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

Social & Impact startups in India can access 10 active grants, seed funds, incubation programs, and competitions during September 2026. These opportunities target ventures addressing critical societal needs and fostering sustainable development across various sectors.The funding landscape for Social & Impact ventures in India comprises programs from institutional foundations, corporate social responsibility initiatives, government-backed schemes, and impact-focused accelerators. These provide a mix of non-dilutive grants, structured incubation capital, and prizes for innovative solutions across health, livelihoods, and technology.## Active Social & Impact Grants and Programs| Program | Type | Deadline | Funding || :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :---------------- | :--------- | :----------------- || Bharat Inclusion Initiative by IIMA Ventures | Incubation | Rolling | ₹46.5 lakh+ || AI and Technology Solutions for Women's Livelihoods | Grant/Incubation | Rolling | Varies || Patent Reimbursement Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy | Grant | Rolling | Up to ₹10 lakh || MAP-Health | Incubation | Rolling | Varies || Next Bharat Residency Program | Equity/Incubation | Rolling | Up to ₹5 crore || Maruti Suzuki NURTURE Cohort 4 at IIM Calcutta Innovation Park | Competition | Rolling | Up to ₹13 lakh || Innovations for Social Good and Better Bharat (ISGBB) | Competition | Rolling | Varies || Indian Innovation Icons 2027 | Competition | Rolling | Varies || The Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science with Nature | Competition | 15 Sep 2026 | Up to ₹9.52 crore || The Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize | Competition | 16 Sep 2026 | Up to ₹18.37 crore |## Bharat Inclusion Initiative (IIMA Ventures)The Bharat Inclusion Initiative (BII) by IIMA Ventures supports for-profit startups leveraging technology for India's underserved populations. This includes nano-entrepreneurs, low-income and gig workers, women, and migrants. The current edition is supported by 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 tied to agreed milestones. IIMA Ventures takes 3–5% mentoring equity upon onboarding as an incubatee. This program provides structured incubation funding.## AI and Technology Solutions for Women's Livelihoods (Gates Foundation)This program from the Gates Foundation invites applications from startups building scalable AI and technology-enabled solutions. It focuses on strengthening women’s livelihoods in India by improving income growth, access to capital, and market linkages. The initiative targets women workers and micro-entrepreneurs in sectors where livelihoods are fragile, such as agriculture, informal work, the gig economy, and care services.Selected startups receive support beyond funding, including long-term mentoring, market access, partnerships with large-scale delivery players, and opportunities to pilot and scale solutions in underserved geographies.## Patent Reimbursement Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (KBITS, Government of Karnataka)The Patent Reimbursement Incentives program, part of the Karnataka Startup Policy, offers support for incubated startups registered with the Karnataka Startup Cell. Spearheaded by KBITS (Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services), this initiative aims to reduce the financial expenditures associated with securing intellectual property rights.This program helps technology-driven ventures in Karnataka protect their innovations and maintain a competitive advantage. Eligible startups can receive up to ₹10 lakh for patent reimbursement.## MAP-Health (Villgro)The MAP-Health (Market Access Partnerships) program, led by Villgro, accelerates market entry and expansion for social enterprises in the Indian healthcare sector. Villgro, India's oldest and largest social enterprise incubator, works to ensure the success of innovative social enterprises addressing critical societal needs.Through strategic interventions and Villgro's experience in impact investing, MAP-Health fosters market-ready innovations. The program aims to scale solutions for pressing societal challenges.## Next Bharat Residency Program (Next Bharat Ventures IFSC Private Limited)The Next Bharat Residency Program, a Suzuki Initiative by Next Bharat Ventures IFSC Private Limited, empowers impact entrepreneurs. It focuses on India's informal urban (India 2) and rural (India 3) economies, which represent a large, underserved market.The 3-month hybrid program combines intensive in-person sessions in Bengaluru with virtual engagement. Selected founders receive equity-based funding of up to ₹5 crore to scale their venture, along with a nominal stipend for living expenses.## Maruti Suzuki NURTURE Cohort 4 (IIM Calcutta Innovation Park) Maruti Suzuki NURTURE Cohort 4 is a pre-incubation initiative by Maruti Suzuki and IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) for early-stage startups. It focuses on eastern, north-eastern, and central India, though services can be offered anywhere.The program targets domains such as Mobility Convenience/Assistance, Tech in Mobility, Sustainability, Social Impact (rural mobility & development, skill development), and Enterprise & Manufacturing. Benefits include cash rewards up to ₹13 lakh, opportunities for paid Proof of Concept (PoC), and mentorship.## Innovations for Social Good and Better Bharat (ISGBB) (Capgemini)The Innovations for Social Good and Better Bharat (ISGBB) initiative is a multi-state program from Capgemini, implemented by BharatCares and SRF Foundation. It aims to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems by fostering collaboration among innovators, academic institutions, partners, and community groups.ISGBB drives social impact by supporting solutions rooted in community needs. It seeks to invigorate and expand the reach of innovation across India.## Indian Innovation Icons 2027 (Marico Innovation Foundation)The Indian Innovation Icons program, orchestrated by the Marico Innovation Foundation, stands as a biennial platform dedicated to unearthing and amplifying India's most groundbreaking yet often unheralded innovations. Now in its 11th edition for 2027, the program supports founders tackling real-world challenges.It offers strategic mentorship, investor access, business connections, and national visibility. Both for-profit businesses and not-for-profit organizations are eligible.## The Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science with Nature (Wellcome)The Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science, in partnership with Nature, champions novel and impactful interventions designed to transform the lives of individuals grappling with anxiety, depression, and psychosis. This international prize seeks to accelerate the development, adoption, and policy prioritization of effective solutions, fostering a global ecosystem of innovation in mental health.Organized by Wellcome, a global charitable foundation, and Nature, a science publisher, the prize supports research across life, health, and wellbeing. The deadline for applications is 15 September 2026. Up to ₹9.52 crore in funding is available.## The Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize (Wellcome)The Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize, launched by Wellcome and delivered by Challenge Works, is a global challenge prize aimed at tackling the impact of snakebite envenoming. Each year, up to 2.7 million people are bitten by venomous snakes, leading to over 100,000 deaths and 400,000 life-changing disabilities globally.The prize calls for innovators worldwide to develop and scale solutions that strengthen community responses, accelerate access to care, or improve treatment delivery for snakebite. It supports both early-stage concepts through to established solutions, with a focus on communities in regions like South Asia. The deadline for applications is 16 September 2026. Up to ₹18.37 crore in funding is available.## Before ApplyingSocial & Impact startups evaluating these programs should note specific eligibility criteria. The Patent Reimbursement Incentives are restricted to incubated startups registered with the Karnataka Startup Cell. The Gates Foundation program specifically targets solutions strengthening women's livelihoods, while MAP-Health focuses on healthcare social enterprises. Maruti Suzuki NURTURE targets specific domains including social impact, particularly rural mobility and skill development, and emphasizes eastern, north-eastern, and central India for its pre-incubation. The Wellcome prizes are highly specialized, focusing on mental health interventions or snakebite solutions.Applicants should be aware of the varying application timelines. Most programs, including the Bharat Inclusion Initiative, Next Bharat Residency, MAP-Health, Maruti Suzuki NURTURE, Capgemini ISGBB, Indian Innovation Icons, AI and Technology Solutions for Women's Livelihoods, and Patent Reimbursement Incentives, operate on a rolling application basis. However, the two Wellcome Prizes, Mental Health Science and Snakebite Innovation, have firm deadlines of 15 September 2026 and 16 September 2026, respectively, requiring prompt submission.