Punjab Startup Policy: Seed Funding for DPIIT Startups — Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Punjab Startup Policy: Seed Funding, startups must meet several key criteria:

• The startup must possess valid recognition from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). This ensures the applicant adheres to national startup standards, validating its innovative nature and scalability for government support.
• The startup must be registered and actively conducting its operations within the state of Punjab. This criterion is fundamental to strengthening the local startup ecosystem and ensuring that the investment directly benefits Punjab's economy and job creation.
• The startup's offering must be an innovation-led product or service, demonstrating novelty and a potential for significant impact or disruption in its target market. This focus aligns with the policy's objective of fostering technological advancement and addressing unmet needs.
• Startups that are currently at the prototype or Proof of Concept (PoC) stage are strongly preferred for this program. This preference highlights the policy's commitment to supporting ventures at a critical early juncture, assisting them in validating their core ideas before scaling up.
• A recommendation from a Punjab-based recognized incubator is preferred as part of the application. While not strictly mandatory, such a recommendation can significantly strengthen an application, indicating that the startup has already undergone some level of vetting and support from an established ecosystem player.

Punjab Startup Policy: Seed Funding for DPIIT Startups is open to startups at the product stage. The programme is targeted at startups registered in Punjab. Applicants should be registered as private limited, llp and partnership. Applicants must hold DPIIT (Startup India) recognition.