Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at iHub – AWaDH
A programme by IIT Ropar Technology Innovation Foundation
Seed support for DPIIT-recognised startups, with a milestone-based grant for early validation and an investment route for market entry and scaling, applied for through the national portal.
At a glance
| Best for | DPIIT-recognised startups incorporated within the last two years, in the hub's deep-tech focus areas |
|---|---|
| Stage | Prototype – Early revenue |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | Startup India |
About Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at iHub – AWaDH
The hub is one of the incubators through which the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme is disbursed. The scheme is run nationally; the hub is where selected startups are incubated and where its money reaches them. The hub says it has funded 32 startups under the scheme.
What you get
- A milestone-based grant for validating a proof of concept, building a prototype or running product trials
- An investment route, through convertible debentures or debt-linked instruments, for market entry, commercialisation or scaling up
- Incubation support from the hub, whose focus areas include agriculture automation and information systems, livestock health, water treatment, soil assessment, hardware and deep tech
Who can apply
- Startups recognised by DPIIT
- Incorporated no more than two years before the date of application
How selection works: Applications are evaluated by the scheme's selection committee, followed by due diligence and a legal agreement.
How to apply: Apply online through the Startup India seed fund portal and choose up to three incubators in order of preference. List IIT Ropar Technology and Innovation Foundation among them.
Where to apply
Other IIT Ropar Technology Innovation Foundation programmes
- SPRINTRolling-intake programme that helps research ideas become early-stage startups and takes technology projects through validation, upgrading and commercialisation.
- SAMRIDHIThe hub's acceleration programme for cyber-physical-systems startups, built around an annual conclave where startups pitch to investors.
- MeitY GENESIS at IIT RoparThe hub's intake window for MeitY's GENESIS scheme for deep-tech startups in smaller cities; the last window closed on 5 November 2025.
- REAL – Real Estate Acceleration LaunchpadA sector accelerator run by Omaxe Limited with IIT Ropar for real estate, construction and PropTech startups; applications closed in June 2025.
- SWACH – Sanitation and Water Action for Conserving HumanityA programme for water and sanitation startups to build scalable models and become investment ready; applications closed in June 2024.
- WATER Innovation ChallengeA challenge for water and agriculture technologies with four problem statements, run with HDFC Parivartan in early 2024; winners received grants or investment.