How to Apply for ELEVATE Shakti 2026 — Startup Karnataka Women-Led Grant

The selection process for ELEVATE Shakti 2026 involves a structured evaluation to identify promising women-led startups.

• The initial step is the online application submission.
• Following this, a data sufficiency and eligibility screening is conducted by the Project Management Unit (PMU).
• Uniquely for Shakti applicants, they bypass the desk-based pitch deck evaluation and proceed directly to the Multi-City Pitching round.
• During the Multi-City Pitching, applications are scored out of a total of 100 marks across five key parameters:
  • Novelty/Innovation: 30 marks
  • Strength of Business Model: 30 marks
  • Potential Socio-economic Impact: 20 marks
  • Team Strength: 10 marks
  • Budgetary Allocation: 10 marks
• Each parameter is independently scored by a jury panel, whose composition varies by round to ensure relevant domain expertise. To advance to the Grand Finale, a minimum score of 60 marks in the Multi-City Pitching round is required.
• The final stage is the Grand Finale & winner selection, where cumulative scores from the evaluation rounds determine the ultimate ranking of startups and the tiered allocation of grant funding.