20 Startup Grants and Seed Funds Closing This Week (13-17 July 2026)
A roundup of 20 startup grants, seed funds, and competitions with deadlines from July 13 to 17, 2026. Programs include DBS Foundation Grant, MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0, ELEVATE 2026, iDEX DISC 12, and more.
This week, 20 startup grants, seed funds, incubation programs, and competitions are closing between 13 and 17 July 2026. These opportunities cover a wide range of sectors including deep-tech, social impact, defence, agritech, and women-led ventures.
The opportunities include government grants, institutional seed funds, startup competitions, and incubation programs from Startup Karnataka, SINE IIT Bombay, DBS Foundation, iDEX, ICMR, IIMA Ventures, and more.
At a Glance
DBS Foundation Grant (DBS Foundation) Closes 13 July
The DBS Foundation Grant Application Form 2026 is a flagship program for social enterprises and SMEs that create inclusive impact and support vulnerable communities in Asia. Since 2015, DBS Foundation has committed ~SGD 26 million to over 180 businesses. The grant focuses on two areas: improving lives of those in need, and enabling dignified aging. Selected ventures receive grant funding and incubation support. Eligible organisations must be registered as a social enterprise or SME with a clear social mission.
Moonshot Awards 2026 (Moonshot Platform) Closes 13 July
The Moonshot Awards 2026 is a global competition for young changemakers working on solutions aligned with UN SDGs. The program provides financial support (up to ₹49.8 L) and ecosystem access. It targets startup founders, scientists, builders, and advocates. Applications are open until 13 July.
Slack Agent Builder Challenge (Salesforce) Closes 13 July
The Slack Agent Builder Challenge is a global hackathon on Devpost. Participants build AI agents using Slack's platform. The challenge is beginner-friendly with low-code options. Total prize pool is ₹39.06 L. Submissions close 13 July.
MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0 (Ministry of MSME) Closes 14 July
The MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0 invites Indian citizens aged 18+ to submit ideas on frontier technology for MSMEs. Selected ideas receive up to ₹15 L in funding and incubation support through Host Institutes. The theme is "Frontier Technology in MSMEs: One Pillar, Six Themes." Applications close 14 July.
The Gap in Between — Startup Challenge 2026 (The Gap in Between) Closes 14 July
The The Gap in Between — Startup Challenge 2026 is an international competition for impact-driven startups. Winners receive up to ₹9 L, mentorship, and investor connections. The challenge focuses on social and environmental solutions. Deadline is 14 July.
ELEVATE 2026 Grant Programs (Startup Karnataka) Close 15 July
Startup Karnataka's ELEVATE 2026 includes four calls: the general ELEVATE 2026, ELEVATE Aspire (for startups beyond Bengaluru Urban), ELEVATE Unnati (for SC/ST-owned startups), and ELEVATE Shakti (for women-led startups). Each offers a one-time grant of up to ₹50 L for proof-of-concept. A startup may apply to multiple calls if eligible, but a single pitch is evaluated across all applied calls, and total support per startup is capped at ₹50 L across categories. To qualify for Unnati, SC/ST founders must hold at least 70% equity. For Shakti, women must hold at least 51%. All startups must be registered in Karnataka.
North East Growth Lab 2026 (IIMA Ventures) Closes 15 July
The North East Growth Lab 2026 is a program for early-stage startups from the eight North Eastern states. Presented by IIMA Ventures and SAP, it offers grant funding up to ₹5 L, technical assistance, and business support. Applications close 15 July.
ICMR – Gates Foundation Grand Challenge (ICMR) Closes 15 July
The ICMR – Gates Foundation Grand Challenge seeks nutrient-dense food products to prevent anaemia in adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. The program offers up to ₹1 Cr in funding. Researchers, food manufacturers, and startups are invited. Deadline is 15 July.
iDEX DISC 12 Re-Open Challenges (iDEX/Defence Innovation Organisation) Close 15 July
Two identical problem statements have been re-opened under iDEX DISC 12: the Inflight Urination Device for Female Fighter Pilots and Development of Inflight Urination Device for Female Fighter Pilots. Both aim to address a critical operational gap. The winner receives up to ₹1.5 Cr. MSMEs, startups, and innovators can apply. Deadline is 15 July.
HackNexus'26 (Droidecks) Closes 15 July
HackNexus'26 is a national online hackathon for college students. Participants solve real-world challenges across multiple domains. Prizes include up to ₹70,000. Registration is open to individuals or teams of 2–4. Deadline is 15 July.
Open Challenge Program (OCP) Cohort 1 at NERVE CoE, Nagpur (NERVE CoE) Closes 15 July
The Open Challenge Program at NERVE CoE is an 18-month program for AI and DeepTech startups. It offers GPU infrastructure, seed funding up to ₹50 L, mentoring, and GTM support. The program is based at STPI Nagpur and covers HealthTech, AgriTech, Forestry, and Mining. Applications close 15 July.
SmartAIthon 2026 (IEEE KCE Student Branch) Closes 15 July
The SmartAIthon 2026 is an online hackathon for AI, IoT, and social good projects. It is beginner-friendly. Prizes total up to ₹10,000. Submissions close 15 July.
Open Challenge Program (OCP) 1.0 at SmartAgri CoE, Bhilai (STPI) Closes 15 July
The Open Challenge Program at SmartAgri CoE is for AgriTech startups. Selected ventures receive up to ₹35 L, incubation, and access to R&D infrastructure. The program is supported by STPI and the Government of Chhattisgarh. Deadline is 15 July.
Next Byte Hacks V3 (Next Bytes) Closes 15 July
The Next Byte Hacks V3 is an open-ended online hackathon for social good projects. It is beginner-friendly. Prizes total up to ₹9,000. Submissions close 15 July.
Excelium-SINE DeepTech Innovation Grant Program (SINE, IIT Bombay) Closes 16 July
The Excelium-SINE DeepTech Innovation Grant Program supports early-stage deeptech startups at TRL 4 and above. It provides milestone-based grant funding up to ₹20 L and ecosystem support. Focus areas include product development and validation. Applications close 16 July.
Startup Seed Fund (Zerodha CSR Initiative) (FSID, IISc) Closes 17 July
The FSID Startup Seed Fund is a seed fund for deep-tech startups in Sustainability, CleanTech, and HealthTech. Powered by Zerodha CSR, it offers seed investment and incubation services via FSID at IISc. Funding varies based on needs. Deadline is 17 July.
Before Applying
Several programs have specific eligibility criteria. ELEVATE grants require Karnataka registration and equity thresholds for targeted categories. The iDEX challenge is open only to Indian entities. The DBS Foundation Grant targets social enterprises and SMEs. The ICMR-Gates challenge focuses on nutrient-dense foods for anaemia prevention. FSID requires deep-tech and societal impact. Ensure your startup meets these constraints before applying.
Time sensitivity is high: DBS Foundation Grant, Moonshot Awards, and Slack Agent Builder Challenge close today, 13 July. MSME Idea Hackathon and The Gap in Between close 14 July. The majority close on 15 July, including all ELEVATE calls, iDEX challenges, and several hackathons. Missing these deadlines means waiting for next annual cycles. Act immediately.
