IIT Mandi Catalyst

Ignite is Catalyst's entry-level programme for idea-stage founders who still need to validate their concept before building it out.

What you get

• Curated mentoring sessions and a structured workshop track: visioning, design thinking, target customers, minimum viable product, sustainable business models, and storytelling
• A demo day at the end of the programme to showcase progress
• Mentors and advisors matched to your industry background
• Monthly check-ins with the Catalyst team

Who can apply: Individuals or teams with an innovative, potentially disruptive idea or technology.

How to apply: Apply through the form linked on the Ignite Program page.

Exploration is for founders past the idea stage — already prototyping or building the product — who need structured support to get to something market-ready.

What you get

• A dedicated mentor matched to your industry
• A nine-part workshop track: goal setting, visioning, UI/UX, business model and value proposition, technology management, finance fundamentals, a legal clinic, patent and IP management, and funding schemes for startups
• A demo day at the end of the programme
• Monthly check-ins with the Catalyst team

Who can apply: Founders at the prototyping or product-development stage, past pure ideation.

How to apply: Apply through the form linked on the Exploration Program page.

Investment Readiness is for startups already at the commercialization stage and ready to raise capital to scale. Catalyst extends further support for a period after the programme structure ends, though any work needing extra manpower or outside sourcing is chargeable.

What you get

• Help building your investor narrative and pitch deck
• Financial modelling and projections support
• Go-to-market strategy work
• Guidance on the investment process, valuation and how investors evaluate a startup
• An eight-part workshop track covering competitive analysis, financial modelling, go-to-market strategy, pitch refinement, investment outreach, valuation, branding, and compliance and diligence readiness
• A dedicated mentor and fortnightly check-ins

Who can apply: Startups at the commercialization stage, ready to enter the market and raise investment for scaling.

How to apply: Apply through the form linked on the Investment Readiness Program page.

NIDHI-EIR is one of the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence programmes under DST's NIDHI umbrella, meant to offset the opportunity cost of a high-paying job for someone pursuing a promising technology business idea.

Who can apply

• Indian citizens with at least 4 years of full-time undergraduate or postgraduate education in science or engineering, or a 3-year degree/diploma plus 2 years of full-time post-degree work experience
• Cannot already be a promoter or hold more than 10% of another company at the time of applying or receiving support

What you get: A monthly stipend, not concurrent with any other remuneration or fellowship — recipients are expected to pursue the idea full time.

NIDHI-Prayas funds the idea-to-prototype journey for hardware innovators, with support running up to 18 months. Catalyst is an approved PRAYAS Centre under the national programme.

What you get

• Prototype-development grant funding
• Access to Prayashala, Catalyst's fabrication lab
• Technical mentorship and business guidance

Who can apply

• Indian citizens, minimum age 18
• Must already be physically incubated at IIT Mandi Catalyst
• Focus on science- and technology-based hardware innovation

How to apply: Applications are normally invited on a rolling basis, but the programme's own page currently shows applications closed — check back for the next window.

NIDHI-SSS provides seed funding aimed at product development and commercialization for startups on the DST NIDHI track.

What you get: Seed funding for product development and commercialization work.

Him Startup Yojana is sponsored by the HP Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, aimed at enabling the state's youth and existing or potential entrepreneurs to start their own enterprises.

What you get: Seed funding for product development and commercialization.

Who can apply: The scheme targets youth, existing and potential entrepreneurs of Himachal Pradesh.

TIDE 2.0 supports startups moving a valid proof of concept toward a prototype or MVP, with support running up to 12 months.

What you get

• Prototyping-stage funding
• Co-working space, mentoring and networking as part of holistic incubation support
• Support toward IPR filings

Who can apply

• Indian citizens with an idea in the scheme's focus areas: electronics and communication, healthcare, education, agriculture, financial inclusion, infrastructure and transportation, environment and clean tech, clean energy, and other emerging ICT-based areas
• Must already have a definite proof of concept to be developed further

The TIDE 2.0 EIR track supports individuals, students, innovators or startups developing and validating an idea up to a proof of concept; IP generated stays with the innovator or startup.

Who can apply

• Indian citizens with a government-approved proof of nationality
• Minimum 4 years of formal full-time undergraduate/postgraduate education in science or engineering, or a 3-year degree/diploma plus 2 years' full-time post-degree work experience
• Must commit full-time; cannot combine with the MeitY TIDE 2.0 Grant in parallel, and cannot be supported more than once under MeitY EIR

Sector focus: Healthcare, education, agriculture, financial inclusion, infrastructure and transportation, environment and clean tech, clean energy, and other emerging ICT-based areas including IoT, AI, blockchain and robotics.

SISFS is a DPIIT scheme that helps startups reach a level where they can raise investment from angel investors or venture capitalists, or seek loans from financial institutions.

