | Competition | Rolling | Varies || iDEX Open Challenge (Innovations for Defence Excellence) | Competition | Sep 30, 2026 | Up to ₹1.5 crore || UAE-India Start-up Series 2.0 (UAE-India CEPA Council) | Competition | Aug 30, 2026 | Up to ₹56.75 lakh | ## ACE $100k High-Touch AI Accelerator (Invention Engine) The ACE $100k High-Touch AI Accelerator by Invention Engine supports early-stage AI and deeptech startups developing globally relevant products. Invention Engine designed ACE for founders who prioritize delivering customer value through execution and disciplined product development. This program offers support up to ₹90 lakh. The accelerator embeds deeply with founders, acting as a co-founding partner over a six-month period. Startups receive direct support from AI researchers, entrepreneurs, and global operators in areas such as product, go-to-market strategy, hiring, and fundraising. ACE assists founders in sharpening their Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), iterating products with user feedback, launching focused GTM strategies, and preparing for institutional fundraising. ## iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway Prototype/PoC Funding Support (iCreate) iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway Prototype/PoC Funding Support provides funding and assistance for converting a proof-of-concept (PoC) or prototype into a product. iCreate, a government-recognized Technology Business Incubator, offers access to various schemes from the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat. The program can provide up to ₹30 lakh in funding. This initiative provides business and technical mentorship, access to prototyping and digital innovation labs, incubation, and connections with investors, industry, and the startup ecosystem. Hostel accommodation is also available on the iCreate campus. ## Vision 2 Venture Incubation Program – IC IIT Patna (IC IIT Patna) The Vision 2 Venture Incubation Program is the flagship incubation initiative of the Incubation Centre at IIT Patna (IC IITP). It guides innovative ideas from concept to market-ready startup. IIT Patna's incubation centre provides selected startups with access to technical infrastructure, including prototyping labs, bioscience labs, and semiconductor fabrication facilities. The program targets technology-driven startups, including those in AI/ML and IoT, among other high-priority sectors. Startups with scalable ideas in adjacent technology domains are also encouraged to apply. Funding amounts vary based on startup needs and program specificities. ## NASSCOM CoE – IoT & AI Gurugram Incubation Program (NASSCOM) The NASSCOM CoE – IoT & AI Gurugram Incubation Program, supported by MeitY and the Government of Haryana, offers a subsidized zero-equity incubation program. It targets technology startups in emerging domains like IoT and Artificial Intelligence. This program focuses on providing infrastructure, ecosystem access, and enterprise integration rather than direct grant capital. Selected startups gain access to subsidized co-working environments and advanced prototyping labs. The program also offers shared complimentary GPU access, which aids AI-focused startups in training and testing computational models. ## Soma Fellows (Soma) Soma Fellows is a program from Soma, an investment firm with experience in building and investing in startups. Soma and the Ranadive family support founders throughout their entrepreneurial journey. Soma has seeded over 30 unicorn companies across various technology sectors, bringing direct strategic guidance to the program. The program provides substantial funding, with initial investments reaching up to ₹18 crore. Soma offers capital and guidance derived from years of involvement in startup growth and investment. ## Maruti Suzuki NURTURE Cohort 4 (IIM Calcutta Innovation Park) The Maruti Suzuki NURTURE Cohort 4 is a pre-incubation initiative by Maruti Suzuki and IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) for early-stage startups. While focusing on eastern, north-eastern, and central India, it is open to startups offering services anywhere in India. The program targets various domains, including Enterprise & Manufacturing (process automation, computer vision, industrial IoT, GenAI). Benefits include cash rewards up to ₹13 lakh, opportunities for paid Proof of Concept (PoC), mentorship from industry experts, and access to Maruti Suzuki's ecosystem. ## Scheme for Goa Rajya Vidnyanik Puraskar (GRVP) (Goa State Innovation Council) The Scheme for Goa Rajya Vidnyanik Puraskar (GRVP) is an annual award from the Government of Goa, implemented through the Goa State Innovation Council (GSInC). It recognizes Innovators/Scientists who have implemented ideas into innovations. The GRVP is awarded each year to Innovators/Scientists who develop products or processes adopted or likely to be adopted in Goa. Three awards are given annually in categories including Innovation, Environment, and Societal Impact, each in the form of a cash prize up to ₹2 lakh. ## CoE Innovation Challenge: AI-Powered Foreign Object Detection in Bulk Cargo Unloaders (NASSCOM CoE-IoT&AI) The CoE Innovation Challenge: AI-Powered Foreign Object Detection in Bulk Cargo Unloaders is presented by the nasscom Centre of Excellence for IoT & AI. This initiative targets deep-tech startups to develop advanced solutions for industrial problems. The current challenge, in collaboration with a port terminal operator, seeks to detect foreign objects within deep vessel holds during coal unloading. This problem addresses safety and efficiency issues caused by hidden debris, which can damage equipment and cause operational delays. Funding varies based on the solution developed and collaboration potential. ## iDEX Open Challenge (Innovations for Defence Excellence) The iDEX Open Challenge is an initiative by the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) and iDEX. It promotes innovation and entrepreneurship in India's defence and aerospace sectors. The program connects engineering talent with military needs, seeking advanced technological capabilities for national security. It targets engineers, startups, and MSMEs developing solutions in areas such as autonomous systems, intelligent machines, advanced materials, and predictive algorithms. Through this challenge, iDEX identifies and nurtures ideas, technologies, and products contributing to India's military capabilities, offering funding up to ₹1.5 crore. The deadline for applications is 30 September 2026. ## UAE-India Start-up Series 2.0 (UAE-India CEPA Council) The UAE-India Start-up Series 2.0 fosters cross-border innovation between India and the UAE. Anchored in the UAE–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), this program targets high-potential Indian startups for expansion into the UAE and other markets. It aims to deepen economic ties and technology collaboration, allowing Indian ventures access to new markets, capital, and a support ecosystem. This series facilitates market access, investment pathways, and strategic partnerships for Indian startups scaling globally, with awards up to ₹56.75 lakh. The application deadline is 30 August 2026. ## Before Applying Several programs listed have specific eligibility requirements. The Goa Rajya Vidnyanik Puraskar is restricted to Goan Innovators/Scientists. The Maruti Suzuki NURTURE program, while open to service providers nationwide, primarily focuses on startups from eastern, north-eastern, and central India, and emphasizes specific domains like Enterprise & Manufacturing, Industrial IoT, and GenAI. The iDEX Open Challenge specifically targets innovations within the defence and aerospace sectors for national security. Applicants for the UAE-India Start-up Series 2.0 should be Indian startups intending to expand into the UAE market. Urgency varies among these programs. The UAE-India Start-up Series 2.0 has an approaching deadline of 30 August 2026, and the iDEX Open Challenge closes on 30 September 2026. Many other programs, such as ACE Accelerator, iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway, Vision 2 Venture, NASSCOM CoE Gurugram, Soma Fellows, and the NASSCOM CoE Innovation Challenge, maintain rolling application intakes. The NASSCOM CoE Gurugram Incubation Program focuses on providing subsidized access to infrastructure and labs, including GPU access for AI, rather than direct grant capital.