MeitY GENESIS
A programme by Foundation for Technology & Business Incubation (FTBI), NIT Rourkela
MeitY Startup Hub's scheme for startups in smaller Indian cities, with a matching-investment route and a pilot-project route, hosted at FTBI.
At a glance
| Best for | DPIIT-recognised startups in Tier-II and Tier-III cities with a market-ready product or a signed pilot order |
|---|---|
| Stage | MVP – Growth |
| Format | Hybrid |
| Cost | Takes equity |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | MeitY Startup Hub |
About MeitY GENESIS
GENESIS is a MeitY Startup Hub scheme that FTBI hosts for startups based in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. It has two separate components and an entrepreneur-in-residence round, each with its own call and its own closing date.
What you get
- Matching equity investment against private money you have already raised, on the investment route
- Funding to run a pilot with a corporate, PSU or large enterprise, on the pilot route
- Structured acceleration, mentoring and investor engagement sessions
- Guidance on fundraising, financial structuring and market expansion
Who can apply
- Indian private limited companies with at least 51% Indian ownership and a valid DPIIT certificate
- The company must be registered in a Tier-II or Tier-III city
- Technology product or software startups in deep tech, AI/ML, cybersecurity, IoT, blockchain, fintech, ed-tech or health-tech
- Investment route: a market-ready product, preferably already earning, with a private investor interested
- Pilot route: a working prototype and a valid purchase or work order from a government ministry, state department, PSU, Fortune 500 company or recognised unicorn
- At least one founder must be full time
- Startups in a legal dispute, or already funded under TIDE 2.0 scale-up or SAMRIDH, cannot apply
How selection works: eligibility is checked hard against the gates above. Preference goes to startups with patents filed or granted.
How to apply: each call has its own application link on FTBI's GENESIS page. Both current calls close in September 2026.
Where to apply
Other Foundation for Technology & Business Incubation (FTBI), NIT Rourkela programmes
- Incubation at FTBIOn-campus incubation at NIT Rourkela, open to outside founders as well as the institute's own students, alumni and faculty.
- FTBI-TEXMiN Mining CPS Centre of Excellence grantsThree grants for mining and cyber-physical systems work, run with the TEXMiN Foundation and open only to people affiliated with NIT Rourkela.
- MCL Seed FundSeed capital from Mahanadi Coalfields' corporate social responsibility budget, for companies already incubated at FTBI.
- MeitY TIDE 2.0MeitY's technology incubation scheme, with an entrepreneur-in-residence track and a prototyping grant — currently between intakes.
- DST NIDHI-PRAYASA prototype grant for individual innovators and very early startups building a physical product — currently between intakes.
- DST NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-ResidenceA DST fellowship for first-generation founders leaving a job or a degree to work on a technology business full time — currently between intakes.
Everything about Foundation for Technology & Business Incubation (FTBI), NIT Rourkela