Karnataka Grassroot Innovation Programme

The Karnataka Grassroot Innovation Programme, run by KBITS under the Government of Karnataka's IT BT Department, is designed to identify, promote, and support grassroots-level innovations. Its goal is to develop and scale local solutions that ease rural life and reduce the drudgery of rural households. The program offers a maximum financial grant of up to ₹4 lakhs for feasible projects. Selected projects are evaluated on a 100-point scale covering novelty, social impact, business potential, feasibility and implementation, and environmental sustainability. Winners must set up a formal entity (proprietorships not allowed) to receive the grant, and they receive support for entrepreneurial, product, and market development.

• Grant up to ₹4 lakhs for grassroots innovators.
• Evaluation criteria include novelty, social impact, business potential, feasibility, and environmental sustainability.
• Winners get support for entrepreneurial, product, and market development.
• Applicants must be Indian citizens and domiciles of Karnataka.
• Formal entity (LLP, Pvt Ltd) required after selection—no proprietorships.
• Innovations must not have received prior government funding for the same project.

To apply, you must be a citizen of India and a domicile of Karnataka. The innovation should not be part of any government initiative, aided partner, or public-private partnership company or firm. The beneficiary or innovation must not have received any funds from the Government of Karnataka or the Government of India for the same project. After selection as a winner, you are required to set up a formal entity (such as an LLP or Private Limited Company—proprietorships are not allowed). Mandatory documents include a Voter's ID or Ration Card, and proof of profession (e.g., qualification certificate, professional ID card, government documents) or an ID card from the labour department.

Karnataka Grassroot Innovation Programme is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Karnataka Grassroot Innovation Programme accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

Selected innovators receive a grant of up to ₹4 lakhs for their feasible projects. In addition to financial support, winners are provided with assistance for entrepreneurial development, product development, and market development to help scale their innovation.

Karnataka Grassroot Innovation Programme is offered by KBITS, Government of 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.

Projects are evaluated on a 100-point scale: Novelty (30 points), Social Impact (30 points), Business Potential (20 points), Feasibility and Implementation (10 points), and Environmental Sustainability (10 points). The program identifies innovations at the grassroots level, and winners are required to set up a formal entity to receive the grant.

Before you apply to Karnataka Grassroot Innovation Programme, keep the following documents ready:

• 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.

Karnataka Grassroot Innovation Programme is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹4L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.