StartupGrants India
Startup Karnataka
Government

Startup Karnataka

Department of Electronics, IT, BT & S&T, Government of Karnataka

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Government of Karnataka's flagship startup initiative offering grants up to ₹50 lakh through ELEVATE and Idea2PoC.

5Programs
Official website

Programs by Startup Karnataka

1 open now · 4 past

Open now

Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program 2026

under Karnataka Startup Policy
by Startup Karnataka
Up to ₹3L
Past programs

Programmes they run

Standing programmes at Startup Karnataka, separate from the funding calls above.

Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program (RGEP)

Fellowship

An early-stage funding program that nurtures ideas and innovations to promote innovative endeavors, startups initiated by students or entrepreneurs.

RGEP aims at supporting 30 innovators identified through a selection process, through a monthly stipend/subsistence grant of ₹25,000 for a period of 12 months, helping them survive the uncertainties during the phase of ideation. It typically concludes with Prototype / Minimum Viable Product (MVP) / Proof of Concept that has business potential. The proposed concept/product/service must not have been introduced to the market in any form. Eligibility criteria includes: Indian citizen (domicile of Karnataka), 3 or 4-year science/engineering degree, not employed, no stake in other startups, 30 or younger, solely dedicated for 12 months. Not received >₹5 lakh cumulatively from central/state govt/private grants. No revenue from any product/service. Idea must be early ideation to early prototype development.

Programme page

Local Economy Accelerator Program (LEAP)

Accelerator

A ₹1000 crore, 5-year initiative launched by the Government of Karnataka to supercharge regional entrepreneurship, decentralize innovation, and amplify growth across the state's emerging tech clusters.

LEAP is designed to catalyze over 5 lakh new jobs, deep-tech breakthroughs, and global visibility by empowering six key clusters with targeted funding, grassroots ecosystem-building, and structured acceleration mechanisms. Approved with an outlay of INR 1,000 crore over five years, with an allocation of INR 200 crore for the current financial year. It comprises 16 strategic components including Karnataka Startup Foundry, Fund of Funds, ELEVATE NXT grant, 6 Centers of Excellence, Elevate Beyond Bengaluru, Incubators and Accelerators, Growth Labs, Innovation Labs, Prototype Labs, Innovation Events, Hackathons, Bootcamps, Digital Clinics, Critical Research Fund, Event Participation, and Marketing tools.

Programme page

Beyond Bengaluru Cluster Seed Fund

Grant scheme

A financial support program for early-stage startups established outside Bangalore city, dedicated to emerging technology clusters like Mysuru, Hubballi, and Mangaluru.

The government provides financial support through this fund to enable startups to scale up in emerging technology clusters like Mysuru, Hubballi, and Mangaluru.

Programme page

Fund of Funds

Grant scheme

A Venture Capital Fund of Rs. 100.00 Crores to support new emerging and broad technology startups in AI, ML, EV, Med-Tech, Robotics, Drones, and other difficult technologies.

The government provides funds through this Venture Capital Fund of Rs. 100.00 Crores to support new emerging and broad technology startups in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Electric Vehicles, Med-Tech, Robotics, Drones, and other such difficult technologies across all sectors.

Programme page

Elevate

Grant scheme

A program to identify and nurture innovative startups and provide necessary encouragement at various stages through funding or mentorship.

New Age Innovation Network 2.0 (NAIN 2.0)

Platform

A scheme implemented by the department to create a system that promotes innovations in educational institutions.

Vescelate

Programme

A program supporting and growing early-stage women entrepreneurs.

Priority Market Access (PMA)

Programme

A program promoting the growth of innovators by encouraging their participation in public procurement processes.

Labs & facilities

Equipment and space on campus.

K-Tech Innovation Hubs

CPDMed TBI

Access via IISc

INCeNSE TBI

Access via IISc

TBI at CeNSE

Access via IISc

Manipal Government of Karnataka Bioincubator

Access via Manipal

LEAP Incubators and Accelerators

LEAP Growth Labs

Offering plug-and-play workspaces for emerging ventures.

LEAP Innovation Labs

Planned for establishment across schools and colleges in Beyond Bengaluru regions, nurturing creativity among students by bringing STEM capabilities.

LEAP Prototype Labs

Support services

Help offered alongside funding and space.

Business advisoryMarket accessLegal & finance

About Startup Karnataka

Overview

Startup Karnataka is the Government of Karnataka's flagship startup ecosystem brand, executed by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) under the Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T. It is widely regarded as one of India's most active state-level startup programs, having backed hundreds of early-stage technology startups since 2015.

Programs

The marquee initiative is ELEVATE (formerly Idea2PoC) — an annual grant-in-aid challenge that disburses non-dilutive grants of up to ₹50 lakh to innovative, technology-driven startups headquartered in Karnataka. ELEVATE runs multiple tracks each year:

  • ELEVATE (General) — open cohort for innovative startups across all sectors
  • ELEVATE Unnati — exclusively for SC/ST-led startups
  • ELEVATE Shakti — exclusively for women-led startups
  • ELEVATE Aspire — Beyond Bengaluru track for startups based outside Bengaluru Urban
  • ELEVATE Minorities — for minority-led startups as defined under Karnataka jurisdiction

Startup Karnataka also runs NXT (the next-gen track for deep-tech and emerging sectors), sector-specific accelerators, and the Karnataka Startup Cell that connects founders with government departments and academia.

Funding & Support

Grants are pure grants-in-aid — no equity dilution. Alongside capital, selected startups get incubation support at recognised Karnataka incubators, structured mentoring, market access to government and corporate buyers, and follow-on VC introductions through the Karnataka Government's venture network.

Eligibility

Startups must be registered (Pvt Ltd, LLP, or partnership) in Karnataka, be less than 10 years old, have turnover under ₹100 crore, and be working on innovative products/services. Specific tracks have additional eligibility based on founder demographics or location.

Track Record

Since inception, ELEVATE has funded 600+ startups with grants totalling over ₹150 crore, with portfolio companies going on to raise meaningful follow-on capital from VC investors. Apply through the official portal at eitbt.karnataka.gov.in.

Who Should Apply

Karnataka-incorporated startups with a working prototype or early traction, looking for non-dilutive grant capital plus government ecosystem access.

Who they work with

Stage

Sectors

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