Seed Capital Grant — Up to ₹50L for Uttar Pradesh Startups — Frequently Asked Questions

A standard award goes up to ₹15 Lakhs. Where a proposal justifies a larger sum, anything from ₹15 Lakhs up to ₹50 Lakhs may be considered on a case-to-case basis, but only where the Startup Review Committee of Experts recommends it. Treat the lower figure as the norm and the higher slab as the exception.

The grant is built around pre-commercialisation spending. That includes raw materials and consumables, hardware and software, professional services, and equipment or tools needed to refine a prototype or to develop a product or a process. It also covers market research, testing and trials, and the marketing or publicity work involved in bringing an MVP to market.

It is equity-free. The Government of Uttar Pradesh provides this seed capital as a grant and does not take any stake in the startup in return.

It is not paid in one go. The sanctioned amount is split into two tranches. The first is an advance covering 50% of the grant. The second 50% is released once the startup achieves the milestones it committed to. That is precisely why a proposal has to spell out its milestones clearly from the start.

Applicants must be startups as defined under the Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy. That definition generally extends to private limited companies, LLPs, one person companies, partnership firms and proprietorships operating in the state. The activity being funded must also be pre-commercial — prototyping, development, research or launch preparation.

The policy material available does not list DPIIT recognition or MSME registration as a condition for this grant. Eligibility is framed around the policy's definition of a startup and the nature of the activity being funded. Since definitions and requirements can be revised over time, confirm the current position with the state's nodal agency before submitting.

There is no fixed deadline. The programme runs on a rolling basis, so proposals can be submitted at any time and are taken up as per the policy framework.

Two things matter most. First, a clear account of the innovative solution and exactly how the requested funds will be used — whether for prototype work, product or process development, market research, testing, or launch marketing. Second, the milestones the startup commits to achieving, since those milestones determine when the second tranche is released.

Applications go in through the designated portal under the Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy, at https://startinup.up.gov.in/Registration. After submission, the proposal goes through initial screening and then, if it clears that stage, to the Startup Review Committee of Experts for evaluation.

The Startup Review Committee of Experts evaluates each proposal and recommends the ones worth backing, judging innovation, market potential, feasibility and the ability to deliver on committed milestones. The Project Implementation Unit then gives the final approval that sanctions the benefits.

Seed Capital Grant — Up to ₹50L for Uttar Pradesh Startups is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Seed Capital Grant — Up to ₹50L for Uttar Pradesh Startups is offered by Government of Uttar Pradesh, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.

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