MSME Idea Hackathon 5.0
A programme by FiiRE, Goa (Forum for Innovation Incubation Research)
Ministry of MSME idea hackathon with Don Bosco College of Engineering as Host Institute — the 2025 window has closed.
At a glance
| Best for | Indian innovators, MSMEs and students with an idea for the MSME sector |
|---|---|
| Stage | Idea |
| Format | Online |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | Ministry of MSME |
About MSME Idea Hackathon 5.0
FiiRE promoted the Ministry of MSME's fifth idea hackathon, where applicants pick a host institute for local evaluation, mentoring and incubation. Applications ran from 27 June to 14 July 2025 and that window has closed; FiiRE's listing page still tags it active, so watch for a sixth edition rather than trusting the label.
What you get
- Grant support for approved ideas, plus mentoring and incubation under the Ministry's scheme
Who can apply
- Any person of Indian origin aged 18 to 60
- Registered MSMEs with a Udyam Registration Number
- Students with a valid student ID for the academic year
- Freelancers, researchers and independent innovators
Themes were low-carbon solutions, Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies, resilient supply chains, surveillance and cyber defence, and sustainability in coastal and hilly areas. Ideas had to show at least one of eight innovation processes, and the same person could not be both incubatee and mentor.
How to apply: on the Ministry's innovation portal, choosing Don Bosco College of Engineering as Host Institute and Goa as the state, then uploading documents and the proposal.
Where to apply
Other FiiRE programmes
- Incubation at FiiRE GoaThe standing incubation programme for early-stage tourism, hospitality and travel startups in Goa.
- NIDHI Seed SupportDepartment of Science & Technology seed support for startups already incubated at FiiRE and ready to commercialise.
- NIDHI PRAYASPrototype grant for idea-stage innovators building a physical product, over a twelve-month window.
- NIDHI Entrepreneurs in ResidenceTwelve-month fellowship paying a monthly stipend to a first-generation entrepreneur with a technology business idea.
- MeitY GENESIS EiR ProgramEntrepreneur-in-Residence programme with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, for first-generation founders from Tier II and Tier III cities.
- Startup India Seed Fund SchemeDPIIT seed fund route with FiiRE as the selected incubator — currently marked completed on its site.
- HDFC Parivartan SmartUp GrantsSocial-impact grant programme with HDFC Bank Parivartan — marked completed on FiiRE's site.
- FiiREWork coworkingMonthly desks and managed offices at three sites in Goa, open to founders, teams and freelancers.