Technopark Technology Business Incubator

The Idea Grant is a state-funded scheme for founders at the idea stage. It supports early-stage innovators to validate ideas, build proofs of concept and conduct initial feasibility studies.

Who can apply

• Early-stage innovators at the idea stage

How to apply: Apply through the early-stage funding listing on the KSUM website.

The Productisation Grant is a state-funded scheme for MVP-stage startups. It helps founders convert validated ideas or prototypes into market-ready products through engineering, design and testing support.

Who can apply

• MVP-stage startups with a validated idea or prototype

How to apply: Apply through the early-stage funding listing on the KSUM website.

A focused, state-funded grant supporting women-led and transgender-led startups to build and commercialise products, with the aim of promoting inclusive entrepreneurship.

Who can apply

• Women-led and transgender-led startups at MVP stage

How to apply: Apply through the early-stage funding listing on the KSUM website.

The BCDD Grant is a state-funded, idea-stage scheme that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship among startups led by individuals from the OBC/OEC category, with the objective of supporting inclusive economic growth.

Who can apply

• Startups led by individuals from the OBC/OEC category

How to apply: Apply through the early-stage funding listing on the KSUM website.

The Scaleup Grant is a state-funded scheme for growth-stage startups, supporting them to scale operations, enhance capacity and expand into larger markets.

Who can apply

• Growth-stage startups

How to apply: Apply through the early-stage funding listing on the KSUM website.

A Central Government-supported grant for startups at the proof-of-concept, prototype, product-trial and market-entry stages, offered through the early-stage funding programme.

Who can apply

• Startups at proof-of-concept, prototype, product-trial or market-entry stage

How to apply: Apply through the early-stage funding listing on the KSUM website.

A Central Government-supported seed-funding scheme for startups at the proof-of-concept, prototype, product-trial and market-entry stages, offered through the early-stage funding programme.

Who can apply

• Startups at proof-of-concept to market-entry stage

How to apply: Apply through the early-stage funding listing on the KSUM website.

The Market Acceleration Grant is a state-funded scheme for startups in the early revenue stage that own an innovative, technology-based product. It supports marketing, customer acquisition, branding, product improvements and revenue-generation activities, and is released in milestone-based tranches as per KSUM guidelines.

Who can apply

• Startups in the early revenue stage
• Owning an innovative, technology-based product
• Holding a valid KSUM Unique ID
• Incorporated as a Pvt Ltd, LLP or OPC with active MCA status
• Where an Idea or Productisation Grant was previously availed, only the remaining eligible amount can be claimed

How selection works: Apply during the official call → applications are scrutinised → shortlisted startups pitch before an Expert Committee → recommendations are approved by the CEO/Chairman of KSUM → an agreement is executed → funds are disbursed in milestone-based tranches

How to apply: Apply through the KSUM website during the official call for applications.

The NIDHI Seed Support Program is a programme of NSTEDB, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, which this incubator implements. It provides financial assistance to technology-driven startups in their early stages, funding proof of concept, prototype development, product validation, market trials, initial market entry and commercialisation.

Who can apply

• A company registered in India, preferably DPIIT-registered or applied
• Completed a minimum of three months' association with the incubator through its resident or virtual incubation programme
• At least 51% shareholding held by Indian promoters
• Not Indian subsidiaries of MNCs or foreign companies
• Preference for startups that have not availed funding from any Government of India or State Government body

How selection works: Apply online through the KSUM website → submit the application form and documents → a one-to-one call and initial pitching → a final pitch before the NIDHI-Seed Support Management Committee (NIDHI-SSMC) → funds are disbursed on an instalment basis

How to apply: Apply online through the KSUM website.

The Seed Loan is a state-funded scheme for startups in the early revenue stage, intended to help them move from prototype to early market traction.

Who can apply

• Startups in the early revenue stage

How to apply: Apply through the early-stage funding listing on the KSUM website.

The Scaleup Seed Fund is a state-funded scheme for growth-stage startups scaling validated products and services. It is provided as a soft loan with a moratorium before repayment begins, and is repaid over a fixed term in monthly instalments.

