DST NIDHI Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS)
A programme by KIIT-TBI
Seed support as a soft loan, equity or an equity-linked instrument for companies already incubated at KIIT-TBI.
At a glance
| Best for | Companies already incubated at KIIT-TBI with a product ready to sell |
|---|---|
| Stage | MVP – Growth |
| Duration | Debt: up to 12 months moratorium, 3-5 years repayment. Equity: 3-5 years. |
| Format | In person |
| Cost | Takes equity |
| Run with | Department of Science & Technology (DST), NSTEDB |
About DST NIDHI Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS)
NIDHI-SSS is an NSTEDB initiative for incubated companies that have a product ready to commercialise and need capital to reach the market. It is not an entry point — you must already be inside the incubator.
What you get
- Seed support as a soft loan, equity or an equity-linked instrument
- On the debt route, a moratorium of up to twelve months with repayment over three to five years; equity financing runs three to five years
Who can apply
- A company registered in India that has been resident in the TBI for at least three months
- An India-recognised startup
- A prototype or product ready for commercialisation
- Work in healthcare, agri tech, manufacturing, energy, IoT, AI/ML, fintech, clean tech, defence or other emerging technology
How selection works: A call window of about a month, a shortlist, a presentation to the selection committee, then the final list.
How to apply: Get incubated at KIIT-TBI first, then apply on the programme page when a 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 AcceleratorA six-month accelerator for startups past market validation, ending in an investor Demo Day. Registrations closed at the time of checking.
- 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.