Startup Grants for Prototype / MVP Startups in India

a16z speedrun

a16z Speedrun invests up to $1M in early-stage global startups, providing capital, free credits, and expert support.

Bharat Startup Grand Challenge (BSGC) 2026

A DPIIT-approved national challenge for Indian startups with grants up to ₹5L, mentorship, and incubation.

UDAAN Drone Center of Excellence Program

Equity-free drone accelerator at SIIC IIT Kanpur with mentorship and lab infrastructure.

Tamil Nadu SC/ST Startup Fund (Equity Fund) by StartupTN

Exclusive equity investment by Government of Tamil Nadu for SC/ST-founded startups domiciled in Tamil Nadu, with over ₹60 crore disbursed to date.

Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022: Lease Rental Assistance

DPIIT-recognized startups in MP get 50% lease rent reimbursement up to ₹5,000/month for 3 years.

Punjab Startup Policy: Interest Subsidy Scheme

Annual interest subsidy up to ₹5 Lakh for DPIIT-recognized Punjab startups on business loans.

IIMA Ventures Aerospace & Defence Acceleration Fund

IIMA Ventures Aerospace & Defence Acceleration Fund provides equity funding of ₹3.7Cr and mentorship for pre-seed/seed deeptech startups in aerospace, defence, and space-tech.

Flagship Accelerator

Flagship Accelerator 500 Global Silicon Valley ₹1.4Cr equity program for early-stage startups.

Jharkhand Startup Policy: Patent Filing Cost Reimbursement

Full reimbursement of patent filing costs for eligible Jharkhand startups with under ₹25 Cr turnover, fostering innovation and intellectual property protection.

Emergent Ventures India by Mercatus Center

Equity-free grant for Indian founders with bold zero-to-one ideas, from Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

TN Space Tech Fund by StartupTN

Matching equity fund up to ₹50 lakh for DPIIT-recognized space-tech startups in Tamil Nadu, covering satellite tech, GIS, AI for space, orbital logistics, and downstream space applications.

IHFC READY Program

Deep-tech pre-seed incubation for final year students and recent graduates at IIT Delhi, offering up to ₹5L equity-free grant and lab access.

Bharat Inclusion Initiative by IIMA Ventures

USD 50K+ tranched grant capital plus incubation for fintech, livelihoods and skilling startups serving low-income India.

AIC Mahindra Incubation Program

Non-monetary incubation for early-stage founders with mentorship, campus facilities, and expert guidance. No equity taken.

DIV Fund Grant for Global Development Innovations

Non-dilutive grants up to ₹13.5 Cr for innovations improving lives in low- and middle-income countries.

NSRCEL Campus Founders Programme by IIM Bangalore

Equity-free grant up to ₹5L & incubation for student founders by IIM Bangalore.

Patent Reimbursement Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy

Reimbursement of patent filing fees (₹2L–₹10L) for KBITS-registered incubated startups in Karnataka.

Zero Equity Incubation Program

Zero equity incubation for Indian startups in emerging technologies, with special support for female founders.

Women's Economic Empowerment

IIMA Ventures, with Gates Foundation support, seeks AI/tech startups improving incomes for low-income women in India.

Soma Fellows

Global equity fellowship for early-stage founders with unicorn mentor access and SF/NYC office space.

Assam Scale-Up Grant — up to ₹50L for MASI Startups

Up to ₹50L state grant for MASI-recognised Assam startups — includes ₹5L Idea2POC component.

DBDIC Incubation Cohort 2026

Incubation for deeptech, climate-tech & biotech startups across all stages in Gurugram.

Jharkhand Startup Policy - Rental Assistance for Startups

50% reimbursement for office rent in Jharkhand STPIs, SEZs, or IT Parks for eligible startups.

Idea Grant

Equity-free grant up to ₹3L for Kerala-based tech startups at idea, PoC, or MVP stage.

AI Summer Residency by IIMA Ventures

Patent Assistance

Reimbursement of patent filing costs up to ₹5 lakh for DPIIT-recognized MP startups.

EDII-TN Innovation Voucher Program — AIC RAISE Hardware Cohort

₹3L–₹7L innovation voucher for Tamil Nadu hardware MSMEs and startups via AIC RAISE.

ACE $100k High-Touch AI Accelerator by Invention Engine

ACE $100k is a high-touch, founder-first accelerator for early-stage AI and deeptech startups, offering up to $100K in capital with six months of intensive support across product, GTM, hiring, and fundraising. Only a very small cohort is selected for deep engagement.

Haryana Startup Policy 2022 Lease Rental Subsidy for Startups

Lease rental reimbursement up to ₹5L/year for DPIIT-recognized startups in Haryana; enhanced subsidy for women-led startups.

