ELEVATE 2025 Challenge (Grant-in-Aid) by Startup Karnataka — Frequently Asked Questions

The program provides a Grant-in-Aid of up to ₹50 Lakhs per startup.

The deadline for ELEVATE 2025 Challenge is September 17, 2025.

Startups registered as a private limited company, partnership firm, or limited liability partnership in Karnataka, with a turnover not exceeding ₹100 Crores in any financial year, and up to 10 years old from incorporation. The startup must be working on innovation or improvement of products/services. It cannot be a subsidiary, franchise, Section 8 company, trust, or association. Previous winners under Idea2PoC/ELEVATE or other state grants must wait 3 years. For SC/ST entrepreneurs, at least one director/partner must be SC/ST holding 70% equity.

The eligibility criteria do not specifically mention DPIIT or MSME registration as a requirement.

No, this is a Grant-in-Aid, which is non-dilutive and does not require giving up equity.

The application process requires submission of an online form, documents for eligibility verification, and a pitch deck. Specific document list is not detailed, but a valid digital caste certificate is needed for SC/ST entrepreneurs.

Applications are submitted online via the Startup Karnataka Portal at missionstartupkarnataka.org/elevate-karnataka.

The process includes eligibility check, document verification, pitch deck evaluation, multi-city pitching rounds, a Grand Finale, and mandatory incubation at a K-tech Innovation Hub or Centre of Excellence.

Startups that have previously won under Idea2PoC/ELEVATE or other State Government Grants are not eligible until 3 years have passed from the date of the previous selection.

Subsidiaries, franchises, Section 8 companies, trusts, associations, or entities resulting from a merger or demerger are not eligible.

ELEVATE 2025 Challenge (Grant-in-Aid) by Startup Karnataka is offered by KBITS, Government of Karnataka, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.