herSTART

The program is open to all women who have innovative ideas, prototypes, or existing business ventures and want to take their efforts to the next stage. Shortlisted innovations are eligible for e-Certificate, Mentorship, Guidance and Networking, Access to government grants and private funding, Up to $20,000 in cloud credits, Dedicated co-working space for women, and Single-window startup support. Eligibility requires at least one woman as a promoter and the primary applicant to be a female Indian citizen. The program includes an Accelerator Program for shortlisted ideas.

The fund shall be utilised approximately over the next three years towards supporting startups within the GUSEC network and its incubation programs. While the fund will be deployed in startups across all major sectors, preference will be given to startups using technological innovations and interventions to create unique and scalable products.

This accelerator program supports ten technology startups working with breakthrough technologies like Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Robotics, AR/VR/MR, 3D Printing, UAVs, IoT and Blockchain. It offers financial assistance of INR 7 lacs to one startup, INR 4 lacs each to two startups, and INR 1 lac each to seven startups. The program also provides shortlisted startups with free cloud credits, access to co-working space, extensive mentorship support & guidance from seasoned entrepreneurship experts, as well as other prototype developing and skill enhancement tools.

The accelerator invites ideas and proposals from startups and innovators, which will be nurtured and developed into concrete business models with financial support. GUSEC aims to expedite various approvals and is partnering with healthcare and testing laboratories, getting medical experts on board as mentors. It has linkages with industry bodies like The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) to provide mentorship. The accelerator is supported by UNICEF and partners include Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Ahmedabad Smart City.

The scheme offers monthly sustenance allowance up to ₹20,000/month (enhanced to ₹25,000/month for women founders) for up to 1 year, a financial seed grant up to ₹30 Lakhs to build minimum viable prototypes, test machinery, and file patents, and an assistance grant up to ₹10 Lakhs for marketing, field testing, commercial launch campaigns, and trade exhibition deployments. The total grant capacity is up to ₹40 Lakhs. Eligibility requires the startup entity to be registered or incorporated in the State of Gujarat, hold recognition from the Govt of Gujarat / DPIIT as an innovative startup, and be actively incubated or endorsed through an approved Nodal Institute like GUSEC. The venture should demonstrate original IP, technology innovation, or scalable business deployment. Focus sectors include Smart Manufacturing, Clean Energy & EV, BioTech & Healthcare, AgriTech & Processing, IT/Software & AI, and Textiles & Chemicals.

The program aims to accelerate India’s contribution towards building the foundations of the metaverse and nurturing the development of Extended Reality (XR) technologies. It includes two components: an Accelerator and a Grand Challenge. The Accelerator will nurture 10 early-stage XR startups through a 6-month program, providing a grant of ₹20,00,000, mentorship, access to strategic partners and investors, and technology/infrastructure support. The Grand Challenge supports 20 early-stage innovators in XR (for Education, Learning and Skills), offering a grant of ₹50,000 and bootcamp access. Four of these 20 will receive further grants of ₹20,00,000 for MVP/prototype development, along with mentorship, access to partners/investors, and technology/infrastructure support.