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

Six active funding programs — covering grants, performance-linked incentives, and innovation competitions — are currently open to profit-stage startups in India as of August 2026. Among them are the Technology Development Board’s India-Finland Joint Innovation Call, which offers grants of up to ₹2.5 crore per project, the Haryana Startup Policy’s patent cost reimbursement scheme, and the BIRAC Product Commercialization Program for biotech companies.

For profit-stage startups — businesses with paying customers and repeatable revenue — the available support is geared toward scaling, intellectual property protection, and market entry. The instruments range from reimbursement-based grants and performance-linked incentives to open innovation challenges. Eligibility parameters are typically based on company registration, sector focus, stage of product maturity, or a formal partnership under a bilateral program.

Active Programs for Profit-Stage Startups

Program	Type	Deadline	Funding
The Operation of Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing	Grant	Rolling	Varies
BIRAC Product Commercialization Program (PCP) Fund	Grant	31 Dec 2026	Varies
Haryana Startup Policy 2022 Patent Cost Reimbursement Scheme	Grant	Rolling	Up to ₹25 lakh
Technology Development Board (TDB) India-Finland Joint Innovation Call 2026	Grant	28 Aug 2026	Up to ₹2.5 crore
Swanari TechSprint 4.0: AI for Inclusive Finance	Competition	15 Aug 2026	Varies
Innovations for Social Good and Better Bharat (ISGBB)	Competition	Rolling	Varies

The Operation of Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing (MeitY)

The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing is a flagship initiative launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. Its primary objective is to boost domestic manufacturing and attract significant investments in the electronics sector. The scheme operates on a performance-linked model, offering financial incentives to eligible companies. Incentives are calculated based on the incremental sales of goods produced within India, benchmarked against a defined base year. This structure ensures that benefits are disbursed only upon the achievement of actual production and sales targets, fostering genuine growth and output.

The scheme targets specific sectors and products within electronics manufacturing. While the detailed eligibility criteria are available in the scheme guidelines, profit-stage manufacturers with established production lines are best positioned to benefit. Since incentives scale with incremental sales, companies that expand output and sell more units will receive larger payouts. For a profit-stage electronics company, this creates a direct financial reward for increasing domestic value addition and market share. The scheme is open on a rolling basis, so applications can be submitted at any time.

BIRAC Product Commercialization Program (PCP) Fund

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Section 8 Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, has established the Product Commercialization Program (PCP) Fund. This initiative is designed to bridge a funding gap in the biotechnology innovation ecosystem. Existing BIRAC schemes, such as BIG, BIPP, and SBIRI, support product development and validation up to the pre-commercialization stage (TRL 7). The PCP Fund addresses the subsequent financial requirements for market preparation, pilot deployments, market validation, and large-scale commercialization.

The PCP Fund supports Indian biotechnology startups whose products or technologies have reached the pre-commercialisation stage and need capital to move into the market. For profit-stage biotech firms, this funding can cover activities typically excluded from R&D grants, such as small-scale manufacturing, customer pilots, regulatory approvals, and early sales operations. The program’s focus on bridging the gap between prototype and revenue makes it relevant for companies that have already achieved some market traction. Applications are open until 31 December 2026.

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

The Haryana Startup Policy 2022, spearheaded by the Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Haryana, and supported by Startup Haryana, provides a framework to foster innovation and entrepreneurship within the state. The policy focuses on promoting technological advancements and protecting intellectual property, with the aim of establishing Haryana as a leading startup hub in India.

Within this policy, the Patent Cost Reimbursement Scheme alleviates the financial burden of securing patents. It reimburses qualifying patent-related expenses, up to ₹25,00,000. Startups registered under the Haryana Startup Policy are eligible to claim these reimbursements. For profit-stage startups, obtaining patent protection is important for defending market share and building valuation. This scheme lowers the out-of-pocket cost of filing, prosecuting, and maintaining patents, freeing up capital for other growth activities. The application process is rolling, with no deadline.

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

The Technology Development Board (TDB), operating under India’s Department of Science & Technology, in collaboration with Business Finland, launched the India-Finland Joint Innovation Call 2026. This initiative fosters bilateral research and development partnerships between Indian and Finnish entities. The program supports innovative, market-driven projects focused on developing new products, processes, or enhanced services that will lead to commercialization in global markets.

Indian entities are eligible for grant funding up to INR 2.5 crore per project. This amount is capped at 50% of the total Indian project cost, and disbursement occurs on a reimbursement basis for actually incurred expenses. Profit-stage startups that are ready to commercialise a jointly developed technology can use this funding for late-stage product development and commercialisation activities. The co-funding requirement means applicants must be able to fund the remaining 50% from internal cash or other sources. The deadline for submissions is 28 August 2026.

Swanari TechSprint 4.0: AI for Inclusive Finance (IIMA Ventures)

Swanari TechSprint 4.0 is an innovation challenge co-created by RBIH and IIMA Ventures. It focuses on combining fintech innovation with financial inclusion for women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across India. The national initiative is designed to leverage artificial intelligence to build financial systems that empower SHG members, Sakhis, and women entrepreneurs. Secure and scalable AI-enabled fintech solutions are sought to address critical gaps in credit access, savings, and digital bookkeeping that currently hinder the economic progress of rural women.

More than a competition, Swanari TechSprint 4.0 is positioned as a capacity-building movement. It seeks to establish resilient infrastructure for AI-driven financial services that can be adopted across the SHG ecosystem. For profit-stage fintech startups, this is an opportunity to align with a central bank-backed innovation agenda and test AI models in a real-world context. The challenge provides exposure to a network of financial inclusion stakeholders and the chance to demonstrate practical impact. Submission closes on 15 August 2026.

Innovations for Social Good and Better Bharat (ISGBB) (Capgemini)

The Innovations for Social Good and Better Bharat (ISGBB) initiative is a strategic multi-state program designed to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems across India. It fosters structured collaboration among innovators, academic institutions, ecosystem partners, and community groups, ensuring that solutions are rooted in local needs.

Powered by Capgemini, and implemented by BharatCares in collaboration with SRF Foundation, ISGBB is committed to driving social impact through technology and community-centric approaches. For profit-stage startups, ISGBB offers a route to corporate partnership and funding for scaling community-rooted innovations. The competition is open on a rolling basis, allowing applications throughout the year.

Before Applying

Eligibility constraints differ sharply among these programs. The TDB India-Finland call requires an Indian entity collaborating with a Finnish partner, and the grant covers only 50% of the project cost on a reimbursement basis. The BIRAC PCP is limited to biotechnology startups that have completed pre-commercialization validation (TRL 7). The Haryana Patent Cost Reimbursement Scheme is administered under the Haryana Startup Policy 2022, so companies must satisfy the state’s startup definition and policy registration. The Swanari TechSprint is restricted to AI-based fintech solutions for women’s SHGs, with a deadline of 15 August 2026 — just four days away.

Timing is also a factor. The TDB India-Finland call has a 28 August 2026 deadline, leaving less than three weeks to finalise a consortium and submit a full proposal. The BIRAC PCP remains open until 31 December 2026, but as a stage-gated program it likely reviews applications in batches, so early filing can avoid delays. For the rolling schemes — PLI, Haryana patent reimbursement, and ISGBB — there are no fixed deadlines, but budget availability and programme cohorts may create effective closing windows. Review the specific call documents for each programme before preparing an application.