NIDHI PRAYAS at CIIF

PRAYAS is the earliest-stage money CIIF handles: it is meant to take an idea to a working prototype, and it is one of the few routes here open to an individual rather than a company. The last deadline published on the page has passed, so treat it as between intakes and email before you start.

What you get

• A prototyping grant, plus access to CIIF's infrastructure and its mentors. Support can run up to 18 months.

Who can apply

• An Indian citizen with government-issued proof of nationality, at least 18 years old on the date of application.
• An individual innovator, a team, a startup, or an employee or student of an academic or research institution. A startup must be under seven years from incorporation with turnover no higher than the scheme's ceiling in any year since it started. An employee or student needs a no-objection certificate from their institution covering both permission to apply and ownership of the intellectual property.
• The project must involve physical product development. Ideas that are purely software or app development are not eligible, and neither is pure academic research.
• You must own the project know-how and the intellectual property, and be fully committed to the prototype rather than treating the support as a stopgap.
• You may take PRAYAS only once, and not in parallel with a NIDHI entrepreneur-in-residence fellowship.
• Preference goes to women innovators and young innovators, and to innovators who have put in part of the project cost themselves or secured a co-investment commitment.

How selection works: applications are screened on innovation, potential for commercialisation and startup creation, and team capability and commitment. CIIF says screening usually takes four to six weeks from the close of applications, and the screening committee's decision is final.

How to apply: through the application link on the programme page. Questions go to prayas@chitkara.edu.in.