Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Overview

MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) is the startup-focused initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. It serves as the central coordination platform linking incubation centres, accelerators, investors, and corporates to support technology startups across India — particularly in Tier II and Tier III cities. MeitY as a ministry was restructured as a full ministry on 19 July 2016. MSH channels MeitY's three flagship startup schemes — TIDE 2.0, GENESIS, and SAMRIDH — through a network of government-supported incubators across the country.

Programs

TIDE 2.0: Launched in 2019 with a ₹264.62 crore outlay. Provides ₹4 lakh/quarter EIR stipend for early-stage entrepreneurs and up to ₹7 lakh grant-in-aid over 12 months for prototype development. Eligibility: Indian citizen, first-generation entrepreneur, full-time commitment, startup incorporated in India with 51%+ Indian equity.

GENESIS: Approved with ₹490 crore outlay targeting ~1,600 tech startups over 5 years. Components: EIR Grant (up to ₹10 lakh/year), Pilot Program (up to ₹40 lakh), and Matching Investment Funding (up to ₹50 lakh matched against external investor funding). Focus: Deeptech, Tier II/III cities.

SAMRIDH: Partnered with 22+ accelerators across 12 states. Ticket size ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore in angel/co-investment funding. Supported 175 tech startups in its first cohort.

IndiaAI Mission (₹10,371 crore): MeitY-anchored initiative backing AI-native startups including foundational model developers.

Track Record

As of 2024, MeitY has supported 3,600+ tech startups with total disbursals of ₹212 crore. MSH partners with Razorpay and other corporates to provide non-dilutive grants and market access.

Who Should Apply

MeitY/MSH programs are best suited for Indian technology product startups — particularly those working in IT/software, AI/ML, IoT, cybersecurity, blockchain, and digital health. TIDE 2.0 targets first-generation entrepreneurs at the idea/prototype stage. GENESIS suits deeptech founders in Tier II/III cities. SAMRIDH is for revenue-stage startups seeking co-investment and accelerator support.