Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at DTU-IIF
A programme by DTU Innovation and Incubation Foundation (DTU-IIF)
DTU-IIF is one of the incubators you can name on the national Startup India seed fund application, for DPIIT-recognised startups incorporated within the last two years.
At a glance
| Best for | DPIIT-recognised startups incorporated within the last two years |
|---|---|
| Stage | Prototype – Early revenue |
| Format | In person |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | Startup India, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade |
About Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at DTU-IIF
The national seed fund scheme supports startups through proof of concept, prototype development and product trials with a grant, and through market entry, commercialisation and scaling with debt or convertible debentures. DTU-IIF publishes a list of the companies it selected under the scheme in 2025.
What you get
- Grant support for proof of concept, prototype development and product trials, released against milestones
- Debt or convertible debentures for market entry, commercialisation and scaling up
- A startup can take each form of support once
Who can apply
- Startups recognised by DPIIT and incorporated no more than two years ago at the time of applying
- A business idea with market fit, viable commercialisation and room to scale
- Technology in the core product, service, business model, distribution model or method
- At least 51 per cent Indian promoter shareholding
- Startups that have not already taken more than the scheme's ceiling of support from another central or state scheme
How selection works: you apply online and can name up to three incubators. A selection committee judges the need for the idea, feasibility, potential impact, novelty, the team, the plan for using the funds, and your presentation. The incubator signs a legal agreement with you before the first disbursement. You can re-apply three months after a rejection.
How to apply: apply on the national Startup India seed fund portal and pick DTU-IIF among your incubator choices.
Where to apply
Other DTU Innovation and Incubation Foundation (DTU-IIF) programmes
- DTU-IIF Incubation ProgrammeThe foundation's main incubation door, open to early-stage founders building technology-driven ventures, with no requirement to be from the university.
- NIDHI i-TBI seed support for women-led startupsA Department of Science and Technology route giving milestone-based grant support to women-led technology startups, with its own Ignition Grant guidelines for building a physical prototype.
- Co-Innovation Centre with IHFC, IIT DelhiA deep-tech centre on the DTU campus run jointly with I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics at IIT Delhi, which mentors and reviews proposals for IHFC's funding calls.
- YUKTI route for DTU innovatorsThe campus-only path: DTU students, alumni, faculty and staff submit ideas to the national YUKTI repository, and verified entries are referred into DTU-IIF for incubation.
- MSME Innovative Scheme guidanceGuidance, not a programme of its own — DTU-IIF helps innovators and MSMEs navigate the Ministry of MSME's own incubation, design and IPR scheme.
- Women in Tech incubation programme (2024) — closedA past women-led cohort under the DST route, now closed — useful as a guide to what a future call may look like.
Everything about DTU Innovation and Incubation Foundation (DTU-IIF)