Goa Startup Accelerator Program
A programme by Goa Startup Mission
A five-month, mentor-led accelerator for MVP-stage startups registered or working in Goa, ending in a Demo Day. Free for selected startups.
At a glance
| Best for | Startups registered in Goa or working in Goa, from any sector, with a working MVP and high growth potential. |
|---|---|
| Stage | MVP – Growth |
| Duration | 5 months |
| Cost | Free |
About Goa Startup Accelerator Program
The Goa Startup Accelerator Program is run by the Startup and IT Promotion Cell for startups at the MVP stage and beyond, with a focus on growth and go-to-market work. The 2025 call closed in September 2025. The site announces no new intake, so check the page before planning around it. The page gives the 2025 run as September 2025 to January 2026, while a news report in February 2026 said the programme was launched in Panaji and would run from February to June 2026.
What you get
- One-on-one mentorship
- Expert-led masterclasses
- Regular progress reviews
- A Demo Day with access to investors and corporates
- No fee for selected startups. The page does not state any cash grant
Who can apply
- Startups registered in Goa or working in Goa
- Startups from any sector that have a working MVP and high growth potential
How selection works: Startups applied openly or were nominated. An expert selection committee of incubators, industry associations and other stakeholders chose about 30 startups.
How to apply: The 2025 call used an online registration link published by the cell, open from 22 July to 10 September 2025. No current call is published.
Where to apply
Other Goa Startup Mission programmes
- Seed Capital SchemeA one-time grant to a certified startup to build its first product, decided by the cell after a panel presentation.
- Salary Reimbursement SchemePays back part of the salaries a certified startup has already paid to local freshers, or to a mostly local workforce, for up to three years.
- Co-Working, Incubator and Accelerator Subsidy SchemePays back half the seat fees a certified startup has already paid at a co-working space, incubator or accelerator on the cell's list.
- Operating Expense Reimbursement for Leased or Privately Owned PremisesPays back internet, software-licence and cloud costs, plus a lease-rent subsidy for local startups in rented premises.
- IPR Reimbursement SchemePays back IP application fees and related costs a certified startup has already paid, whether or not the IP is registered.
- Trademark Reimbursement SchemePays back half the cost a certified startup has already paid to register its company name and logo as trademarks.
- R&D Reimbursement SchemePays back half of research and development spending, including PhD and Master's-level salaries, for two years.
- Grant for Incubation Centres within Educational InstitutesA capital grant to set up an incubator on a Goa campus, plus a yearly operating grant for existing ones. For institutions, not founders.
- Skill Development Promotion SchemeSubsidies for private technical-training institutes that open learning centres in Goa. For training businesses, not founders.
- Goa Open Innovation ChallengeA problem-statement challenge where winners pilot their solution with the Goa government or industry. Open to startups across India and Goa students. The 2025 edition has ended.