Startup grants in India
Money you are not expected to pay back, from government bodies and foundations. Check each scheme's conditions, since most pay in stages against milestones.
Checked on official pages, last on 4 November 2026. Founders Wing does not run these schemes or help with applications.
Grant · Karnataka
Open until 13 November 2026ELEVATE NxT 2026
Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka
Up to ₹1 crore as grant-in-aid, released against milestones
Grant · Karnataka
Open until 13 November 2026ELEVATE Minorities 2026
Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka
Up to ₹50 lakh as one-time grant-in-aid
Grant · Andhra Pradesh
Open all yearAP startup grant: Startup Grants, Andhra Pradesh Innovation and Startup Policy 4.0
Andhra Pradesh Innovation Society, ITE&C Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh
Up to ₹15 lakh in total, or ₹20 lakh with a founder from specified groups; initial grant up to ₹2 lakh
Grant · Odisha
Open all yearProduct Development and Marketing/Publicity Assistance
MSME Department, Government of Odisha (Startup Odisha)
Up to ₹15 lakh, or up to ₹16 lakh for specified founders
Grant · Haryana
Open all yearStartup Haryana seed grant: Seed Funding for Startups Scheme
Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Haryana
Up to ₹10 lakh per startup
Grant · Odisha
Open all yearStartup Odisha Monthly Allowance
MSME Department, Government of Odisha (Startup Odisha)
₹20,000 a month for one year, or ₹22,000 a month for specified founders
Grant · Open to Indian startups
Open all yearWadhwani Grants
Wadhwani Charitable Foundation
No standard figure. Size depends on geography, outcomes and economics.
Grant · Karnataka
Opens in roundsIdea2PoC / ELEVATE Grant-in-Aid
Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka
Up to ₹50 lakh as one-time grant-in-aid
Grant · Kerala
Opens in roundsKSUM Scale-up Grant: Scale-up Grant
Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), Government of Kerala
Up to ₹15 lakh, with 50% margin money from the startup
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsMSME Idea Hackathon: MSME Innovative Scheme, Incubation component
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Up to ₹15 lakh per idea, covering 85% of approved cost. The money goes through the Host Institute.
Grant · Kerala
Opens in roundsKSUM Productisation Grant: Productisation Grant
Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), Government of Kerala
Up to ₹7 lakh, or up to ₹12 lakh for women or transgender-led startups
Grant · Gujarat
Opens in roundsS4: Startup Srujan Seed Support
Student Startup and Innovation Hub (i-Hub), Education Department, Government of Gujarat
Between ₹2.5 lakh and ₹10 lakh, based on need
Grant · Kerala
Opens in roundsKSUM Idea Grant: Idea Grant
Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), Government of Kerala
Up to ₹3 lakh, usually 50% first and the rest after review
Grant · Open to Indian startups
Opens in roundsCartier Women's Initiative Regional Awards
Cartier Women's Initiative
$100,000 for first place, $60,000 for second, $30,000 for third
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsNIDHI-EIR: NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
₹10,000 to ₹30,000 a month for up to 12 months
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsADITI: Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX
Defence Innovation Organisation, Ministry of Defence
Up to 50% of the product development budget, capped at ₹25 crore
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsiDEX: Innovations for Defence Excellence
Defence Innovation Organisation, Ministry of Defence
Up to ₹1.5 crore under Defence India Startup Challenge, up to ₹10 crore under iDEX Prime
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsIN-SPACe Seed Fund Scheme
IN-SPACe, Department of Space
Grant of ₹1 crore on a milestone basis
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsBIG: Biotechnology Ignition Grant
BIRAC, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
Up to ₹50 lakh as grant-in-aid for up to 18 months
Grant · All of India
Opens in roundsNIDHI PRAYAS 2.0
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
Up to ₹20 lakh through a PRAYAS Centre, or up to ₹40 lakh through an Advance PRAYAS Centre
Grant · Rajasthan
Check official pageiStart Viability Grant: Viability Grant, Rajasthan Startup Policy 2022
Department of Information Technology and Communication, Government of Rajasthan
₹10 lakh without a QRate rating; ₹20 lakh to ₹60 lakh by QRate score
Grant · Uttar Pradesh
Check official pageUP seed capital: Seed Capital, Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy 2026
Department of IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh
Up to ₹15 lakh; proposals up to ₹50 lakh considered case by case
Grant · Madhya Pradesh
Check official pageMP seed fund: Madhya Pradesh Startup Seed Fund Assistance
Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of Madhya Pradesh
Up to ₹30 lakh
Grant · Goa
Check official pageGoa seed capital grant: Seed Capital Grant Scheme, Goa Startup Policy 2025
Startup and IT Promotion Cell, Department of Information Technology, Government of Goa
Up to ₹10 lakh, as determined by the cell
Grant · Uttar Pradesh
Check official pageUP prototype grant: Prototype Grant and Sustenance Allowance, Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy 2026
Department of IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh
Prototype grant up to ₹10 lakh, plus ₹20,000 a month for two years
Grant · Rajasthan
Check official pageiStart Ideation Grant: Ideation Grant, Rajasthan Startup Policy 2022
Department of Information Technology and Communication, Government of Rajasthan
₹2,40,000, plus ₹60,000 more for startups with over 50% equity held by women founders
Grant · Gujarat
Check official pageStudent Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP 2.0) Proof of Concept Support
Education Department, Government of Gujarat
Up to ₹2.5 lakh per proof of concept or prototype, plus IP support up to 100% of expenses
Grant · Goa
Check official pageWomen Entrepreneur Vitality Scheme, Goa Startup Policy 2025
Startup and IT Promotion Cell, Department of Information Technology, Government of Goa
₹20,000 a month for up to one year
Grant · Open to Indian startups
Check official pagePeak XV Spark: Spark Fellowship
Peak XV Partners
$100,000 equity-free grant
Grant · All of India
Check official pagePRISM: Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Start-ups and MSMEs
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India
Up to ₹2 lakh or ₹20 lakh at up to 90% of cost in Phase I. Up to ₹50 lakh at 50% in Phase II.
Grant · Open to Indian startups
Check official pageThe/Nudge Incubator
The/Nudge Institute
Innovation grant of ₹20 lakh
Grant · Open to Indian startups
Check official pageRainmatter Foundation grants
Rainmatter Foundation
Amount varies, see the official page
A grant can help. Paying customers keep you going.
Founders Wing is India’s community for people building with AI: weekly live sessions, a private group, and people who help you reach paying customers.
Questions people ask
Is the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme still open?
No, not for new startups. The official portal gave 31 May 2026 as the last date for startups to apply. Money already approved is still being paid out, and we found no replacement scheme when we last checked.
Do I need DPIIT recognition to get a grant?
Many central and state schemes ask for it, but not all. Each page here lists that scheme's conditions, so check before you apply for recognition just for one scheme.
Can a SaaS or AI startup get a grant?
Yes, but fewer schemes suit it than the headlines suggest. Some are for deep tech or hardware, and NIDHI PRAYAS, for example, leaves out pure software and app projects. Start with our list for software startups.
What is the difference between a grant, a loan and a credit guarantee?
You are not expected to repay a grant if you meet its conditions. You repay a loan with interest. A credit guarantee is not money for you at all: it protects the bank, which may make the bank more willing to lend to you.
Should I pay an agent to get a government scheme?
Be careful with anyone who promises approval for a fee. Nobody outside the selection process can promise it. MUDRA, for example, says on its own site that it uses no agents.
How current is this list?
Each page shows the date we read the official source. Schemes change and close without much notice, so confirm the amount and dates on the official page before you apply.