ELEVATE Shakti 2026 — Startup Karnataka Women-Led Grant — Eligibility Criteria

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.

ELEVATE Shakti 2026 — Startup Karnataka Women-Led Grant 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.