Defence Startup Grants & Funding in Maharashtra

An incubation program at AIC IISER Pune, supported by SARTHI, providing a monthly stipend of ₹25,000 for one year to Maharashtra-resident entrepreneurs with a technology business idea.

A one-year incubation in Sangli, Maharashtra with a ₹25,000 monthly stipend for Maratha and Kunbi category entrepreneurs with technology business ideas.

One-year incubation at AIC BAMU Foundation with a ₹25,000 monthly stipend for Maharashtra residents from the Maratha and Kunbi categories building technology startups.

A unique fellowship for 11th, 12th, and 1st-year UG students offering annual scholarships, summer internships with stipends, a PPO, and potential ₹1 crore seed investment for their startup.

The Ten Minute Million Challenge (TTMM) 2026 offers startups a unique opportunity to pitch directly to top investors and secure on-the-spot funding of up to ₹35 lakh.

AIC-Pinnacle × NATRAX incubation for MVP-to-commercialization mobility and EV startups — mentorship, testing support, industry and investor connect. Cohort of up to 20. Deadline 20 October 2026.

A 24-hour global online programming competition by IEEE where student teams solve coding challenges for a USD 10,000 prize pool.

Y Combinator's Winter 2027 batch (January–March, San Francisco) invests $500K in early-stage startups and adds partner mentorship, a founder network and investor introductions.

The Startup Qatar Investment Program by QDB offers substantial funding and comprehensive support to attract and help tech startups establish or expand in Qatar.

A Ministry of Defence program offering grants up to ₹50 crore for startups and MSMEs to develop cutting-edge indigenous defence technologies and prototypes as part of the 'Make in India' initiative.

Surge offers up to $5M in seed capital, full-stack support, and access to a global network for audacious early-stage founders.

EU deep-tech scaleup funding: grant up to ₹26.25 crore plus up to ₹105 crore optional equity. Non-EU startups eligible by relocating to the EU.

Credit guarantee cover up to Rs 20 crore that lets banks, NBFCs and AIFs lend to DPIIT-recognised startups without collateral. You receive a loan and repay it. CGSS is not a grant.

An accelerator VC that gives seed funding and hands-on support to early-stage startups in India, from idea stage to angel stage, across sectors.

A Central Government scheme offering financial assistance through debt/convertible instruments or equity investment to promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs in manufacturing, services, and allied sectors.

Repayable credit from NSIC for MSMEs to buy indigenous and imported raw materials, paid directly to suppliers, up to ₹20 crore at group level.

A scheme under the Maharashtra Industries Investment and Services Policy 2025, offering up to 20% reimbursement of R&D and technology transfer costs, with a maximum of ₹10 crore, for units promoting import substitution.

Industrial units in Maharashtra's Group D, D+ and below regions get 50% of the employer's EPF contribution reimbursed for 5 years, up to ₹5 crore, for creating direct jobs.

The Ten Minute Million Challenge (TTMM) 2026 offers startups a unique opportunity to pitch directly to top investors and secure on-the-spot funding of up to ₹35 lakh.

A 24-hour global online programming competition by IEEE where student teams solve coding challenges for a USD 10,000 prize pool.

Y Combinator's Winter 2027 batch (January–March, San Francisco) invests $500K in early-stage startups and adds partner mentorship, a founder network and investor introductions.

EU deep-tech scaleup funding: grant up to ₹26.25 crore plus up to ₹105 crore optional equity. Non-EU startups eligible by relocating to the EU.

Credit guarantee cover up to Rs 20 crore that lets banks, NBFCs and AIFs lend to DPIIT-recognised startups without collateral. You receive a loan and repay it. CGSS is not a grant.

A Central Government scheme offering financial assistance through debt/convertible instruments or equity investment to promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs in manufacturing, services, and allied sectors.

Industrial units in Maharashtra's Group D, D+ and below regions get 50% of the employer's EPF contribution reimbursed for 5 years, up to ₹5 crore, for creating direct jobs.