Thiel Fellowship — $250K Grant for Young Founders Under 22

₹2.25 crore equity-free grant for founders aged 22 or younger, drop out of college and build for two years.

DBDIC Incubation Cohort 2026

Research-to-market incubation for deep tech startups in climate, biotech, materials, and other emerging technologies.

Bihar Startup Policy 2022 Seed Grant for Validation-Stage Startups

Interest-free seed loan for Bihar-registered validation-stage startups, with bonus for women/SC/ST/differently-abled.

Jharkhand Startup Policy: Sustenance Allowance

Monthly stipend for Jharkhand-registered startups with active full-time founders, turnover under ₹25 Cr, and less than 5 years incorporation.

Seed Fund Scheme - Kerala Startup Mission

Seed funding (loan) for early-stage Kerala startups working on innovative tech products.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) For Startups

Government seed grant up to ₹20L and debt up to ₹50L for DPIIT-recognised Indian tech startups under 2 years old. Rolling applications.

Akash Coherent ImpactTech Program by AIC-IIITH Foundation

Equity-free grant up to ₹2.2L for TRL 3+ deeptech startups solving social or climate problems.

EngSUI Innovation Challenge

An equity-free grant of up to ₹20L by EIL & SIIC IIT Kanpur to turn novel ideas into working prototypes for Indian citizens and student innovators.

BMW Group Startup Garage

Global venture client unit of BMW Group offering paid proof-of-concept projects and long-term partnerships with full IP retention for startups.

Andhra University Centenary Innovation & Impact Grant (AUCIIG) — RUSA 2.0

Up to ₹5L grant for Andhra University students, faculty, and researchers building innovations and startups.

ASTRA 1.0 (Advanced Solutions in Technology for Resilience & Autonomy)

3-month defence tech accelerator by T-Works for PoC-ready/early-revenue hardware startups. Equity-free with lab access and mentorship.

AI and Technology Solutions for Women's Livelihoods

Grant program backing AI and technology solutions that improve income, capital access, and market linkages for women workers and micro-entrepreneurs in agriculture, informal work, the gig economy, and care services.

AI2 Incubator

Equity incubator for early-stage applied AI startups, up to ₹54M cash + $1M cloud credits.

Jharkhand Startup Policy: Utility Bills Reimbursement

30% reimbursement on internet and electricity bills (max ₹60,000/year) for Jharkhand-registered startups for up to 5 years.

Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022: Sustenance Allowance for Startups

Monthly ₹10,000 sustenance allowance for DPIIT-recognized startups in Madhya Pradesh, disbursed via incubators.

Punjab Startup Policy: Seed Funding for DPIIT Startups

Seed grant up to ₹15 lakh for DPIIT-recognized Punjab startups at PoC/prototype stage.

iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway Prototype/PoC Funding Support

iCreate connects innovators and startups at the idea-to-PoC stage with government funding schemes from GoI and the Government of Gujarat, alongside mentorship, lab access, and on-campus incubation.

Nasscom Deeptech Club Launchpad Incubation Program

Virtual deeptech incubation with mentorship, IP/GTM masterclasses, and investor connects for TRL 5+ startups.

Cloud Storage Reimbursement

Reimburse cloud storage costs for DPIIT-registered startups in Haryana. Up to ₹2.5L annually, 75% of expenses.

Centre of Excellence for Sustainability & Climate Action at C-CAMP

C-CAMP's Centre of Excellence backs bio-based climate innovations in environment, health, and agriculture with funding, incubation, and mentoring.

D.E.S.I.G.N. for BioE3 Challenge

BE3 challenge: cash + RD grant for bio-concept proposals, Indian nationals.

IHFC Startup Incubation Program

IHFC (I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics) incubation program for Indian deep tech startups in CPS, Robotics, IoT, and AI, hosted at IIT Delhi, providing funding, mentorship, lab access, and more.

Atoms X

Pre-seed program backing mission-centric founders with breakthrough technology, products, or business models.

Women/Transgender Productization Grant

Equity-free KSUM grant up to ₹5L for women/transgender-led startups in Kerala to turn MVP into a market-ready product.

Seed Funding for Startups

Seed grant for DPIIT-recognized Haryana startups, up to ₹10 Lakh.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Accelerate Charitable Giving

Gates Foundation grant funding AI solutions to boost charitable giving, focusing on global health and development.

Productisation Grant

Grant by KSUM for technology startups converting MVP to market-ready product, up to ₹7 lakhs.

Technology Development Board (TDB) India-Finland Joint Innovation Call 2026

Bilateral India-Finland grant for sustainable energy, digital tech, and microelectronics R&D projects.

Bihar Startup Policy 2022: Zero Patent Filing Cost Scheme

100% reimbursement of patent filing costs for Bihar-registered startups under the Startup Policy 2022.

