GENESIS Investment 2.0 — ₹50L Matching Equity for Tier II & III Startups — Frequently Asked Questions

A selected startup can receive an equity investment of up to ₹50 lakh (INR 5,000,000). The amount is matched 1:1 against qualifying external or private capital the startup has already raised, so the private cheque is effectively doubled rather than replaced.

The last date to apply is 24 September 2026. Applications are submitted through the official MeitY Startup Hub portal.

You must be a registered Indian Private Limited Company with at least 51% Indian ownership, registered in a Tier-II or Tier-III city, holding a valid DPIIT Startup India certificate. The company should be building a technology-based product or software in a domain promoted by MeitY, must have a market-ready product, and must already have raised money from a qualifying external or private investor. Startups caught up in legal disputes are not eligible.

Yes. GENESIS Investment 2.0 is structured as an equity investment, not a grant or a loan, so the capital comes in against a stake in the company rather than as repayable debt. It is a matching investment, which means it is made alongside capital you have already raised privately.

Only investment from a qualifying external or private investor is counted. Government funding and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) are not treated as part of the matching base, so a startup whose only backing so far is government money would not qualify on that criterion.

Yes, a valid DPIIT Startup India certificate is mandatory, along with proof of registration as an Indian Private Limited Company in a Tier-II or Tier-III city. Your DPIIT certificate is one of the documents you upload with the application.

No. The programme is meant for startups working on technology-based products or software in MeitY-promoted domains, and service platforms are explicitly not selected.

No. Startups previously supported under TIDE 2.0 (Scale up) or SAMRIDH, or under GENESIS EIR before graduation, are excluded from GENESIS Investment 2.0.

You need a market-ready product. Revenue generation is preferred but is not a hard requirement, so a product in the market without substantial revenue can still be considered. Idea-stage or pre-product startups are not eligible.

The application form asks for your startup profile, business model, technology stack, current funding and investment status, financial performance and how you plan to use the matching funds. Supporting documents to upload include proof of company registration, your DPIIT certificate, financial statements and details of prior external investments.

Submissions are first screened for strict compliance with the eligibility criteria. Those that clear screening go to a selection committee, which looks at business potential, technological innovation, market readiness and impact potential, and may review your financials, technology roadmap and proposed use of funds. Shortlisted startups may be asked to present or attend an interview, and final approval depends on full verification and alignment with the GENESIS scheme's objectives.

GENESIS Investment 2.0 — ₹50L Matching Equity for Tier II & III Startups is offered by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), a government body. It is provided as an investment.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.