Who can apply

• Must be DPIIT-recognised
• Incorporated not more than 2 years before application
• An innovative, technology-driven idea with commercial viability and scalability
• At least 51% shareholding by Indian promoters
• Should not already have received more than a set cap in monetary support from another Central or State government scheme, excluding certain exclusions such as subsidised workspace or lab access
• Can avail SISFS support only once as a grant and once through debt or convertible debentures

CPS-Prayas runs through IIT Mandi's iHub and HCI Foundation, a Technology Innovation Hub set up under India's National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, and focuses on the idea-to-prototype journey.

What you get

• Grant funding, over an engagement of 6 to 18 months
• Access to IIT Mandi's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and physical resources
• Guidance on product development, commercialization and market strategy
• Workspace access, based on availability

Who can apply: Individuals or startups at the idea-to-prototype stage; full-time students can apply with a no-objection certificate from their institution. IP generated stays with the innovator.

CPS-SSS is focused on the commercialization of products developed by startups already in the incubation programme, disbursed as a soft loan, against equity, or a combination of both.

Who can apply

• Registered private company, at least 51% Indian promoter shareholding (not for Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies)
• Minimum three months' incubation at the TBI at the time of the selection committee meeting
• Can be funded only once under this scheme

How selection works: Disbursed only on the recommendation of a Seed Support Management Committee constituted by the incubator.

CPS-EIR offers monthly financial support to individuals exploring a business idea full-time, running up to a year and extendable to 18 months for strong candidates.

What you get

• Monthly financial support, not concurrent with other remuneration or fellowship
• Access to IIT Mandi's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem
• Guidance on product development, commercialization, business concepts and market strategy
• Workspace access, based on availability

Who can apply: Individuals exploring a business idea full-time, whether first-time or repeat entrepreneurs. Support is discontinued once outside funding is raised, and recipients must spend the large majority of their time on the idea itself.

How selection works: Progress is evaluated at least quarterly by the incubator.

The CPS-Accelerator is a short, individualized programme for startups working in human-computer interaction (HCI) that already have revenue or seed funding, aimed at fixing operational weak points and reaching a larger market. It runs through IIT Mandi's iHub and HCI Foundation, a Technology Innovation Hub set up under India's National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems.

What you get

• Funding for top-selected startups
• Access to advanced lab facilities
• Expert guidance through a structured, competitive mentoring programme
• Piloting opportunities and corporate connects
• Government connects

Who can apply

• Startup registered in India with majority Indian shareholders
• Working in the human-computer interaction area — spanning environment, healthcare, IT, and defence and security applications
• At the MVP or post-MVP stage
• Has established revenue streams and/or has raised seed funding

Catalyst's incubated startups can receive a monthly sustenance allowance through the HP Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, for up to a year.

Who can apply: Must be an incubated startup at Catalyst with a fully developed prototype; disbursement is subject to Himachal Pradesh's own startup policy.

The GENESIS EIR track backs first-generation entrepreneurs and full-time students at the ideation through working-prototype stage, with priority given to Tier-II and Tier-III city applicants.

Who can apply

• Indian citizen, at least 18 years old
• First-generation entrepreneur committed full-time, or a full-time undergraduate/postgraduate student
• Idea must be original, focused on electronics & IT or emerging technologies (AI/ML, IoT, VLSI/semiconductors, cybersecurity, blockchain, quantum computing, AR/VR/spatial tech)
• Startup must not have received significant external funding already, and must be physically incubated at the centre
• If incorporated, must be a private limited company or LLP not older than two years
• Must not already be onboarded with another Enabling Partner under GENESIS

The GENESIS Investment component helps startups with a validated solution and proof of concept raise investment and scale, connecting them with customers, investors and markets over a structured six-month programme (covering design thinking and product-market fit; go-to-market and unit economics; scalable technology and compliance; customer segmentation and valuation; fundraising documentation; and a closing demo day and investor connect).

What you get

• A matching grant tied to external funds the startup has already raised, taken as equity — government grants are not counted toward the match
• Monthly one-to-one business and technology mentoring
• Support preparing investor-readiness documents such as a cap table, shareholders' agreement and term sheet
• Investor connections, both virtual and in person

Who can apply

• Registered Indian private limited company, at least 51% Indian ownership
• Registered in a Tier-II or Tier-III city
• Holds a valid DPIIT certificate
• Working on a technology-based product or software

The GENESIS Pilot component helps startups validate and demonstrate market-ready solutions through pilot projects with corporates, PSUs and large enterprises, bridging the gap between an MVP and commercialization.

What you get

• Milestone-based or tranche-based funding for the pilot
• Support from Enabling Partners: access to labs, prototyping equipment and workspace; periodic mentoring by domain, business and IP experts; business connects with corporates, investors and government agencies; and compliance and documentation support

Who can apply

• DPIIT-registered startup
• Working in ICT-related domains: IT and AI, electronic design and manufacturing, or deeptech products
• Has an MVP or working prototype, a viable business plan, and a full-time founder or co-founder
• Already holds a pilot work order or purchase order from an eligible corporate, PSU or unicorn
• Must not already be a beneficiary of TIDE 2.0 scale-up or SAMRIDH