Social & Impact Startup Grants and Funding Programs in India — August 2026

Indian social and impact startups have 10 active funding and support programs available in August 2026, encompassing grants, incubation initiatives, equity investments, and competitions. These opportunities are designed to propel ventures addressing pressing societal needs.

The funding landscape for social and impact startups in India features a mix of institutional backing, government incentives, and global foundation support. Programs are offered by established incubators like IIMA Ventures and Villgro, government agencies such as KBITS, and international organizations like the Gates Foundation and Wellcome, alongside corporate and private sector initiatives from Capgemini, Maruti Suzuki, Next Bharat Ventures, and Marico Innovation Foundation.

Active Social & Impact Grants and Programs

Bharat Inclusion Initiative (IIMA Ventures)

IIMA Ventures operates the Bharat Inclusion Initiative (BII), a long-running program for for-profit startups applying technology to benefit India's underserved populations. This includes nano-entrepreneurs, low-income and gig workers, women, and migrants. The current edition receives support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.

Selected startups receive ₹46.5 lakh or more in financial support, disbursed in tranches linked to agreed milestones within a Service Agreement. IIMA Ventures obtains a mentoring equity of 3–5% as startups join as incubatees, classifying this as structured incubation funding rather than a pure non-dilutive grant. Beyond capital, the program provides access to the IIMA Ventures ecosystem and mentorship.

AI and Technology Solutions for Women's Livelihoods (Gates Foundation)

This program, supported by the Gates Foundation, invites applications from startups developing scalable, high-impact AI and technology-enabled solutions. The focus is on strengthening women’s livelihoods in India by improving income growth, capital access, and market linkages. It targets women workers and micro-entrepreneurs in sectors where livelihoods are fragile and large-scale impact is needed.

The initiative specifically supports innovations for women in agriculture, informal work, the gig economy, and care services. Beyond funding, selected startups receive long-term mentoring, market access, partnerships with large delivery players, and opportunities to pilot and scale solutions in underserved and low-income geographies.

Patent Reimbursement Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (KBITS)

The Karnataka Startup Policy, administered by the Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS), offers patent reimbursement incentives. This program targets incubated startups officially registered with the Karnataka Startup Cell, aiming to reduce financial burdens associated with intellectual property rights.

KBITS, a Government of Karnataka agency, fosters the state's technology and startup ecosystem. The policy provides up to ₹10 lakh in reimbursement, enabling technology-driven ventures in Karnataka to protect their innovations and maintain a competitive edge.

MAP-Health (Villgro)

Villgro's MAP-Health (Market Access Partnerships) program focuses on accelerating market entry and expansion for social enterprises in the Indian healthcare sector. Villgro, India's oldest and largest social enterprise incubator, supports early-stage social enterprises that address societal challenges.

The program provides strategic interventions and expert guidance, leveraging Villgro's experience in impact investing and social entrepreneurship to scale market-ready innovations. Villgro's mandate is to ensure the success of innovative and impactful social enterprises.

Next Bharat Residency Program (Next Bharat Ventures)

The Next Bharat Residency Program is a Suzuki Initiative by Next Bharat Ventures IFSC Private Limited, supporting impact entrepreneurs across India. The program targets the informal urban (India 2) and rural (India 3) economies, which represent over one billion people with household incomes between Rs. 1.5 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh annually.

This hybrid program runs for three months, including three weeks of in-person sessions in Bengaluru and ongoing virtual engagement. Selected founders receive equity-based funding up to INR 5 crore for scaling, along with a stipend to cover living expenses during the in-person phase.

Maruti Suzuki NURTURE Cohort 4 (IIM Calcutta Innovation Park)

Maruti Suzuki NURTURE Cohort 4 is a joint pre-incubation initiative by Maruti Suzuki and IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP). It targets early-stage startups, with a particular focus on eastern, north-eastern, and central India, though it is open to startups nationwide.

Key focus domains include Mobility Convenience/Assistance, Tech in Mobility, Sustainability, Social Impact, and Enterprise & Manufacturing. For social impact, it covers rural mobility & development and skill development. Benefits include cash rewards up to ₹13 lakh, opportunities for paid Proof of Concept (PoC), mentorship, and access to Maruti Suzuki's ecosystem.

Innovations for Social Good and Better Bharat (Capgemini)

Capgemini powers the Innovations for Social Good and Better Bharat (ISGBB) initiative, a multi-state program designed to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems in India. Implemented by BharatCares in partnership with SRF Foundation, ISGBB aims to foster structured collaboration among innovators, academic institutions, ecosystem partners, and community groups.

This initiative supports solutions rooted in community needs, driving tangible social impact. It is committed to fostering innovation that addresses critical societal challenges across various regions in India.

Indian Innovation Icons 2027 (Marico Innovation Foundation)

The Marico Innovation Foundation presents Indian Innovation Icons 2027, the 11th edition of its biennial program. This platform identifies and supports groundbreaking innovations in India that address significant real-world challenges.

The program provides strategic mentorship, investor access, business connections, and national visibility. It accepts applications from both for-profit businesses and not-for-profit organizations, acknowledging the diverse landscape of Indian innovation.

The Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science with Nature (Wellcome)

Wellcome, in partnership with Nature, offers The Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science. This international prize supports novel and impactful interventions to improve the lives of individuals with anxiety, depression, and psychosis. The goal is to accelerate the development, adoption, and policy prioritization of effective solutions.

Wellcome is a global charitable foundation focused on urgent health challenges, including mental health. This prize leverages significant resources to advance discovery. The deadline for applications is 15 September 2026, with funding up to ₹9.52 crore available.

The Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize (Wellcome)

The Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize is a global challenge prize launched by Wellcome and delivered by Challenge Works. It aims to address the impact of snakebite envenoming, which causes over 100,000 deaths and 400,000 disabilities annually, primarily affecting rural, poor, and agrarian communities.

This prize seeks innovators worldwide to develop and scale solutions that strengthen community responses, accelerate access to appropriate care, or improve snakebite treatment delivery. It supports both early-stage concepts and advanced solutions. The deadline for applications is 16 September 2026, with funding up to ₹18.37 crore available.

Before Applying

Carefully review eligibility criteria before submitting applications. For instance, the Patent Reimbursement Incentives from KBITS are specific to incubated startups officially registered with the Karnataka Startup Cell. The Bharat Inclusion Initiative by IIMA Ventures is exclusively for for-profit ventures, while the Next Bharat Residency Program targets entrepreneurs focused on India 2 and India 3 economies with specific household income ranges. Maruti Suzuki NURTURE is for early-stage startups.

Note the varied application timelines. The Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science closes on 15 September 2026, and The Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize follows on 16 September 2026. Most other programs, including those from IIMA Ventures, Gates Foundation, KBITS, Villgro, Next Bharat Ventures, Maruti Suzuki NURTURE, Capgemini, and Marico Innovation Foundation, accept applications on a rolling basis, allowing flexibility for submission.