17 Startup Grants and Seed Funds Closing This Week (31 August-7 September 2026)

Seventeen Indian startup grants, seed funds, incubation programs, and competitions are concluding their application windows between August 31 and September 7, 2026. These diverse programs offer opportunities for early-stage ventures across various sectors and stages.

Key organizations offering these opportunities include Startup Karnataka, IIT Bhilai Innovation and Technology Foundation, StartupTN, FounderPassion Foundation, IIMK LIVE, India Accelerator, Him Palam PM-RKVY Agri Business Incubator, ABIS-TBI TNAU, FIED IIM Kashipur, Social Shifters, IIT Bhubaneswar Research and Entrepreneurship Park, CodeVerse Community, TikTok, Maharana Pratap Group of Institutions, OSCode and CommunityX, Dialogate, and Gloo.

At a Glance

Tamil Nadu LangTech Startup Fund (StartupTN) Closes 31 August

The Tamil Nadu LangTech Startup Fund is a state-driven initiative by StartupTN in collaboration with Tamil Virtual Academy. It supports startups building Tamil language technology solutions, specifically promoting AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Machine Learning innovations rooted in Tamil.

With a total fund corpus of ₹2.5 Crore, the program aims to accelerate the development of globally relevant Tamil-centric language technologies. This initiative strengthens the LangTech ecosystem and positions Tamil as a leading language in AI-driven innovation.

AgInvest 2026 (FounderPassion) Closes 31 August

AgInvest 2026, organized by FounderPassion Foundation, is a national investment platform for high-potential AgriTech startups. The initiative identifies, mentors, and connects innovative ventures in agriculture with angel investors, venture capital firms, and strategic partners.

AgInvest aims to accelerate innovation across the Indian agriculture landscape through funding opportunities, investor networking, and national visibility for selected startups. The summit gathers over 150 AgriTech startups and 50 active investors, supporting and scaling ventures.

DEEP LEAP Incubation Program (IIMK LIVE) Closes 31 August

The DEEP LEAP program, powered by Walmart and hosted by IIMK LIVE, is a deep-tech incubation initiative. IIMK LIVE, the Entrepreneurship Development Centre and Business Incubator at IIM Kozhikode, supports innovation and new business ventures with Department of Science and Technology, Government of India backing.

DEEP LEAP provides mentorship, industry connections, investor access, and funding opportunities of up to ₹30,00,000. The program focuses on capacity-building and business growth to empower innovators to transform deep-tech ideas into scalable businesses.

Him Palam PM-RKVY Agri Business Incubator — Seed Fund Programme 2026 (Him Palam RABI) Closes 31 August

The Him Palam PM-RKVY Agri Business Incubator (Him Palam RABI), hosted at Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), Palampur, offers its Seed Fund Programme 2026. This initiative nurtures and supports innovative agri-startups within Himachal Pradesh with financial assistance and mentorship.

Funded by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Government of India, the program aligns with national guidelines for agricultural innovation. Him Palam RABI, a RKVY-RAFTAAR agri-business incubator, plays a role in transforming ideas into commercially viable businesses, offering up to ₹25,00,000 in seed funding.

RKVY RAFTAAR SAIP Cohort 8 Grant 2026 (ABIS-TBI TNAU) Closes 31 August

ABIS-TBI, R ABI Centre at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, invites applications for its SAIP Cohort 8 program under the PM-RKVY - RAFTAAR scheme. Recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, this program supports agri & allied sector startups with innovative Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) ready for scaling.

The program offers grant-in-aid of up to ₹25 lakh and comprehensive incubation support. Participants receive mentoring, technical guidance, and business development assistance during a two-month incubation period.

Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2026 (Social Shifters) Closes 31 August

The Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2026 is an annual worldwide competition for young leaders aged 18-30. It supports those using innovative solutions to address social and environmental issues aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The challenge provides mentorship, global visibility, and integration into a community of innovators. It offers a platform for early-stage ventures to gain recognition, refine strategies, and scale impact, with prizes up to ₹12,45,000.

SBIF LEAP: Innovators for Bharat Program (IBITF IIT Bhilai) Closes 31 August

The SBIF LEAP: Innovators for Bharat program, spearheaded by IIT Bhilai Innovation and Technology Foundation (IBITF) with SBI Foundation support, nurtures innovative startups. It focuses on AgriTech, FinTech, and HealthTech sectors, addressing India's specific challenges and opportunities.

This initiative provides comprehensive support to aspiring founders and existing startups, helping them transform ideas into viable products and scalable businesses. Through structured incubation, SBIF LEAP empowers innovators with resources, knowledge, and networks, offering up to ₹8,50,000 in support.

Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program 2026 (Startup Karnataka) Closes 31 August

The Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program (RGEP) is a Startup Karnataka initiative for young Science and Engineering graduates. It fosters entrepreneurship and innovation, creating career pathways and jobs in Karnataka's economy, and driving innovation-led growth.

RGEP supports 30 selected innovators annually through a 12-month fellowship. Each innovator receives a monthly subsistence grant, totaling ₹3,00,000 over the program's duration, to accelerate technological advancements.

Schaeffler Social Innovator Fellowship 2026 (India Accelerator) Closes 31 August

The Schaeffler Social Innovator Fellowship 2026, hosted by India Accelerator and funded by Schaeffler India, addresses the need for structured support for social entrepreneurs. It targets high-potential ventures, particularly from Tier II, Tier III, and rural India, facing limited access to mentorship, funding, and networks.

The program establishes a national platform to discover, cultivate, and accelerate India's social innovators. It focuses on ventures creating sustainable solutions to developmental challenges, offering up to ₹2,00,000 in support.

