NIDHI i-TBI seed support for women-led startups

This is DTU-IIF's route under the Department of Science and Technology's NIDHI i-TBI scheme. It backs women-led technology startups through proof of concept, prototype development and product trials, and then through market entry and scaling using debt or convertible debentures. The aim is to get a startup to the point where it can raise from angels or venture funds, or borrow from a bank.

What you get

• Grant support for proof of concept, prototype development or product trials, released against milestones
• Debt or convertible debentures for market entry, commercialisation and scaling
• Structured mentoring alongside the money

Who can apply

• Startups with at least 51 per cent shareholding by women promoters at the time the grant is received
• Companies using technology in the core product, service, business model, distribution model or method
• Under the Ignition Grant rules: individual innovators aged 18 or over who are Indian citizens, or co-founders of a startup incorporated in India, at least 51 per cent Indian-held, no more than two years old, and under the stated turnover ceiling
• The prototype must be a physical product, buildable in twelve to fourteen months
• Not considered: purely software, e-commerce, service-only or app-only proposals; research or student internships inside an academic institution; products already past the prototype stage

How selection works: proposals come in through an open call, and a screening and monitoring committee evaluates them, picks the grantees and then monitors progress. Applications are judged on the need for the idea, feasibility, potential impact, novelty, team strength, the plan for using the funds, and the presentation. A legal agreement is signed before the first instalment, and a final report and audited utilisation certificate are due at the end. A rejected applicant can re-apply after three months.

How to apply: apply online from the scheme pages on the foundation's site when a call is open.