ELEVATE 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant-in-Aid Program — Eligibility Criteria

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.