NIDHI EIR (Entrepreneur in Residence)

NIDHI EIR is the NSTEDB fellowship for people who would otherwise take a high-paying job rather than start something. Bhau's own call for applications is currently closed, so check the programme page before planning around it. It runs for twelve to eighteen months depending on milestones, and the fellow is expected at the institute every Thursday.

What you get

• A monthly fellowship grant for the fellowship period
• Guidance from experienced entrepreneurs on the business concept, strategy and the industry
• End-to-end mentoring from idea validation to drafting the business plan
• Office space to develop the idea into a marketable product
• Help applying for government grants at a higher technology readiness level, and introductions into the funding and ecosystem network

Who can apply

• Indian citizens with a four-year undergraduate or postgraduate degree in science or engineering, or a three-year diploma or degree in those fields plus one to two years of full-time work experience
• Preference goes to women entrepreneurs, innovators under 35, business plans that can create manufacturing jobs, professionals with relevant industry experience, and people with a track record of invention or of volunteering to solve problems
• Software and SaaS projects are not considered
• Fellows must have no parallel income source, must attend institute events, and can use the fellowship only once

How selection works: on top of the national guidelines, Bhau weighs how unique the idea is, what sets it apart from competitors, whether it fits its domain focus, and how sustainable it is.

How to apply: download the guidelines and the sample application from the programme page and apply when the call reopens.