Startup Grants and Funding Programs for Profit-Stage Startups in India — June 2026

As of June 2026, seven active funding programs target profit-stage startups in India — those generating revenue and seeking growth capital. These include state-level patent reimbursement schemes, bilateral innovation grants, and global deep-tech competitions. Notable programs are the Technology Development Board (TDB) India-Finland Joint Innovation Call, SLINGSHOT 2026, and the iDEX Open Challenge by the Defence Innovation Organisation.

Profit-stage startups in India typically access support through reimbursement-based grants (covering IP, cloud costs), equity-free competition prizes, and challenge-based funding with milestone-based disbursement. Common eligibility thresholds include DPIIT recognition, a minimum operational track record (e.g., 1–3 years), and sectoral alignment (e.g., defence, deep tech). The programs below offer a mix of grant funding and prize money, with amounts ranging from ₹2.5 lakh to ₹2.97 crore.

Active Programs for Profit-Stage Startups

Haryana Startup Policy 2022 Patent Cost Reimbursement Scheme (Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Haryana)

The Haryana Startup Policy 2022 Patent Cost Reimbursement Scheme covers up to ₹25 lakh in patent filing and prosecution costs. Managed by the Department of Industries & Commerce and Startup Haryana, the scheme reimburses expenses incurred after DPIIT registration and state recognition. Profit-stage startups can use this to protect core technologies while scaling. The scheme runs on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline.

To qualify, the startup must be incorporated in Haryana, DPIIT-recognized, and have a valid patent application (Indian or international). Reimbursement is made after the patent is filed. This is particularly suited for profit-stage companies investing in IP as a growth lever.

Technology Development Board (TDB) India-Finland Joint Innovation Call 2026 (Technology Development Board)

The TDB India-Finland Joint Innovation Call 2026 provides up to ₹2.5 crore (50% of Indian project cost) on a reimbursement basis. It targets collaborative R&D projects between Indian and Finnish entities leading to commercial products or services. Profit-stage startups with revenue and a Finnish partner can apply. The deadline is 28 August 2026.

Eligible Indian entities include startups, MSMEs, and research institutions. The Indian partner must contribute at least 50% of the project cost. The grant covers product development, piloting, and commercialization. This program rewards demonstrated capability to bring innovations to market.

Cloud Storage Reimbursement (Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Haryana)

The Cloud Storage Reimbursement scheme offers up to ₹2.5 lakh per startup for cloud infrastructure costs (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.). It is part of the Haryana Startup Policy 2022 and runs on a rolling basis. Profit-stage startups with significant cloud spend can reduce operational costs. Reimbursement requires DPIIT recognition and state registration.

Eligible startups must have a registered office in Haryana. The scheme covers expenses for storage, compute, and data transfer. There is no separate deadline; applications are accepted year-round.

Patent Reimbursement Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (KBITS, Government of Karnataka)

The Patent Reimbursement Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy reimburses up to ₹10 lakh in patent costs. Administered by Karnataka Biotechnology and IT Services (KBITS), it is for incubated startups registered with the Karnataka Startup Cell. Profit-stage startups can leverage this to secure IP without upfront burden. The scheme is rolling.

Eligibility requires startup incubation in a recognized Karnataka incubator, DPIIT registration, and patent filing. Reimbursement covers domestic and international patents. This is beneficial for profit-stage companies scaling with proprietary technology.

TiE Women Program 2026 – Global Women Entrepreneurs Initiative (TiE Pune)

The TiE Women Program 2026 is a global pitch competition for women founders. The global winner receives US$50,000 (approx. ₹41.75 lakh), and total prizes exceed US$100,000. Applications close 25 June 2026. Profit-stage startups with a woman founder (or co-founder holding significant equity) can apply. The program offers mentorship and investor access.

Eligibility: for-profit businesses with at least one woman in a founding role. There is no revenue threshold, but profit-stage companies with traction stand out. The competition is open across sectors.

SLINGSHOT 2026 Deep Tech Startup Pitching Competition at SWITCH, Singapore (Enterprise Singapore)

SLINGSHOT 2026 offers a grand prize of S$400,000 (≈₹2.97 crore) and total prize pool over S$2.2 million. It is Asia's leading deep tech pitch competition, part of SWITCH 2026. Profit-stage startups with deep tech solutions (AI, advanced manufacturing, sustainability, etc.) can apply. Deadline: 30 June 2026.

Eligibility: startups incorporated less than 10 years, with a minimum viable product. Profit-stage companies with revenue and traction are competitive. The top 50 get a sponsored trip to Singapore. The competition runs domain-specific tracks.

iDEX Open Challenge by DIO (Defence Innovation Organisation)

The iDEX Open Challenge provides up to ₹1.5 crore in grant funding for defence and aerospace innovations. Profit-stage startups with working prototypes can apply. The challenge is rolling with submissions accepted until 30 June 2026 (specific call). Funded projects receive milestone-based disbursement.

Eligibility: startups (DPIIT-recognized), MSMEs, or individual innovators. The technology must address defence needs. Profit-stage startups with prior government contracts or trials prefer this scheme.

Before Applying

Several programs have specific eligibility constraints. Haryana schemes require DPIIT recognition and state registration; the Karnataka patent scheme mandates incubation with a recognized incubator. The TDB India-Finland call requires a formal partnership with a Finnish entity and a minimum 50% cost share from the Indian side. TiE Women is restricted to women-founded startups. SLINGSHOT and iDEX are open to all sectors but require a minimum viable product or prototype.

Timing is critical. TiE Women closes today (25 June 2026). SLINGSHOT and the iDEX Open Challenge close on 30 June 2026. The TDB call has a deadline of 28 August 2026. All other programs run on a rolling basis with no fixed intake cycles, so applications can be submitted at any time. Applicants for SLINGSHOT and iDEX should anticipate a pre-screening or expression-of-interest step before the full submission.