Reimbursement of VAT/CST/GST on Goods Supplied to Incubatees: Karnataka Startup Policy

GST/VAT/CST reimbursement on goods supplied to physically incubated Karnataka startups with turnover up to ₹50 lakhs, disbursed annually for first 3 incubation years.

Greenovation DRE for Livelihoods Challenge – EarthON & Startup India

Up to ₹20L non-dilutive grant for 10 Indian startups building decentralized renewable energy solutions for rural livelihoods.

GRO8 Cohort 2 by 888VC

AI-enabled accelerator for pre-seed/seed tech startups, offering US $25k+ investment, mentoring, and investor access.

LiftOff Acceleration Program – Indian Angel Network × Wadhwani Foundation

14-week virtual accelerator for MVP-stage startups with traction, sprint execution, CXO mentorship, and a final pitch to Indian Angel Network.

Punjab Startup Policy Lease Rental Subsidy

Lease rental reimbursement for DPIIT-recognized startups operating in Punjab.

Access Programme

A grant and investment programme by Hub71 offering up to AED 750,000 for pre-seed to Series A tech startups relocating to Abu Dhabi.

Vidhai Vaanam Accelerator Program Series 2

12-week hybrid accelerator by Vidhai and Vaanam Space LLP with StartupTN — mentorship, tech credits, investor exposure for early-stage founders.

C-CAMP Wadhwani Innovation Network (WIN) CoE Non-Dilutive Funding Program

Non-dilutive grant up to ₹1Cr for TRL-4+ biotech & deep-tech startups; rolling monthly calls.

StartinUp

Equity-free grants for DPIIT-registered startups in Uttar Pradesh, offering up to ₹18.35L in funding plus mentorship.

EWOR Applications

European equity investment platform backing exceptional individuals from pre-idea to early revenue stage.

Orbit — AIC T-Hub SpaceTech Incubation Program

Orbit is AIC T-Hub's 24-week paid SpaceTech incubation program offering mentorship from ex-ISRO scientists, lab access, and global market access, with a program fee of ₹50,000 plus GST.

The Forum Accelerator

Pre-seed $100K equity accelerator for B2B software startups with fractional co-founder support and Fortune 500 intros.

Haryana Startup Policy 2022 Patent Cost Reimbursement Scheme

100% reimbursement of patent filing costs for DPIIT-recognized Haryana startups.

Marketing Incentives: Karnataka Startup Policy (International Marketing Reimbursement)

Karnataka startups get up to ₹5 lakh reimbursement for international marketing; women founders preferred.

Vision 2 Venture Incubation Program – IC IIT Patna

Incubation support with lab access, mentorship, and grant guidance for early-stage startups at IIT Patna.

EDII Tamil Nadu Innovation Voucher Programme

Grant up to ₹7 lakhs for manufacturing MSMEs/startups in Tamil Nadu.

Innovation Voucher Program

Grant for Tamil Nadu hardware-based startups/MSMEs to develop prototypes and commercialize products.

Assistance for Participation in Acceleration Programs

Reimbursement up to ₹2.5L/year for Haryana DPIIT-recognized startups joining acceleration programs.

Pre Seed Fund

Forum Ventures provides up to ₹9Cr in pre-seed equity investment for B2B SaaS and AI startups. The program offers strategic guidance, operational support, and a rich network.

Jharkhand Startup Policy: Marketing Assistance Grant

One-time marketing grant up to ₹10 Lakh for Jharkhand-registered startups under ₹25 Cr turnover and less than 5 years old.

NEEV Startup Kickstart Program – Pre-Incubation Cohort 2026

Pre-incubation for early-stage & student founders, limited cohort.

Startup Srujan Seed Support (S4) – Cohort 3

Grants of ₹2.5–10 lakh for student innovators in Gujarat to develop prototypes and reach market readiness.

BCDD Grant by KSUM & BCDD Kerala

Equity-free grants up to ₹10L for OBC graduates in Kerala building tech startups, offered by KSUM and BCDD.

CNEST TBI 2.0 — KLE Tech Belagavi, Karnataka

Up to ₹10L equity-free seed support + TBI 2.0 incubation at KLE Tech Belagavi — for MedTech, AgriTech, AI/ML & Smart Manufacturing founders across Karnataka, Goa & Maharashtra.

NUZEN Agri-Startup Grant for Student Innovators – NaaViC (ICAR-NIVEDI)

NUZEN Agri-Startup Grant by NaaViC/ICAR-NIVEDI awards up to ₹4L non-dilutive grant to student innovators for agriculture and allied sector ideas at idea-to-prototype stage.

Greenovator i-TBI Ignition Grant Cohort 3.0 — NIT Srinagar

Prototype grant up to ₹10L from NIT Srinagar's DST-iTBI incubator (GIF) for science & tech-based startup ideas.

