KBITS, Government of Karnataka
Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka
Karnataka government's digital economy body bridging industry and policy to accelerate IT, startup & ESDM growth statewide.
Programs by KBITS, Government of Karnataka
3 open now · 3 past
Patent Reimbursement Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy
Reimbursement for patent filing and prosecution fees for KBITS-registered, incubated startups.
Marketing Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (International Marketing Reimbursement)
Reimbursement for international marketing expenses (up to Rs 5L) for Karnataka startups; preference for women founders.
- - The startup must be officially registered with the Karnataka Startup Cell and possess a valid registration number
- This focus ensures that the support directly contributes to global market entry and expansion efforts
- - Claims for reimbursement must be submitted within six months from the date the expense was incurred
Reimbursement of VAT/CST/GST on Goods Supplied to Incubatees: Karnataka Startup Policy
Reimbursement of VAT/CST/GST for physically incubated Karnataka startups with turnover up to 50 Lakhs.
- - It must be physically incubated within a GoK-supported incubator
- - The startup's annual turnover is capped at Rs
- 50 Lakhs for eligibility
ELEVATE NXT 2026 Deeptech Grant-in-Aid Program
Government of Karnataka's flagship deep tech grant program offering up to ₹1 crore per startup, with mentorship and milestone-based funding, targeting science- and engineering-led innovations.
- - Incorporated as a Private Limited Company, LLP, or Registered Partnership Firm
- - Startup age not exceeding 10 years from date of incorporation
- - Annual turnover not exceeding INR 100 Crores in any financial year
ELEVATE 2025 Challenge (Grant-in-Aid) by Startup Karnataka
Government of Karnataka's one-time Grant-in-Aid of up to ₹50,00,000 for early-stage seed funding, including mentoring and incubation support at subsidized rates, for innovative startups incorporate…
- * The entity's turnover for any financial year since incorporation has not exceeded ₹100 Crores
- * The startup must be up to 10 years old from the date of incorporation
- * Startups must be working towards innovation/improvement of existing products, services, and processes
Karnataka Grassroot Innovation Programme
KBITS program identifying and supporting grassroots innovations in Karnataka with up to ₹4 lakhs grant and incubation support.
- * Must be a citizen of India and a domicile of Karnataka
- * A formal entity (e
- , LLP, Private Limited Company) must be set up after being selected as a winner (proprietorships are not allowed)
About KBITS, Government of Karnataka
Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)
The Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) is a not-for-profit Section 8 organisation incorporated in December 2020, operating under the Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology (EITBT), Government of Karnataka. It was created to serve as the knowledge and execution bridge between the Karnataka government and the technology industry, accelerating growth across the state's IT, ESDM, and startup sectors.
Overview
KDEM is headquartered in Bengaluru and works with industry partners including NASSCOM, ASSOCHAM, and IESA. Its mandate covers five verticals: IT Products & Services; BPM and GCC Promotion; Innovation & Startups; Electronics Systems Design and Manufacturing (ESDM); Beyond Bengaluru; and Talent Accelerator. KDEM aims to create 40 unicorns and 50 soonicorns in Karnataka and establish the state as a global digital economy leader.
Innovation and Startup Programs
KDEM's Innovation & Startups vertical facilitates startup policy implementation and supports the network of Centres of Excellence (CoEs), Technology Business Incubators (TBIs), and New Age Incubation Networks (NAINs) across the state.
Karnataka Acceleration Network: Nurtures ~306 startups over three years through a mentor-mentee model linking accelerators and incubators across Karnataka.
BLUE (Beyond Bengaluru): Connects high-potential startups from Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi, Mangaluru, and Mysuru clusters with VCs, angel investors, and industry leaders — ensuring founders outside Bengaluru get equal access to capital and mentorship.
LEAP (Local Economy Accelerator Programme): Launches incubation centres in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in partnership with local institutions.
Industry & Enterprise Connect: Programmes facilitating pilots, partnerships, and enterprise connects between startups and large corporations.
Who Should Engage
KDEM is most relevant to startups in Karnataka — particularly those in IT/SaaS, ESDM, deep tech, biotech, fintech, and sustainability — that want to access state government support, incubation infrastructure, or connections to enterprise and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). Founders based outside Bengaluru looking to leverage the BLUE and LEAP programmes will find KDEM's beyond-Bengaluru focus particularly valuable.
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