Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)
A programme by Ahmedabad University
The national seed fund, applied for on the Startup India portal with Ahmedabad University Support Foundation named as your preferred incubator.
At a glance
| Best for | DPIIT-recognised startups incorporated less than two years ago |
|---|---|
| Stage | Prototype – Early revenue |
| Format | In person |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | Startup India, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade |
About Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)
VentureStudio is one of the incubators a startup can choose when applying to the national Startup India Seed Fund Scheme. The scheme covers proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialisation.
What you get
- A grant for validating a proof of concept, building a prototype or running product trials
- Further investment for market entry, commercialisation and scaling through convertible debentures or debt instruments
- Physical infrastructure and mentoring from the incubator
- Help building finance, HR and legal compliance capability, plus investor networking and showcase opportunities
Who can apply
- DPIIT-recognised startups incorporated not more than two years before applying
- Private limited companies, registered partnership firms or LLPs — not sole proprietorships, public limited companies or individuals without an entity
- Technology at the core of the product, service, business model, distribution or method
- At least 51 per cent Indian promoter shareholding, and turnover that has never exceeded the scheme's ceiling
- Not for businesses formed by splitting up or reconstructing an existing one, or for startups already carrying substantial support from another government scheme
How selection works: an Incubator Seed Management Committee assesses need, feasibility, potential impact, novelty, team strength and your plan for using the funds. Money is released in milestone-based instalments against progress updates and utilisation certificates.
How to apply: apply on the Startup India portal and select Ahmedabad University Support Foundation in the preferred incubator list.
Where to apply
Other Ahmedabad University programmes
- NIDHI Seed Support Programme (NIDHI-SSP)Seed investment for startups that have an MVP and want to reach the market, backed by the Department of Science and Technology.
- Government of Gujarat Startup SchemeState grant support for Gujarat-based founders and companies, with VentureStudio acting as an approved nodal institute.
- Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP)Gujarat's student innovation grant, open to any student, alumnus or dropout in the state up to age 35 — not only Ahmedabad University students.
- NIDHI-PRAYASPre-incubation prototyping grant for hardware innovators, currently closed — VentureStudio says it is not accepting applications.
- NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence (NIDHI-EIR)A monthly fellowship letting a founder work full time on a technology idea — currently closed to applications at VentureStudio.
- Custom student programmes and campus visitsWorkshops, innovation sprints, fellowships and group visits co-designed with colleges, student groups and ecosystem partners.