SEED Fund
A programme by BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council)
BIRAC's first equity exposure for post-proof-of-concept biotech startups, deployed by partner BioNEST incubators.
At a glance
| Best for | Post-proof-of-concept biotech startups working with a partner BioNEST incubator |
|---|---|
| Stage | MVP – Early revenue |
| Cost | Free, takes equity |
About SEED Fund
SEED Fund — Sustainable Entrepreneurship And Enterprise Development — is for startups that have a proof of concept and now have to survive the stretch before angel money arrives. BIRAC positions it as a bridge between what the founders have put in and what an angel or venture investor will put in. It is equity, and BIRAC does not deploy it itself: sixteen BioNEST incubators act as SEED Fund partners and receive money per cycle to invest in startups. Partner incubators shown on the scheme page include Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre, C-CAMP, IKP, IKP-EDEN, SINE, FITT, riidl, KIIT, a-IDEA at NAARM, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, VIT, Venture Center, Golden Jubilee Women Biotech Park, Panjab University and the Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission.
What you get
- Equity capital positioned as a first outside investment, to get you ready for an angel round.
- The incubator relationship that comes with it, since the money is deployed through a BioNEST incubator.
Who can apply
- Post-proof-of-concept biotech startups with new and meritorious ideas, innovations and technologies.
- BIRAC's page sets out eligibility for incubators wanting to become SEED Fund partners, not for startups; the startup criteria sit in the scheme guidelines, so read those before you approach a partner.
How to apply: approach one of the SEED Fund partner incubators. There is no route to this money directly through BIRAC.
Where to apply
Other BIRAC programmes
- BIG — Biotechnology Ignition GrantBIRAC's flagship grant for early-stage biotech startups, funding the work of taking an idea to proof of concept over up to 18 months.
- i4 — SBIRI and BIPPCost-shared grant funding for Indian companies and LLPs with in-house R&D, from early validation through to pre-commercialisation.
- PACE — Promoting Academic Research Conversion to EnterpriseGrant funding for academic institutions to take research to proof of concept, and for an industry partner to validate it.
- SITARE — Students Innovations for Translation & Advancement of Research ExplorationsAward grants for student biotech projects with commercial potential, plus residential ignition schools for undergraduates.
- E-YUVAFellowships and research grants for students and young researchers, hosted at E-YUVA Centres inside universities and institutes.
- BioNEST — Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling TechnologiesBIRAC's scheme for funding bio-incubators — the network a biotech founder joins, though the application goes to the incubator, not to BIRAC.
- LEAP FundEquity for biotech startups moving from proof of concept to pilot and commercialisation, deployed by six partner incubators.
- Fund of Funds — AcEBIRAC invests in SEBI-registered alternative investment funds, which in turn invest in biotech startups and SMEs.
- SPARSH — Social Innovation Programme for ProductsFellowships and kick-start grants for biotech innovators working on affordable products for societal health. Currently between calls.
- Product Commercialization Program FundFunding for market launch and large-scale commercialisation of validated BIRAC-supported technologies. The call is currently closed.
- IP and Technology Management supportBIRAC's in-house IP cell offers patent searches, drafting and filing help, technology transfer and patent assistance funding to biotech startups, SMEs and academia.