SARTHI fellowship
A programme by InFED, IIM Nagpur
A one-year fellowship for founders from Maharashtra's Maratha and Kunbi communities, run at InFED for the SARTHI institute.
At a glance
| Best for | Maharashtra founders from the Maratha and Kunbi communities with a technology business idea |
|---|---|
| Stage | Idea – Prototype |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Format | In person |
| Cost | Free, no equity |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | SARTHI, Government of Maharashtra |
About SARTHI fellowship
SARTHI is a Government of Maharashtra institute, and InFED runs its entrepreneurship fellowship in Nagpur. It held a SARTHI graduation ceremony in July 2026, and one portfolio company is tagged as supported under it.
What you get
- A monthly grant for a year, plus cloud credits
- Office space, administrative support and co-working space
- Guidance from experienced entrepreneurs on the business concept, strategy and market, and help broadening your professional network
Who can apply
- Permanent residents of Maharashtra from the Maratha, Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha or Maratha-Kunbi communities, with the relevant school leaving or caste certificate
- An income certificate or non-creamy-layer certificate, with annual family income under the stated ceiling
- Graduates, with their own technology business idea, ready to turn it into a scalable startup within a year
- You must not have had financial benefit from SARTHI before, and you must pursue the venture full time during the support period
How selection works: applicants submit and present a formal business plan and investment proposal.
How to apply: through the application link on InFED's programmes page.
Where to apply
Other InFED, IIM Nagpur programmes
- Incubation at InFEDA three-year incubation programme for DPIIT-recognised startups under two years old, paced by quarterly reviews.
- Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)The DPIIT seed fund, delivered through InFED as one of the scheme's selected incubators.
- GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR)MeitY's entrepreneur-in-residence support for early innovators in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, run at InFED.
- GENESIS Investment ComponentA six-month investment-readiness accelerator for market-ready Tier-II and Tier-III startups, delivered through InFED for MeitY Startup Hub.
- NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence (NIDHI-EIR)A twelve-month fellowship for first-generation technology founders, run at InFED under the DST NSTEDB programme.
- Business Accelerator Program for SC-ST Entrepreneurs and their WardsA capacity-building accelerator for SC and ST entrepreneurs, run at InFED in cohorts — currently between intakes.
- HDFC Parivartan Start-up GrantsHDFC Bank's annual grant for social-impact startups, one of the routes InFED's portfolio companies have used.
- Incubation cum Business Facilitation Centres (IBFC)District centres run with local administrations in Gondia and Wardha, with coordinators also posted in Bhandara and Gadchiroli.
- RAMP — Raising and Accelerating MSME PerformanceA three-year MSME capacity-building mandate across eleven Maharashtra districts, run with the state nodal agency MSSIDC.
- Wardhini Cluster Accelerator ProgramA capacity-building accelerator for self-help groups across the Wardha region.