MSME Idea Hackathon
A programme by AIC-RNTU Foundation
A Ministry of MSME innovation challenge that AIC-RNTU hosts through RNTU as the recognised Host Institute; its 5th edition closed at the end of July 2025.
At a glance
| Best for | Individual innovators, student teams, startups and MSMEs |
|---|---|
| Stage | Idea |
| Format | Hybrid |
| Cost | Free, no equity |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Rabindranath Tagore University (Host Institute) |
About MSME Idea Hackathon
The MSME Idea Hackathon is a national innovation challenge from the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises. Rabindranath Tagore University, Raisen, is an officially recognised Host Institute/Business Incubator for the challenge, run in association with AIC-RNTU Foundation. Its fifth edition closed for applications on 31 July 2025 and covered five themes: low-carbon-footprint solutions, stealth/surveillance/cyber-defence tech, Industry 4.0 and 5.0 adoption in MSMEs, business upliftment in coastal and hilly areas, and smart and resilient supply chains.
What you get
- Grant support, up to a stated cap, under the MSME Innovative Scheme
- Mentorship and incubation from AIC-RNTU
- Access to labs and co-working space
- Networking with industry experts, investors and policymakers
- Recognition from the Ministry of MSME
Who can apply: Individual innovators, student teams, startups and MSMEs with an innovative solution.
How selection works: Register on the government's MSME hackathon portal, select Madhya Pradesh as your state and RNTU Raisen as your Host Institute; shortlisted ideas pitch to an expert jury.
How to apply: Register at my.msme.gov.in/inc/Hackathon_Reg.aspx.
Where to apply
Other AIC-RNTU Foundation programmes
- IdeateA 10-week pre-incubation programme that helps idea-stage founders turn a concept into an MVP.
- DiscoverA 13-week hybrid incubation programme for early-stage startups working toward market entry and pre-seed or seed funding.
- GrowthAn accelerator for revenue-generating startups; AIC-RNTU's own pages give its length as both 10 and 12 weeks.
- Investment Ready Program (IRP)A 10-week programme, currently closed to applications, preparing revenue-generating startups to raise investment.
- Investment BridgeA recurring, sector-specific pitch day for revenue-generating startups; the open edition is scoped to deeptech and AI.
- GENESISMeitY's Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups scheme, delivered at AIC-RNTU through an EIR grant, an investment-matching grant, pilot funding, and deep-tech funding.
- NIDHI-Seed Support Program (NIDHI-SSP)DST's seed-support scheme for early-stage, primarily science-and-technology startups, delivered through AIC-RNTU; closed at the time of research.
- Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)DPIIT's national seed-fund scheme; AIC-RNTU is one of its implementing incubators.
- iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence)AIC-RNTU supports founders applying to the Ministry of Defence's iDEX scheme, across its DISC, iDEX Prime, Open Challenge and ADITI sub-schemes.
- SHEVolutionA 10-week pre-incubation track for women founders; the 2026 cohort's application status is unclear, with conflicting signals on the programme's own page.