Marketing Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (International Marketing Reimbursement)

The Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS), acting as the nodal agency for the Government of Karnataka, runs this reimbursement program to help startups offset the costs of international marketing. The scheme is part of the broader Karnataka Startup Policy and is designed to encourage ventures based in the state to expand globally by taking part in trade shows, conferences, and other promotional activities abroad. By easing the financial burden, the program aims to boost the visibility of Karnataka startups among international investors, partners, and customers.

A key feature of the program is its focus on inclusivity: applications from women founders or teams that include a woman member receive priority during evaluation. The reimbursement covers 30% of eligible international marketing expenses, up to a maximum of ₹5 lakh per company per financial year. Qualifying costs include economy-class airfare, a daily allowance of USD 100 for lodging, meals, and local travel, expenses for sales and brand promotion, digital or print publishing (such as brochures, videos, or audio content), and subscriptions to market research services that provide insights into foreign markets.

Claims can be submitted on a half-yearly basis within each financial year, and they must be filed within six months of the actual expenditure. There is no fixed deadline for applications—the program accepts submissions on a rolling basis.

• Karnataka-based startups can claim up to ₹5 lakh per year as reimbursement for 30% of international marketing costs.
• Eligible expenses include trade show travel (economy air + daily allowance of USD 100), promotions, publishing, and market research subscriptions.
• Preference given to applications submitted by women founding team members.
• Claims accepted every six months; must be filed within six months of the expense.
• Process has a definite timeline: approved reimbursements are released within ~3 months after applying.

This program is open to startups that are registered with the Karnataka Startup Cell and physically based in Karnataka. A valid registration number from the Karnataka Startup Cell is mandatory to apply for benefits. There are no sector restrictions, and the scheme accepts startups at various stages—product stage (post-idea), revenue stage, or profitable stage. While not mandatory, applications that include a woman member of the startup team are given preference. Claims must be submitted within six months from the date the expense was incurred.

Marketing Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (International Marketing Reimbursement) is open to startups at the product, revenue and profitable stage. The programme is targeted at startups registered in Karnataka.

Marketing Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (International Marketing Reimbursement) 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.

The program offers a reimbursement of 30% of eligible international marketing expenses, with a maximum cap of ₹5 lakh per financial year per company. Covered expenses include:

• Economy-class airfare for international travel.
• Daily allowance of up to USD 100 per day for lodging, meals, and local commuting.
• Costs of participating in trade shows, international conferences, and other promotional events abroad.
• Sales and marketing activities aimed at international audiences.
• Production of digital and print corporate communications (e.g., brochures, videos, audio, presentations).
• Subscriptions to market research databases and reports that provide foreign market insights.

The reimbursement is equity-free—no stake in the startup is taken. Approved funds are typically released within three months of application submission.

Marketing Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (International Marketing Reimbursement) is offered by KBITS, Government of Karnataka, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, 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.

To apply, submit a complete application package to the Karnataka Startup Cell. The cell inspects and verifies the contents. A Nodal Officer then reviews the eligibility and forwards a recommendation to the Managing Director of KBITS for formal sanction. If approved, the reimbursement is made within three months from the receipt of the application. The decision of the Managing Director of KBITS is final and binding.

Before you apply to Marketing Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (International Marketing Reimbursement), 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.

Marketing Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (International Marketing Reimbursement) is best suited for product, revenue and profitable-stage startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹5L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.