DST NIDHI Seed Support Program
A programme by Chitkara Innovation Incubator Foundation (Chitkara Innovation Incubator Foundation)
Seed investment for startups already incubated at CIIF, decided by its seed support committee and taken as equity or a convertible instrument.
At a glance
| Best for | Startups already incubated at CIIF for at least three months, with a validated product and a private limited company behind it |
|---|---|
| Stage | MVP – Early revenue |
| Format | In person |
| Cost | Free, takes equity |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | Department of Science & Technology (NIDHI) |
About DST NIDHI Seed Support Program
CIIF hosts this seed fund under the Department of Science and Technology's NIDHI programme. It is not a grant — CIIF invests and takes a stake, and the terms are set out plainly on its page.
What you get
- Seed investment, structured as equity, compulsorily convertible preference shares, compulsorily convertible debentures or debt, with the structure decided by CIIF's seed support management committee.
- Money usable for technology development and de-risking, scale-up, market entry, product development, mentoring, consultancy and intellectual property work. No more than a tenth of it may go to team salaries, and it cannot be used to repay loans, create personal assets, make inter-corporate deposits or benefit the promoters.
Who can apply
- A company registered in India, preferably already recognised by or applied to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
- You must have completed at least three months of association with CIIF's resident or virtual incubation programme, or be willing to be incubated at CIIF for three months first.
- Clarity on your unique selling proposition, proven through customer validation.
- At least 51 per cent shareholding held by Indian promoters. Overseas Citizens of India and Persons of Indian Origin count as Indian citizens here.
- Registered as a private limited company, with founders working on it full time, and willing to give up equity against the investment.
- Not an Indian subsidiary of a multinational or foreign company, and not already seed-supported by another incubation centre, centre of excellence or innovation hub in India.
- Preference goes to startups that have taken no central or state government money, that already have a commitment from an outside investor, and that have hardware-based products.
How selection works: a seed support management committee constituted by CIIF selects the startups and its decision is final. A term sheet and a shareholder agreement follow, equity is taken on a pre-money valuation, CIIF appoints a board nominee director or observer, and an exit is expected within three to five years. You report to the committee twice a year and share audited accounts annually.
How to apply: through the application link on the programme page. Details from ciif@chitkara.edu.in.
Where to apply
Other CIIF programmes
- CIIF Incubation ProgramCIIF's general, rolling intake for early-stage and growth-stage startups, in a resident or a virtual mode.
- NIDHI PRAYAS at CIIFPrototype grants for innovators building a physical product, run by CIIF under the DST NIDHI PRAYAS scheme. The last published deadline has passed.
- Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at CIIFCIIF is a portfolio incubator under the national Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, which supports proof of concept, prototyping, product trials and market entry.
- MeitY TIDE 2.0 Grant at CIIFA grant for turning a proof of concept into a prototype or minimum viable product, run by CIIF as a centre under MeitY's TIDE 2.0 scheme.
- MeitY TIDE 2.0 Entrepreneur in Residence at CIIFA monthly fellowship for graduates under 25 who want to test a startup idea full time, run by CIIF under MeitY's TIDE 2.0 scheme.
- MeitY GENESIS Entrepreneur in Residence at CIIFA fellowship for first-generation founders from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, run by CIIF as an approved partner incubator under MeitY's GENESIS scheme.
- MeitY GENESIS Pilot Funding Program at CIIFFunding to deploy a market-ready product on a pilot with a large buyer, for Tier-II and Tier-III city startups that already hold the purchase order.
- MeitY GENESIS Matching Investment Program at CIIFEquity-based matching investment for Tier-II and Tier-III city startups that already have an angel or venture capital commitment.
- Chitkara XceleratorCIIF's own three-month cohort accelerator, taking startups from development to go-to-market and ending in a demo day. Between intakes — the last published dates are from 2023.