Programme	Best for	Stage	Duration	Format	Cost
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)	Startups that need funds for a proof of concept or prototype	—	—	—	—
Startup India Investor Connect	Startups looking for investors	—	—	—	—
Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS)	Startups raising from SEBI-registered AIFs	—	—	—	—
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS)	Startups borrowing from a member lender	—	—	—	—
DPIIT Startup Recognition	Companies that meet DPIIT's startup conditions	—	—	—	—
National Startup Awards	Startups across India	—	—	—	—
MAARG Mentorship Portal	Startups looking for mentors	—	—	—	—
DST Technology Business Incubator (TBI) scheme	Technology business incubators	—	—	—	—
DBT-BioNest scheme (via BIRAC)	Academic and research institutions setting up a biotech incubator	—	—	—	—
AIM – AIC incubation centre scheme	Organisations setting up an incubation centre	—	—	—	—
MeitY TIDE 2.0 incubation scheme	Incubation centres under the scheme	—	—	—	—

Build a pitch deck for this grant

A first draft in this program's slide format, from your profile.

Create deck

Track record

What Government of India reports about its portfolio.

These are the Fund of Funds for Startups' own published figures, as on 31 March 2026. They describe that fund only, not Startup India as a whole.

2,50,000Jobs createdJobs created by startups backed through FFS: 2.5 lakh or more

All figures self-reported — sidbivcf.in, as of Mar 2026.

Programmes they run

Standing programmes at Government of India, separate from the funding calls above.

Several entries are not open to founders directly. The fund of funds reaches startups through AIFs, the credit guarantee through member lenders, and four schemes are for incubators. Each entry links to the official page for current terms.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

Grant scheme

Financial assistance for startups to build a proof of concept or prototype, run product trials, enter the market and commercialise.

Best for: Startups that need funds for a proof of concept or prototype

Grant support for selected startups

What you get, who can apply and how to apply

The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme gives startups financial assistance for the stages listed below. Check the scheme's own site for current eligibility and how to apply.

What you get

Financial assistance for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialisation

Official programme page

Startup India Investor Connect

Platform

A platform that connects startups with investors to facilitate investment opportunities.

Best for: Startups looking for investors

Official programme page

Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS)

Fund

A fund of funds that contributes to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds, which invest in startups.

Best for: Startups raising from SEBI-registered AIFs

What you get, who can apply and how to apply

The Fund of Funds for Startups does not invest in startups directly. It contributes to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which then invest in startups. Founders approach those funds rather than applying to the scheme.

Who can apply

SEBI-registered AIFs that invest in startups. Startups reach the fund's money through them.

Official programme page

Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS)

Credit guarantee

A government guarantee that covers a share of the amount in default on loans that member lenders make to eligible startups.

Best for: Startups borrowing from a member lender

What you get, who can apply and how to apply

CGSS guarantees loans that member institutions make to eligible startups. The guarantee is given to the lender, so the founder applies to a member lender for the loan rather than to the scheme. The share covered is higher on smaller loans. A later framework raised the maximum cover per borrower.

Who can apply

Startups as defined in DPIIT's Gazette notifications, which are amended from time to time

Official programme page

DPIIT Startup Recognition

Recognition

Recognition as a startup by DPIIT, which gives access to tax benefits, easier compliance and IPR fast-tracking.

Best for: Companies that meet DPIIT's startup conditions

What you get, who can apply and how to apply

Eligible companies can be recognised as startups by DPIIT under the Startup India initiative. Recognition gives access to a range of tax benefits, easier compliance, IPR fast-tracking and more. Applicants confirm the conditions through a self-certification declaration.

The official recognition pages do not state the limits in one place. The declaration sets a single turnover limit. The explanatory note on the same page sets separate turnover limits for DeepTech and non-DeepTech companies, and a 20-year age limit for DeepTech companies. Read the current limits before you certify.

Who can apply

Eligible companies that meet DPIIT's conditions, including its age and turnover limits, which differ for DeepTech companies

Official programme page

National Startup Awards

Competition

An award that recognises exceptional startups across India for their economic and wider societal impact.

Best for: Startups across India

Official programme page

MAARG Mentorship Portal

Platform

A platform that matches startups with mentors across varied sectors.

Best for: Startups looking for mentors

Official programme page

DST Technology Business Incubator (TBI) scheme

Programme

DST's scheme for technology business incubators, which it encourages to work with industry and academic institutions.

Best for: Technology business incubators

What you get, who can apply and how to apply

The scheme is for technology business incubators. It encourages them to collaborate with industry, academic institutions and other institutions of repute on innovation, research, commercialisation and startup promotion. Founders reach a TBI through the incubator rather than applying to the scheme.

Official programme page

DBT-BioNest scheme (via BIRAC)

Programme

A biotech incubation scheme run through BIRAC that supports new BioNests and strengthens existing incubators.

Best for: Academic and research institutions setting up a biotech incubator

What you get, who can apply and how to apply

The scheme aims to scale up biotech incubation in India through BIRAC. It supports new BioNests at academic and research hospitals and organisations, and strengthens existing incubators attached to academic institutes. Founders reach a BioNest through the incubator.

