NIDHI-PRAYAS
A programme by FiiRE (Forum for Innovation Incubation Research)
A DST grant to turn an innovative idea into a physical proof-of-concept prototype over 12 months, with mentorship, coworking and prototyping support.
At a glance
| Best for | Individual innovators and young startups building a first physical prototype |
|---|---|
| Stage | Idea – Prototype |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | Department of Science & Technology |
About NIDHI-PRAYAS
NIDHI-PRAYAS is a Department of Science & Technology grant, delivered through FiiRE, to help an innovator build a first physical prototype. It is meant for proof of concept: proposals for products that have already crossed the prototype stage are not eligible. FiiRE's page is for the 2024 edition and does not say whether applications are open.
What you get
- Grant support over a 12-month period
- Mentorship
- Coworking space
- Prototyping support
Who can apply
- Individual innovators aged 18 or over, with proof of Indian nationality; a team names a lead innovator
- Startups incorporated in India, with at least 51% Indian-citizen equity and less than seven years old, whose annual turnover has stayed under a stated cap since inception
- A new product with no prior funding from other agencies
- A physical, technology- or science-based prototype
- Ownership or usage rights over the IP
- Priority areas are manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, clean-tech, energy, water and IoT, and preference may go to women and young innovators
How to apply: Use the application form linked from the programme page. No deadline is stated.
Where to apply
Other FiiRE programmes
- FiiRE Incubation ProgrammeIncubation for early-stage TourismTech startups, with mentorship, workspace and access to investors, run from the Fatorda campus and the Margao centre.
- MeitY GENESIS EIR (Entrepreneur in Residence)A MeitY programme hosted by FiiRE Goa for first-generation tech entrepreneurs from Tier II and Tier III cities, marked as completed on FiiRE's investments page.
- NIDHI Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (NIDHI-EIR)A 12-month fellowship paid as a monthly stipend to a first-generation graduate entrepreneur with a technology business idea, with coworking space, mentorship and prototyping assistance.
- NIDHI Seed Support System (NIDHI-SS)DST seed support for TourismTech startups that have already spent at least three months in incubation at FiiRE; the page gives no instrument or intake window.
- Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), through FiiREFiiRE is a selected incubator under the DPIIT seed scheme, through which startups apply for proof-of-concept grants and later market-entry investment.
- MSME Idea Hackathon 5.0 (FiiRE as host institute)A national idea hackathon from the Ministry of MSME in which applicants could pick Don Bosco College of Engineering, Goa as their host institute; applications closed on 14 July 2025.
- Goa Tourism Accelerator (past cohorts)A 16-week incubation programme for TourismTech startups; the 2021 cohort drew more than 50 startups, 14 of which were incubated, and no current batch is listed.