Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)

IIMUIC runs this with Rajeevika, Rajasthan's rural livelihoods body, under the non-farm arm of the central DAY-NRLM mission. It aims to build up 150 existing enterprises run by self-help groups into larger, lasting businesses. The application process for the current round is stated as complete. The programme page is written entirely in Hindi.

What you get

• Leadership and business capability development
• Help improving product quality and design through experts
• Support expanding the business and reaching new opportunities
• Networking with potential customers, partners and industry experts
• Financial support as a grant or an interest-free soft loan, repaid over three years after a six-month moratorium
• Business plan help, training, licensing support, market access, branding and digital training

Who can apply

• Enterprises in non-agricultural manufacturing or services; trading businesses, direct farming and small backyard activities are excluded
• Women-owned individual enterprises and women-led group enterprises above a stated minimum annual income
• The applicant must be a self-help group member or a family member of one, with at least a year of membership and a meeting attendance record
• Sectors in focus are food processing, handicrafts, manufacturing and rural services

How selection works: a jury picks on the business's capacity to grow. Selected enterprises are expected to grow revenue by at least 15% a year and to employ around three or four people. At least two thirds of the enterprises supported must be women's, individual enterprises are capped at half the cohort, and at least a tenth of participants come from remote areas, meaning 50 km or more from a town.

How it runs: support lasts at least 18 months within a three-year project. Enterprises put in a quarter of the cost themselves, and the money can go on machinery, equipment and working capital but not on land or buildings. Training is free.

How to apply: Through the application link on the programme page when a round opens. Note the page gives two different closing dates in two places.