ELEVATE Aspire 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant (Beyond Bengaluru)

One-time grant up to ₹50L for Karnataka startups registered outside Bengaluru Urban.

Techstars Healthcare Accelerator powered by Permanente Medicine Mid-Atlantic States

Techstars Healthcare Accelerator powered by Permanente Medicine for Mid-Atlantic healthtech startups.

Techstars Space Accelerator

Accelerator for space technology startups, leveraging adjacent industries for aerospace market access.

Samsung Mobile Advance 2026 — SRI-B & SRI-N

Up to ₹45L equity-free PoC grant for Indian startups to co-create next-gen mobile innovations with Samsung R&D India.

ELEVATE 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant-in-Aid Program

Government of Karnataka grant up to ₹50L for proof-of-concept. Non-dilutive, milestone-based, with mentoring support.

Uttishthati Foundation i-TBI Ignition Grant 2.0 — NIT Hamirpur

Seed grant up to ₹10L for early-stage startups in deeptech, energy, agritech, and healthtech.

ISB I-WIN Accelerator for Women-Led Startups (Cohort 5)

ISB I-Venture's 4-month virtual accelerator for revenue-generating women-led startups. No equity; 2% success fee on investments raised via I-WIN.

AP Build Grant — Build with AI: RTIH Startup Sprint

₹3–5L equity-free grant + 4-week AI prototype sprint for Andhra Pradesh startups & MSMEs.

UDBHAV 3.0 Blockchain Incubation — IIML EIC CoE

Free 6-month blockchain incubation at IIM Lucknow — UP registered, DPIIT recognised startups.

USHUS Seed Grant Program at IIMK LIVE

Maritime startup seed grant of up to ₹30 lakhs from IIMK LIVE and Cochin Shipyard Ltd.

ELEVATE Shakti 2026 — Startup Karnataka Women-Led Grant

One-time grant up to ₹50L for women-led Karnataka startups (51%+ women equity).

BIRAC GCI — Screening & Diagnosis Innovations Open Call

BIRAC GCI grants up to ₹2 crore for breakthrough screening & diagnostics innovations in TB, emerging pathogens and enteric disease.

Infineon Co-Innovation Program (COINS)

Infineon's COINS program offers co-innovation partnership, free samples, and global market access for hardware, semiconductor, and embedded software startups.

Techstars Anywhere Accelerator

Remote-first equity accelerator for early-stage startups worldwide, prioritizing deep tech, AI, robotics, and clean energy. Requires US timezone compatibility.

SAMRIDH Impact Accelerator Program 2026

Up to ₹1 Cr in grant, debt, or equity for healthtech and climate-tech startups at TRL 4+.

UPES DST-iTBI Ignition Grant 2.0 – Runway Incubator

Up to ₹10L grant for early-stage innovators in DeepTech, AI/ML, AgriTech, and Sustainability by Runway Incubator, UPES DST-iTBI.

iDEX Open Challenge by DIO

Up to ₹1.5 crore equity-free defence grant for Indian startups, innovators, and MSMEs.

SMT. Raj Kumari Jain Seed Fund for Innovation at PIEDS BITS Pilani

Seed funding of ₹30–50 lakh for BITS Pilani students and recent alumni building innovation-led startups, combining non-matching and matching capital with institutional support from PIEDS.

NIDHI Seed Support Program at AIC Banasthali (For Women Entrepreneurs)

Equity-linked seed fund of ₹25L-₹50L by DST for women-led startups at AIC Banasthali, including incubation.

Naaripreneur for Her Program Cohort 2 – IIMV FIELD

11-month incubation for women-led startups and ventures building solutions for women, by IIMV FIELD with CSR support from NBCC India. Offers mentorship, capacity building, and equity-free grants up to ₹5L.

NIDHI SSS Seed Support at GUSEC

Up to ₹50L seed support (equity/debt) for deeptech startups incubated at GUSEC.

DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

DBT-BIRAC joint call under BioE3 to set up Bio AI hubs for high-performance biomanufacturing. Open to startups, LLPs, academic SIROs. Rolling applications until June 30, 2026.

ELEVATE Unnati 2026 — Startup Karnataka Grant for SC/ST Founders

A one-time grant of up to ₹50 lakh for Karnataka-registered startups where SC/ST founders hold at least 70% equity.

PRASFUTAN - R-ABI Seed Stage Funding for Agriculture Startups

Non-dilutive seed grant up to ₹25L (85% funding) for MVP-stage agri startups at R-ABI incubators.

TiE Women – Pune Chapter

An equity-free grant platform for early-stage women founders with at least 33% equity, offering ₹45L in prize money and TiE mentorship.