Scaleup Seed Fund — Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Scaleup Seed Fund, startups must meet several key criteria:

• The startup must be a Private Limited company legally registered in Kerala and maintain active registration with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) at the time of application. This requirement ensures direct support for the state's economic development and local innovation.
• Applicants are required to have obtained DPIIT startup recognition and possess a KSUM Unique ID. DPIIT recognition validates the startup's innovative nature nationally, while a KSUM Unique ID integrates them into Kerala's comprehensive support framework.
• The startup should be focused on developing an innovative product or technology. This seed fund is generally not intended for service-based startups or Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) primarily engaged in trade and commerce. The emphasis on product or technology-driven innovation targets ventures with high growth potential.
• Support is typically allocated for the commercialization of indigenous products, innovations, and technologies.
• The company must demonstrate significant traction, either by having generated at least ₹25 lakh in revenue from its product over the last four quarters, or by having secured an investment of at least ₹25 lakh from an Angel network or Venture Capital (VC) firm. These financial thresholds indicate a proven market fit and operational readiness for scaling.
• A minimum of ₹5 lakh in revenue must have been generated in the quarter immediately preceding the application date. Preference is given to startups that can demonstrate consistent month-on-month revenue progress, showcasing sustainable growth and effective business management.
• Applying startups must not have any pending dues with any government agencies.
• Startups must not be blacklisted by any government agency within India.

Scaleup Seed Fund is open to startups at the revenue stage. The programme is targeted at startups registered in Kerala. Applicants should be registered as private limited. Applicants must hold DPIIT (Startup India) recognition.