Women Startup Program – NSRCEL x Kotak BizLabs (Cohort 6) — Frequently Asked Questions

The Women Startup Program is a two-year incubation initiative by NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore and Kotak BizLabs. It provides women entrepreneurs with grant funding, mentorship, and ecosystem support to guide their ventures from ideation to scale.

The program offers an equity-free grant of ₹10 Lakhs. The grant is disbursed in milestones based on achieving specific project goals, such as product development or customer acquisition targets.

Eligibility is open to women-led startups at any stage: idea, MVP, early traction, or growth. The venture must be women-led and show potential for scalability and impact. There are no industry or location restrictions within India.

No, the ₹10 Lakhs funding is a grant, which means it is non-dilutive and does not require giving up equity in your startup.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, meaning there is no fixed deadline. You can apply at any time, and submissions will be reviewed as they come in.

The online application typically requires details about your startup: problem statement, solution, target market, competitive landscape, business model, revenue projections, founding team information (resumes, skills), and if applicable, evidence of MVP traction and financial projections. Existing entities may need incorporation documents.

The program does not explicitly require DPIIT or MSME registration. However, having such registrations may be beneficial but is not mandatory for eligibility.

You can apply through the official application portal at the NSRCEL-Kotak BizLabs website. The link is provided on the program page. Complete the online form with all required information and submit.

Women Startup Program – NSRCEL x Kotak BizLabs (Cohort 6) is offered by NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore, an academic institution. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.