DST NIDHI Accelerator
A programme by KIIT-TBI
A six-month accelerator for startups past market validation, ending in an investor Demo Day. Registrations closed at the time of checking.
At a glance
| Best for | Growth and scale-up stage startups with market validation, looking for investor access |
|---|---|
| Stage | Early revenue – Growth |
| Duration | 6 months |
| Format | In person |
| Run with | Department of Science & Technology (DST) |
About DST NIDHI Accelerator
This is the growth-stage programme. It is built for startups that have already made progress on market validation and want structured mentoring plus investor access, and it has run at least three cohorts at KIIT-TBI.
What you get
- Six months of masterclasses, an investor connect series and networking events
- Deep mentoring and access to funding and market networks
- An Investor Meet Demo Day at the end, for investment conversations and collaborations
Who can apply
- Startups at growth and scale-up stage that have made significant progress on market validation
- Work in healthcare, agri tech, IoT, AI/ML, AR/VR, waste management, industrial biotech or manufacturing
How selection works: The call opens with outreach and a month-long application window, then an eligibility check, expert screening, onboarding and MoU signing, then the six-month accelerator phase, then Demo Day.
How to apply: Register on the programme page when the call opens.
Where to apply
Other KIIT-TBI programmes
- Incubation at KIIT-TBIThe always-open route into KIIT-TBI: physical or virtual incubation, with or without funding assistance.
- Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)KIIT-TBI is a disbursing incubator for the national seed fund, which accepts applications all year through the Startup India portal.
- DST NIDHI PRAYASA twelve-month product development grant for turning an innovative idea into a working prototype. Between calls at the time of checking.
- DST NIDHI EIR (Entrepreneur-in-Residence)A twelve-month monthly fellowship so a graduate can work full-time on a technology business idea. Between calls at the time of checking.
- DST NIDHI Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS)Seed support as a soft loan, equity or an equity-linked instrument for companies already incubated at KIIT-TBI.
- MeitY TIDE 2.0 GrantA twelve-month grant-in-aid to take a proof of concept to a prototype or MVP. Between calls at the time of checking.
- MeitY TIDE 2.0 EIRA twelve-month prototype development fellowship for individuals moving from concept to a working prototype. Between calls at the time of checking.
- MeitY SAMRIDH AcceleratorA six-month accelerator with matching investment for product startups ready to scale. Closed at the time of checking.
- GENESIS EiR (Entrepreneur-in-Residence)A twelve-month deep-tech grant for founders from Tier II and Tier III cities, run under MeitY's GENESIS centre at KIIT-TBI.
- BIRAC Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG)BIRAC's early-stage biotech grant, run over 18 months. Call-25 was open at the time of checking.
- BIRAC BIG North EastA special BIG call for the North East, run over 24 months. Closed at the time of checking.
- BIRAC SEED FundEquity-based investment for life science companies with a proof of concept and a prior round behind them. Closed at the time of checking.
- BIRAC LEAP FundEquity-based investment to pilot and commercialise a life science product at technology readiness level 7 or above. Closed at the time of checking.
- Social Innovation Immersion Program (SIIP)An eighteen-month BIRAC fellowship for young social innovators, run through KIIT-TBI's SPARSH centre.
- iDEX Partner Incubator (defence innovation)KIIT-TBI is an iDEX partner incubator, supporting defence innovators through the Ministry of Defence's challenge programmes.
- Boeing University Innovation Leadership Development (BUILD)Boeing's national student and pre-seed competition, run in India with KIIT-TBI as partner.