Who can apply

• Registered in Kerala as a Private Limited company
• Recognised by DPIIT, with a KSUM Unique ID
• Working on an innovative product or technology
• In the revenue stage, meeting the programme's revenue or investment thresholds

How selection works: Applications are shortlisted by KSUM → shortlisted startups pitch before the Scale-up Seed Fund Expert Committee, which recommends funding

How to apply: Apply through the KSUM website.

A state-funded loan scheme aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs to start and scale their ventures.

Who can apply

• Women entrepreneurs

How to apply: Apply through the early-stage funding listing on the KSUM website.

The Pre-Incubation programme is for innovators and first-time founders with early-stage, technology-driven ideas that are scalable and market-oriented. Delivered over a 45-day to three-month period, it focuses on idea validation, problem-solution fit, rapid prototyping and founder preparedness.

Who can apply

• Idea-stage startups, innovators and first-time founders

Offered as a three-to-six-month engagement, the Incubation programme delivers deep mentoring, infrastructure access, customer discovery, go-to-market support and preparation for early-stage funding.

Who can apply

• MVP-stage, product-focused founders at early market entry

This three-month intensive engagement provides advanced strategic mentoring, investor and enterprise connections, market-expansion support and execution-focused growth acceleration.

Who can apply

• Revenue-generating, investment-ready, high-growth startups

SparkX provides Idea Grant recipients with support to validate innovative and scalable technology ideas and accelerate their transition toward product development.

Who can apply

• Idea Grant recipients

The SparkX - Creative Tech programme is delivered in association with Kalamandalam to support innovators in the creative and cultural industries.

SparkX: AI & IT is a pre-incubation programme for students and first-time founders building technology-driven ideas, combining weekly masterclasses and hands-on guidance to take a raw idea to a validated pitch.

Who can apply

• Students and first-time founders building technology-driven ideas

KERA is an initiative of the Government of Kerala in partnership with the World Bank. It focuses on strengthening agriculture and rural livelihoods by building a technology-driven ecosystem that connects farmers, startups and agri-entrepreneurs.

Who can apply

• Farmers, startups and agri-entrepreneurs

The Bio-AI Incubation Program supports startups developing solutions at the intersection of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, Ayurveda, spices, biodiversity and life sciences.

Who can apply

• Startups working across AI, biotechnology, Ayurveda, spices, biodiversity and life sciences

LeapX - B2B SaaS is an acceleration programme for early-revenue and growth-stage B2B SaaS startups, designed to accelerate revenue growth, strengthen go-to-market strategies and enable enterprise-scale adoption.

Who can apply

• Early-revenue and growth-stage B2B SaaS startups

LeapX AVGC XR is an acceleration programme for AVGC and XR startups, helping them scale immersive technology solutions through expert mentoring, market access, investment facilitation and revenue-focused growth support.

Who can apply

• AVGC and XR (animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality) startups

WE Start is a structured three-month hybrid pre-incubation programme for early-stage women founders and aspiring women entrepreneurs, moving them from idea to MVP. It focuses on idea and problem validation, business models, product thinking, early customer discovery and building a working MVP.

Who can apply

• Early-stage women founders or aspiring women entrepreneurs

WE Grow is a structured five-month incubation programme for women-led startups moving from MVP to sustainable revenue. It offers workshops on business model validation, MVP refinement, go-to-market strategy and fundraising, along with group mentoring and peer learning, and culminates in a Demo Day preparing startups for growth and investment readiness.

Who can apply

• Women-led startups at MVP stage

A co-incubation initiative with NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore, offering structured mentoring, learning and ecosystem access to women-led startups across the country.

Who can apply

• Women-led startups across India

She Builds Tech is a hackathon-to-pre-incubation track for women student innovators, described as 20 hours of building and two months of mentorship, aimed at turning AI ideas into prototypes.

Who can apply

• Women student innovators

Ignite is an investor-education programme for high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs), equipping them with the knowledge, tools and frameworks to participate confidently in startup investing as angel investors. It is aimed at investors rather than founders.

Who can apply

• High-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals
• Individuals interested in startup and early-stage investments

How to apply: Apply through the programme page on the KSUM website.