Government Funding Schemes

National hackathon under the MSME Innovative Scheme to validate and incubate innovative ideas, with up to Rs. 15 lakh per approved idea provided to the Host Institute.

Central government mission funding 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) across premier Indian institutes to drive research, startup incubation, and seed investment in cyber-physical systems and emerging technologies like IoT, AI, robotics, and more.

DST stipend program placing early-stage innovators in NIDHI-empanelled Technology Business Incubators for up to 12 months

DST pre-incubation grant up to ₹10 lakh for proof-of-concept development, channeled through NIDHI-empanelled EIR hubs and TBIs

Central programme supporting student innovation and entrepreneurship, run in recurring calls

NXP Semiconductors challenge for Indian hardware and embedded-tech startups, run in editions

Odoo's recurring hackathon for student and developer teams building on the Odoo platform

GOI scheme providing collateral-free loans up to ₹10 lakh to micro and small enterprises through MUDRA Ltd and partner banks

Department of Pharmaceuticals scheme supporting pharma and medtech research and innovation

Maharashtra government scheme supporting women-led startups through the state innovation society

PhysicsWallah School of Startups challenge for AI-first early-stage startups, run in editions

GOI agri-startup incubation and funding scheme under DARE/ICAR, implemented through empanelled R-ABIs and host institutes nationwide

AICTE scheme providing ₹2 lakh seed money to 9 SC/ST student startups per approved institute, plus ₹20 lakh one-time financial assistance to the host institution

Equity/equity-like seed funding (₹10 lakh–₹1.5 crore) for iDEX challenge-winner MSMEs and startups in defence and related sectors, to promote import substitution and domestic defence manufacturing.

SIDBI equity/CCPS seed funding (₹25 lakh–₹1 crore) channelled through partner incubators to help early-stage incubatee startups scale up.

DPIIT's Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) provides up to ₹20 lakh as a grant for proof of concept and prototype development, plus up to ₹50 lakh as convertible debentures or debt for commercialization — disbursed to DPIIT-recognised startups through empanelled incubators across India.

Enterprise Singapore's global deep-tech pitching competition at SWITCH, open to Indian startups

SINE IIT Bombay pre-incubation programme for early-stage deep-tech teams, run in cohorts