ELEVATE Shakti 2026 — Startup Karnataka Women-Led Grant

The ELEVATE Shakti 2026 program is a dedicated initiative for women-led startups within the broader ELEVATE grant-in-aid scheme by the Government of Karnataka. It is managed by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), operating under the Department of Electronics, IT, BT & S&T. This program is specifically designed to support startups where women hold a significant leadership and equity stake, providing crucial funding to develop an idea into a functional proof-of-concept.

To be eligible, a woman or a group of women must hold at least a 51% equity stake in the company or firm as a founder or co-founder, a condition that must be maintained throughout the entire project duration. The grant offers up to ₹50 lakh in non-dilutive funding, meaning no equity is taken in exchange for the grant.

ELEVATE Shakti runs concurrently with other ELEVATE 2026 calls, including the general ELEVATE program, ELEVATE Aspire for startups outside Bengaluru Urban, and ELEVATE Unnati for SC/ST-owned startups. While a startup can apply to multiple ELEVATE calls, their pitch is assessed once across all applications, and the total cumulative grant awarded is capped at ₹50 lakh.

Funding is disbursed in two equal tranches, tied to the achievement of specific milestones. This process begins after a tripartite agreement is formally signed between KITS, the designated K-Tech innovation partner, and the selected startup. A unique aspect of the Shakti program is that applicants bypass the initial desk-based pitch deck evaluation and proceed directly to the Multi-City Pitching round.

• One-time grant up to ₹50 lakh for women-led startups
• Reserved for women-led startups (51%+ women equity required)
• Equity-free and non-dilutive funding
• Mentorship and subsidized incubation at government-backed partners
• Funding disbursed in two milestone-based tranches
• Direct entry to Multi-City Pitching for Shakti applicants

This program is open to startups that meet specific criteria, focusing on women-led entities and their operational status in Karnataka.

• The startup must be registered in Karnataka and operate within the state.
• It must be women-led, defined as having a woman or a group of women as a founder or co-founder holding at least a 51% stake in the company or firm. This shareholding must be maintained throughout the entire project period.
• The legal entity must be incorporated as a Private Limited Company, One Person Company, Registered Partnership Firm, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), or a State/Multi-State Co-operative Society.
• The startup should be within 10 years of its incorporation date at the time of application.
• Its annual turnover must not have exceeded ₹200 crore in any financial year since its incorporation.
• The entity must be independent, not a subsidiary, spin-off, or internal division of an existing company.
• A minimum team size of two individuals is required.
• The startup must not have been a beneficiary of the ELEVATE Grant-in-Aid scheme within the last three years.
• The startup should be engaged in innovation or improvement of products, services, or processes that demonstrate potential for job creation, wealth generation, or new market opportunities.

This program supports startups across idea, product, and revenue stages.

Applications for ELEVATE Shakti 2026 — Startup Karnataka Women-Led Grant are open and the current deadline is 25 Jun 2026. Applications are closing soon, so prepare your documents early. Deadlines can change — always reconfirm on the official source before submitting.

Recipients of the ELEVATE Shakti 2026 grant receive substantial support beyond just financial aid.

• Selected startups are strategically mapped to government-supported K-Tech Innovation Partners. These partners include incubators, accelerators, Centres of Excellence, and innovation hubs.
• These partners provide valuable mentoring and incubation support at subsidized rates, guiding startups through their development journey.
• The K-Tech Innovation Partners play a crucial role in handholding the startup, meticulously tracking progress against agreed-upon milestones.
• They also recommend the release of subsequent funding tranches, with milestone validation jointly coordinated by KITS and the Department of Electronics, IT & BT.

ELEVATE Shakti 2026 — Startup Karnataka Women-Led Grant 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.

Before you apply to ELEVATE Shakti 2026 — Startup Karnataka Women-Led Grant, 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 Shakti 2026 — Startup Karnataka Women-Led Grant 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.