ELEVATE 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant-in-Aid Program

ELEVATE 2026 is the flagship grant-in-aid scheme from the Government of Karnataka, running under the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), which is part of the Department of Electronics, IT, BT & S&T. The program awards a one-time grant of up to ₹50 lakh to help early-stage startups develop a product's proof-of-concept and get market validation.

The scheme is designed for founders who need non-dilutive capital — meaning no equity is given up. The funding is milestone-based and disbursed in two equal tranches. Beyond the grant, each selected startup gets access to mentoring and subsidised incubation from government-recognised K-Tech Innovation Partners, which include incubators, accelerators, and Centres of Excellence.

Alongside the main track (ELEVATE 2026), there are three special sibling tracks: ELEVATE Aspire for startups based outside Bengaluru Urban, ELEVATE Unnati for SC/ST-owned entities, and ELEVATE Shakti for women-led startups. A startup can apply to multiple tracks, but its single pitch is judged for all flagged calls, and the total grant across tracks cannot exceed ₹50 lakh.

The drive runs on a fixed timetable: applications open on 25 May 2026, and the last submission date is 25 June 2026 at 5:00 PM IST.

• One-time grant up to ₹50 lakh — no equity required
• Open to idea-, product-, or revenue-stage startups in Karnataka
• Milestone-based payout in two equal tranches
• Government-backed mentoring and reduced-cost incubation
• Apply from 25 May to 5 PM on 25 June 2026

The startup must be registered in Karnataka. It must be legally incorporated as a Private Limited Company, One Person Company, Registered Partnership Firm, Limited Liability Partnership, or a State or Multi-State Co-operative Society. The business should be within 10 years of its incorporation date at the time of applying, and its annual turnover must not have exceeded ₹200 crore in any financial year since formation.

The company must be an independent entity — it cannot be a subsidiary, spin-off, or internal division of an existing organisation. A founding team of at least two individuals is mandatory. Applications from startups that have already won the ELEVATE grant in the past three years will not be accepted.

The startup must be engaged in developing or improving a product, service, or process that can significantly create jobs, wealth, or expand market opportunities. The scheme is open to ventures at the idea, product, or revenue stage. Neither DPIIT recognition nor MSME registration is a prerequisite.

ELEVATE 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant-in-Aid Program is open to startups at the idea, product and revenue stage. The programme is targeted at startups registered in Karnataka. Applicants should be registered as private limited, llp and partnership.

The most recent application window for ELEVATE 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant-in-Aid Program closed on 15 Jul 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

• One-time grant of up to ₹50 lakh — fully non-dilutive: KITS takes no equity.
• The grant is paid in two equal milestones. The first tranche is released after signing a tripartite agreement among KITS, a K-Tech innovation partner, and the startup; the second proceeds once the milestone is verified and accepted.
• Each startup is teamed with a government-backed incubator, accelerator, Centre of Excellence, or K-Tech Innovation Partner for expert mentoring and incubation at subsidised rates.

ELEVATE 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant-in-Aid Program is offered by Startup Karnataka, a government body. As a government-backed grant, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Teams are marked out of 100 on five criteria: Novelty/Innovation (30 marks), Bargain of Business Model (30), Potential Socio-economic Effect (20), Team Attribute (10), and Budgetary Allocation (10). The jury modifications per inning depending on domain fitness.

The phases:

1. Online Application Submission — register, upload incorporation details, business/innovation data, founders' credentials, financial numbers, grant usage policy plan, and mandatory documents.
2. Data Sufficiency & Eligibility Screening — the Program Management Unit (PMU) certifies legal eligibility, startup age, turnover cap, and ownership organisation.
3. Pitch Deck Evaluation — Bengaluru Urban startups under the main general track go through a three-member jury desk review; Aspire, Unnati and Shakti tracks skip this step.
4. Multi-City Pitching — in-person pitches across Karnataka; a score of at least 60 out of 100 is required to go forward.
5. Grand Finale — final pitching, rank lists drawn per call, authorised by the ELEVATE Evaluation Committee steered by the Secretary of the Department of Electronics IT BT & S&T, followed by endorsement and adoption.

Before you apply to ELEVATE 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant-in-Aid Program, keep these documents ready — note the program-specific requirements at the top:

• Certificate of incorporation showing your startup is registered as private limited and llp
• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

ELEVATE 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant-in-Aid Program is best suited for idea, product and revenue-stage startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹50L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.