Official programme page

AIM – AIC incubation centre scheme

Subsidy or reimbursement

A scheme to promote and set up incubation centres in sectors such as manufacturing, health and agriculture, with a grant-in-aid for capital and operating costs.

Best for: Organisations setting up an incubation centre

What you get, who can apply and how to apply

The scheme aims to set up incubation centres that support startups in specific sectors, with infrastructure facilities and other value-added services. Each incubation centre receives a grant-in-aid, up to a stated maximum, which covers both capital and operational expenditure.

Official programme page

MeitY TIDE 2.0 incubation scheme

Programme

A MeitY incubation scheme under which incubation centres are placed in three groups.

Best for: Incubation centres under the scheme

Official programme page

How to apply to Government of India

Choosing the right scheme

Testing an idea or prototype: the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme gives financial assistance for proof of concept and prototype work.
Borrowing for growth: the Credit Guarantee Scheme backs loans from member lenders. Apply to the lender for the loan.
Looking for an investor: the Fund of Funds invests through AIFs, so approach those funds. Startup India Investor Connect is a platform for meeting investors.
Looking for a mentor: the MAARG mentorship platform matches startups with mentors.
Setting up an incubator: the DST, BioNest, AIM and TIDE 2.0 schemes are aimed at incubators.

Before you apply

Recognition works on a self-certification declaration, so read the conditions before you declare them. The official pages state the age and turnover limits differently in different places.
Startup definitions come from DPIIT's Gazette notifications, which change from time to time. Check the current notification.
Check each scheme's official page for current eligibility before you apply.

About Government of India

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) runs the Startup India initiative, through which it has carried out various projects and recurring activities for India's startup ecosystem. This page covers its schemes for startups, from recognition as a startup to a seed fund, a fund of funds, a credit guarantee and a group of incubator schemes.

Recognition as a startup

DPIIT recognises eligible companies as startups under the Startup India initiative. Recognition gives access to a range of tax benefits, easier compliance, IPR fast-tracking and more. Applicants confirm that they meet the conditions through a self-certification declaration.

Startups are defined in DPIIT's Gazette notifications, which are amended from time to time.

Schemes and programmes for startups

The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) gives financial assistance for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialisation. Startup India Investor Connect is a platform that connects startups with investors. The MAARG mentorship platform matches startups with mentors across varied sectors. The National Startup Award recognises exceptional startups across India for their economic and wider societal impact.

Funds and credit guarantees

The Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) contributes to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which invest in startups. Founders reach that money through those funds rather than applying to the scheme. The fund publishes its status figures on SIDBI's website.

The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) gives a guarantee to member institutions that lend to eligible startups. It covers a share of the amount in default, with a higher share on smaller loans. A founder applies to a member lender for the loan; the scheme does not lend directly. A later framework raised the maximum cover per borrower.

Incubator schemes

Four schemes are aimed at incubators rather than individual startups: the DST technology business incubator scheme, DBT-BioNest run through BIRAC, the AIM incubation centre scheme and MeitY's TIDE 2.0. Founders usually reach them through an incubator. The AIM scheme gives incubation centres a grant-in-aid, up to a stated maximum, for capital and operational expenditure.

Scale

The Fund of Funds for Startups reports its own status figures as on 31 March 2026. They show 217 startups from Tier 2 and Tier 3 centres invested in, 211 women-led or co-led startups, and 279 deep-tech startups. The fund anchors 82 AIFs, 58 of them first-time fund managers, and reports 22 or more beneficiary startups that have reached unicorn status. Jobs created by startups backed through FFS: 2.5 lakh or more.

Separately, the Startup India network describes a community of 600K startups registered with self-certified information.

Who runs it

DPIIT leads the Startup India initiative. Some of the schemes above reach startups through other institutions, such as the AIFs in the fund of funds and the member lenders in the credit guarantee scheme.

Who they work with

Stage

Sectors

Technology

Frequently asked questions about Government of India

What does Government of India do?

Where is Government of India located?

Government of India is based in New Delhi, Delhi, India.

What programs does Government of India run?

Government of India currently has 2 open programmes: Interest Subvention Scheme for MSMEs and State Tourism Policy Incentives. 2 further programmes have run in the past.

Does Government of India provide funding?

Selected startups in some Government of India programmes can receive grant support, including Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS). Grant amounts are set per programme and cohort, and selection into a programme does not guarantee a grant — check the programme's own page for current terms.

What sectors does Government of India support?

Government of India works with startups in DeepTech, Fintech, Healthtech, AgriTech, CleanTech and EdTech and other sectors.

What stage of startup does Government of India support?

Government of India supports startups at the Ideation, Validation, Early Revenue and Growth stages.

How do I apply to Government of India?

- Testing an idea or prototype: the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme gives financial assistance for proof of concept and prototype work. - Borrowing for growth: the Credit Guarantee Scheme backs loans from member lenders. Apply to the lender for the loan. - Looking for an investor: the Fund of Funds invests through AIFs, so approach those funds.