NIDHI Seed Support Programme at ABI-ICRISAT
A programme by Agri-Business Incubator of ICRISAT (ABI-ICRISAT)
The incubator's seed support route for Indian ag-tech startups, backed by the Department of Science and Technology — two calls ran in 2022 and both are closed, with nothing newer announced.
At a glance
| Best for | Indian ag-tech startups at early revenue stage with product-market fit |
|---|---|
| Stage | Early revenue |
| Duration | Not stated |
| Cost | No equity |
| Run with | Department of Science and Technology, National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board |
About NIDHI Seed Support Programme at ABI-ICRISAT
Closed. ABI-ICRISAT opened two calls under the Department of Science and Technology's NIDHI Seed Support scheme, supported by the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board. The first closed at the end of April 2022 and the second at the end of November 2022. ICRISAT has announced no call since. It is listed here because it is the only place the incubator has ever set out what it looks for, and because seed support may return.
What you get
- Seed support provided as debt at the prevailing repo rate, which ICRISAT presented as raising funds without equity dilution
- Incubation services for business development and scaling up
- Access to the incubator's mentor and investor network
- What ICRISAT called ecosystem service partner packages
Who can apply
- Indian startups working on innovative technologies or business models in the agri-food and allied sectors
- Early revenue stage, with product-market fit and a clear value proposition
How selection works: applicants were evaluated against the scheme's criteria, which ICRISAT never published.
How to apply: both calls are closed and their forms are gone. Email icrisat.aip@icrisat.org to ask whether seed support is open again before planning around it.
Where to apply
Other Agri-Business Incubator of ICRISAT (ABI-ICRISAT) programmes
Everything about Agri-Business Incubator of ICRISAT (ABI-ICRISAT)