Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), through FiiRE
A programme by FiiRE (Forum for Innovation Incubation Research)
FiiRE is a selected incubator under the DPIIT seed scheme, through which startups apply for proof-of-concept grants and later market-entry investment.
At a glance
| Best for | DPIIT-recognised startups under two years old that use technology in their core product |
|---|---|
| Stage | Idea – MVP |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) |
About Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), through FiiRE
The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme is a DPIIT scheme that works through selected incubators. FiiRE says it is one of them. A startup applies on the national SISFS portal and selects FiiRE Goa as its incubator. FiiRE's investments page marks its own programme as completed, but the scheme page still shows an apply button, so confirm the current position with FiiRE.
What you get
- Grant support to validate a proof of concept, build a prototype or run product trials, paid in milestone-based instalments
- Investment for market entry, commercialisation or scaling, through convertible debentures or debt and debt-linked instruments
Who can apply
- DPIIT-recognised startups incorporated within the past two years
- Indian promoters holding at least 51% when applying to the incubator
- A business idea with market fit and scope to scale
- Technology in the core product, service or model, with preference for biotechnology, healthcare and allied solutions
- No more than a stated limit of earlier Central or State Government support
- One scheme award per startup
How to apply: Apply on the national SISFS portal and select FiiRE Goa as the incubator.
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-PRAYASA DST grant to turn an innovative idea into a physical proof-of-concept prototype over 12 months, with mentorship, coworking and prototyping support.
- 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.
- 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.