IIMK LIVE Business Incubation Programme (BIP) - Kochi Campus (IIMK LIVE) Closes 31 August

The IIMK LIVE Business Incubation Programme (BIP) at IIM Kozhikode's Kochi Campus nurtures innovative ideas into successful, scalable startups. As an Entrepreneurship Development Centre and Business Incubator, IIMK LIVE fosters a dynamic ecosystem that supports new business venturing and promotes innovation.

This program targets aspiring entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, proof of concept, or working prototypes. It provides structured guidance and resources for early-stage startup development, focusing on business model validation and product-market fit, with varying support amounts.

IIM Kashipur FIED SC-ST Accelerator (FIED IIM Kashipur) Closes 31 August

The Business Accelerator Program (BAP), organized by FIED at IIM Kashipur and supported by the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) Scheme, empowers SC/ST entrepreneurs. This program combines online and on-campus learning with mentorship to foster business growth and market readiness.

Participants engage in a curriculum through hybrid learning, including a 7-day residential immersion at IIM Kashipur. The program equips entrepreneurs with strategic insights and tools to scale their ventures, with varying amounts of support.

ReFlow 2026 — Menstrual Health Innovation Hackathon (IIT Bhubaneswar REP) Closes 31 August

IIT Bhubaneswar Research & Entrepreneurship Park (REP) presents ReFlow: Menstrual Health Innovation Hackathon 2026. This national challenge catalyzes solutions for advancing menstrual health and dignity across India.

The initiative unites innovators—students, researchers, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, designers, and changemakers—to tackle critical issues. The hackathon fosters innovation in menstrual health, hygiene, accessibility, awareness, and sustainability through technology, research, design, and social innovation, with varying prizes.

TikTok TechJam 2026 (TikTok) Closes 1 September

TikTok TechJam 2026 is a global online hackathon organized by TikTok, featuring a total prize pool of $34,500 (approximately ₹31.74 lakh). The competition invites developers, engineers, and creators worldwide to build innovative solutions using TikTok's platform and APIs.

Focus areas include Machine Learning/AI, Cybersecurity, and E-commerce/Retail. This hackathon offers an opportunity to showcase skills to a global audience and win cash prizes. It is open to individual developers, teams, and creators passionate about technology and innovation.

Build With Bharat 2.0 (CodeVerse Community) Closes 1 September

Build With Bharat 2.0 is India's National-Level Hackathon, organized by the CodeVerse Community in collaboration with NIT Delhi. It brings together developers, designers, innovators, and problem-solvers to build impactful technology solutions for real-world challenges.

Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students across India, in teams of 2–5 members (individual participation also allowed). Themes include AI & ML, Web & Mobile Development, Blockchain & Web3, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, IoT, and Open Innovation, with prizes up to ₹1,00,000.

Decode SIH 2026 (OSCode & CommunityX) Closes 5 September

Decode SIH 2026 is a national-level hackathon organized by OSCode and CommunityX. It challenges and rewards innovative problem-solving among Indian students and early-stage tech enthusiasts, with a prize pool of ₹50,00,000.

This competition identifies and supports ideas in technology and entrepreneurship. It is open to teams of students, developers, and early-stage innovators passionate about building solutions for real-world problems in software, hardware, or social impact. The event runs from July 29 to September 5, 2026.

VoltHacks (Dialogate) Closes 5 September

VoltHacks is an online hackathon organized by Dialogate, offering a prize pool of ₹1.93 lakh (approximately ₹1,87,200). The event is beginner-friendly and welcomes participants globally, including Indian teams and individuals.

Participants can work on projects in IoT and Machine Learning/AI, building innovative solutions over the competition period. It is open to developers, students, and innovators of all skill levels, especially beginners. The competition runs from May 22 to September 5, 2026.

The Start up Conclave (Maharana Pratap GI) Closes 5 September

The Start up Conclave, organized by Maharana Pratap Group of Institutions, Kanpur, is an offline case competition. Scheduled for September 11–12, 2026, it fosters innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.

The event challenges participants to demonstrate problem-solving and strategic thinking through presentations and business solutions. It is open to students and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to showcase creativity and analytical skills, with prizes up to ₹1,00,000.

Gloo AI Hackathon 2026 (Gloo) Closes 7 September

Gloo AI Hackathon 2026 is an AI hackathon organized by Gloo. It focuses on building AI agents, ministry tools, and Bible-based AI applications, inviting developers, entrepreneurs, and innovators globally, including from India.

This mission-driven hackathon encourages the creation of impactful AI solutions. It is open to individuals and teams interested in AI and faith-based or mission-driven technology, running from June 5 to September 7, 2026, with a total prize pool of $250,000 (approximately ₹2.3 crore).

Before Applying

Several programs target specific sectors or regions; the Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program 2026 focuses on Karnataka-based Science and Engineering graduates, while the Tamil Nadu LangTech Startup Fund supports Tamil language technology. AgriTech ventures can explore AgInvest 2026, Him Palam RABI, and RKVY RAFTAAR SAIP opportunities. The IIM Kashipur FIED SC-ST Accelerator caters specifically to SC/ST entrepreneurs, and hackathons like Build With Bharat 2.0 are open to students across India.

A majority of these programs, including the Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program, Tamil Nadu LangTech Startup Fund, and DEEP LEAP Incubation Program, conclude their application period on August 31, 2026. Programs like TikTok TechJam 2026 and Build With Bharat 2.0 have a deadline of September 1, while others like Decode SIH 2026 and VoltHacks extend to September 5. The latest closing is the Gloo AI Hackathon 2026 on September 7, providing a slightly longer window for submission.