NGO and Foundation Programmes in Karnataka
20 NGO and foundation programmes in Karnataka. Foundations and non-profits run support programmes for startups that serve a social or development goal, and they often give grants or mentoring rather than taking equity. Check the impact focus and the eligibility of each programme, since many are limited to particular sectors, regions or groups of founders.
Deshpande Startups
Technology business incubator in Hubballi with a second campus in Nizamabad, running incubation, acceleration and government funding programmes for non-metro founders.
Social Alpha
Tata Trusts-backed platform that incubates science and technology start-ups for social and environmental impact, from labs in Bengaluru, Delhi and Trivandrum.
AssisTech Foundation (ATF)
India's first assistive-technology accelerator, based in Bengaluru, with a 65+ start-up portfolio and a network of 500+ AT start-ups.
ARTPARK, IISc Bengaluru
Not-for-profit technology business incubator at IISc Bengaluru for deep-tech in AI, robotics and cyber-physical systems, with a residency for researchers and an equity investment programme for startups.
Ashraya Hastha Trust
Bengaluru family charitable trust that makes grants to registered nonprofits in health, education, livelihoods, animal welfare, environment and disaster relief. Startups are not eligible; a C-CAMP climate programme names it as a collaborator.
Wadhwani Foundation
Global non-profit founded by Dr. Romesh Wadhwani that supports entrepreneurs through Liftoff, Accelerate, Ignite and a learning programme for SMEs; its India work is delivered from Bengaluru by the National Entrepreneurship Network.
Upaya Social Ventures
Bangalore-based nonprofit that invests in and accelerates early-stage Indian businesses creating dignified jobs for people in extreme poverty.
Yenepoya School of Engineering and Technology
Yenepoya Technology Incubator, run by Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) in Mangaluru, mentors healthcare innovators and entrepreneurs.
Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Tehnology and Management
Engineering and management college at Bantakal, Udupi, whose MiTiE incubator supports technology startups with a rural focus.
Yenepoya Deemed to be University
Yenepoya Technology Incubator is a healthcare innovation incubator in Mangalore, run by a not-for-profit linked to Yenepoya (Deemed to be University).
Siddaganga Institute of Technology
Section 8 incubator in Tumakuru, Karnataka, hosted by Siddaganga Institute of Technology. Incubation from proof of concept to MVP, plus pre-incubation and agritech programmes.
School for Social Entrepreneurs India
The India arm of the global School for Social Entrepreneurs, running a nine-month fellowship that trains and mentors social entrepreneurs; the fellowship intake is currently closed.
ARTPARK
AI and robotics incubator at IISc, Bengaluru, with a deep-tech investment programme, an industry accelerator and student fellowships.
Headstart Network Foundation
Volunteer-led Bengaluru organisation running pre-incubation, mentoring, pitch and investor-network programmes for startups across India.
ACT Grants
A non-profit venture philanthropy platform that makes grants to Indian social-impact organisations.
Tech4Good Community
A Bengaluru social-impact technology organisation that runs the Becoming Tech4Good Fellowship for young technologists.
The Gain
Section 8 not-for-profit accelerator in Bengaluru for tech startups with early revenue or traction.
Bharathiya Vikas Trust
Manipal-based trust running the Interconnect Innovation Catalyst Program for biomedical innovators, supported by Blockchain for Impact.
TiE Bangalore
Bengaluru chapter of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs): a six-month mentoring programme called TiE Nurture, an invite-only growth circle, a student accelerator and chapter membership for founders.
200 Million Artisans
Craft-sector ecosystem enabler running Kula Innovate, an innovation challenge with awards and mentoring for craft-led startups, and the invite-only Kula Conclave.
Wider lists
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Using NGO and foundation programmes in Karnataka
Foundations and non-profits support startups that advance a social or development goal: health, education, livelihoods, climate and similar. What they offer is usually mentoring, networks and sometimes grant money, and they often take no equity, which suits ventures whose first aim is impact rather than a venture-scale return.
Their programmes are narrower than a general incubator. Many are limited to a theme, a region or a group of founders, and they ask you to show the impact you intend and how you will measure it. A clear description of who benefits and how you will know it has worked counts for more here than a growth forecast.
The NGO and foundation programmes in Karnataka listed above vary in format, from a short fellowship to a long incubation, and in how often they take applications. Read the eligibility and the application window on each profile and prepare one clear impact statement that you adapt to each.
The numbers on this page
- 20 of the 357 organisations we list in Karnataka (6%) are tagged "NGO / Foundation".
- By stage focus, the most common are Validation (7), Ideation (6) and Early Revenue (5).
- By sector, the most listed are Social Impact (8), Deep Tech (3) and Healthcare (3).
- By city, most are in Bengaluru (14), Mangaluru (2) and Hubballi (1).
- Many are also tagged Incubator (9) and Accelerator (4), so the same organisation can appear on more than one list.
- 3 of 20 offer coworking space on site.
What to confirm with an NGO or foundation programme
- Which theme, sector or geography does it fund or support?
- Is the support a grant, mentoring, a fellowship or something else?
- Does it take equity, or require a particular legal structure?
- How does it want you to describe and measure impact?
- When do applications open and close?
- What reporting does it expect after you are selected?
Frequently asked questions
How many NGO and foundation programmes are there in Karnataka?
We list 20 NGO and foundation programmes in Karnataka, out of 357 startup support organisations we list there. The count updates as profiles are added and verified.
Where in Karnataka are most NGO and foundation programmes based?
Counting the profiles on this page, most are in Bengaluru (14), Mangaluru (2) and Hubballi (1).
Do NGO and foundation programmes take equity?
Many do not, but terms vary. Some give grants, some give mentoring and networks only, and a few invest. Each programme states its terms; confirm them before you apply.
Can a for-profit startup apply to an NGO or foundation programme in Karnataka?
Often yes, if the work fits the programme's theme, but some are open only to registered non-profits. The eligibility section on each profile or application page tells you which applies.