Karnavati Innovation and Incubation Foundation (KIIF)

Built to inspire, educate, and elevate, this curated platform supports early-stage women entrepreneurs through mentorship, business development, expert sessions, and market access. Throughout a focused multi-week cohort, selected founders receive hands-on guidance from top mentors, gain clarity on business fundamentals, sharpen their pitch, and explore funding and scaling opportunities, all within a supportive and women-first ecosystem. More than 96 applications were received during the Outreach of the Program. 21 startups pitched at the Finale for Various support such as funding, market access, and other handholding from the Various Incubators and Investors.

The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) is an initiative by the Government of India to strengthen the startup ecosystem by funding early-stage startups for: Proof of Concept (PoC), Prototype Development, Product Trials, Market Entry & Commercialization. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has allocated ₹945 Crore for this scheme, aiming to support 3,600 startups through 300 incubators over 4 years. Eligibility Criteria: Recognized by DPIIT and incorporated less than 2 years; A viable business idea with potential for commercialization and scalability; Must be tech-driven (technology-based product, service, or business model); At least 51% Indian shareholding (as per Companies Act, 2013 & SEBI Regulations, 2018). Funding Support: Up to ₹20 Lakhs as a grant for PoC, prototype development, or product trials; Up to ₹50 Lakhs as an investment (convertible debentures/debt instruments) for scaling and commercialization. Startups can avail both grant and investment support once as per scheme guidelines.

The Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS) program by the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) aims to scale and sustain the startup ecosystem in India, with a special focus on Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities. The government has allocated ₹490 Crore for this scheme, supporting 1,600 technology startups over 5 years. Eligibility Criteria: Startups in the ideation, validation, or early stages; Must not have received external funding exceeding ₹10 Lakhs; Focus on technology innovation, including Electronics & IT, Emerging Technologies (AI, IoT, Blockchain, etc.), Digital solutions for societal challenges (Health, Education, Agriculture, Sustainability); Potential for scalability and impact, especially in Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities. Funding Support: ₹10 Lakhs for early-stage startups – Entrepreneur in Residence; ₹40-50 Lakhs for pilot funding; ₹40-50 Lakhs with 1:1 private sector matching; Up to ₹1 Crore for Deep-Tech Startups.

The Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP), launched by the Government of Gujarat, aims to financially support young innovators from schools, colleges, and universities. This initiative helps students turn their innovative ideas into viable startups. Eligibility Criteria: Students up to 35 years from a Gujarat-based school, college, or university; Must have an innovative idea or prototype with commercial potential; Should not have received funding for the same idea from any other scheme. Funding: Eligible innovators can receive ₹2.5 Lakhs in funding, along with an additional ₹50,000 for IP (Intellectual Property) support to protect their innovations.

A task force was set up to design a new startup and innovation scheme aimed at strengthening Gujarat’s startup ecosystem. The policy focuses on encouraging R&D, innovation, and entrepreneurship, supporting startups at various stages of growth, and providing funding across multiple sectors. Eligibility Criteria: The startup/innovator must be registered and have substantial operations in Gujarat during assistance; A Registered Office Certificate (ROC) from Gujarat is mandatory; The applicant cannot be a promoter or hold more than 10% stake in another company/startup during application and approval; The startup/innovator must complete 1-2 months of pre-incubation or incubation at the Nodal Institute (NI) before applying. Funding Support: Seed Support: Up to ₹30 Lakhs for startups; Sustenance Allowance: ₹20,000 per month for startups (for 1 year), ₹25,000 per month for women-led startups (for 1 year); Soft Skills Training: Up to ₹1 Lakh per startup (on reimbursement basis); Social-Impact Startups: Additional ₹10 Lakhs for startups making a significant societal impact; Acceleration Program: Up to ₹3 Lakhs for participation in national/international acceleration programs.