PIEDS SIDBI iDEX Fund - BITS Pilani PIEDS

The PIEDS SIDBI iDEX Fund is a targeted seed funding initiative designed to accelerate the growth of high-potential startups operating in defence and allied technology sectors. This program is implemented by the Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS) at BITS Pilani in collaboration with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) under the broader SIDBI Seed Fund Programme.

The primary objective of this fund is to support startups that have already demonstrated technical and strategic capability by winning challenges under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) program. By focusing on such validated startups, the initiative ensures that capital is deployed towards ventures with proven innovation potential and relevance to national defence priorities.

Selected startups can receive investment support of up to ₹1.5 crore. This funding is intended to bridge the critical gap between prototype validation and market readiness. The fund enables startups to scale their innovations, undertake advanced product development, and move toward commercialization.

Beyond financial assistance, the program offers structured incubation support through PIEDS. This includes access to technical mentorship, infrastructure, and domain expertise necessary for refining and deploying defence technologies. Startups benefit from assistance in prototyping, conducting field trials, and preparing for real-world deployment scenarios. Additionally, the program emphasizes go-to-market readiness, helping founders navigate procurement processes, partnerships, and commercialization pathways.