Zero Equity Incubation Program

The Zero Equity Incubation Program is a collaborative initiative by the MeitY-nasscom Center of Excellence (CoE), specifically designed to bolster India's emerging technology ecosystem. This program is a joint effort between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), a key government body driving digital transformation, and NASSCOM, India's leading technology industry trade association. Together, they aim to cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship by addressing fundamental challenges faced by early-stage ventures, accelerating India's growth as a global tech innovation hub.

This incubation program focuses on providing substantial non-monetary support, allowing founders to concentrate on their core innovations without the concern of equity dilution. It is structured to help startups build and scale by offering crucial resources that are often costly or difficult for new ventures to access. While the program does not provide direct cash grants, it creates a robust environment conducive to growth by removing common operational barriers.

Participating startups gain access to a range of resources vital for product development and operational efficiency. These include a subsidized co-working space and a prototyping lab, which are essential for hardware and deeptech innovations. Startups also benefit from shared GPU access, critical for advanced AI and machine learning development requiring significant computational power, along with valuable cloud credits from leading providers to support their technological infrastructure. This comprehensive support helps reduce operational costs and accelerate development cycles.

Beyond infrastructure, the program facilitates strategic market access opportunities with established enterprises and government bodies, assisting startups in securing their first customers, validating solutions, and expanding their reach. Mentorship is a core component, offering tailored guidance from seasoned industry experts, successful entrepreneurs, and technical specialists. Furthermore, participants receive connections to potential funding sources through investor networking events and dedicated pitch sessions. Female founders are provided with additional support through a rental subsidy for their incubation seats, actively promoting inclusivity and encouraging greater participation of women in the deeptech startup ecosystem.

• Zero-equity incubation for Indian deeptech and emerging technology startups.
• Supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and NASSCOM.
• Provides subsidized co-working, prototyping lab, shared GPU, and cloud credits.
• Offers strategic market access, expert mentorship, and investor connections.
• Special rental subsidy available for female founders.
• Focuses on IoT, AI, ML, Quantum Computing, Biotech, Healthtech, Robotics, and Dronetechnology.

The Zero Equity Incubation Program targets Indian startups that are contributing to the nation's innovation landscape.

• Geographic Focus: Startups must be based in India.
• Technology Focus: The program specifically supports startups working on cutting-edge emerging technologies, including:
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Automation
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Machine Learning (ML)
  • Quantum Computing
  • Biotechnology
  • Healthtech
  • Robotics
  • Drone Technology
  • Generative AI (GenAI)
  • Large Language Models (LLM)
• Startup Stages: The program is open to startups across various stages, from idea-stage to those with an existing product or revenue.
• Industry Sectors: Relevant industries include deeptech electronics and robotics, AI, SaaS, and enterprise solutions, health, pharma, and biotech, and space, drone, and defense technologies.
• Special Consideration: Startups led by female founders are eligible for an additional rental subsidy, promoting women's entrepreneurship within the technology sector.

Zero Equity Incubation Program 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 Zero Equity Incubation Program offers a comprehensive suite of non-monetary benefits designed to foster startup growth without taking equity.

• Infrastructure Access:
  • Subsidized co-working space
  • Access to a prototyping lab
  • Shared GPU access
  • Cloud credits from leading providers
• Market & Mentorship:
  • Strategic market access opportunities with enterprises and government bodies
  • Tailored mentorship from industry experts
  • Investor networking opportunities and pitch sessions to connect with potential funding sources
• Special Support:
  • Female founders receive an additional rental subsidy for their incubation seats.

It is important to note that this program does not provide direct cash grants.

Zero Equity Incubation Program is offered by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), a government body. As a government-backed grant, 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.

Before you apply to Zero Equity Incubation Program, 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.

Zero Equity Incubation Program is best suited for idea, product and revenue-stage deeptech electronics robotics, ai saas enterprise and health pharma biotech startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.