Startup Opportunities for Founders

Real startup opportunities for founders — verified, not scraped junk. 67 real opportunities right now.

Yuva Sahakar – Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme

Ministry of Cooperation

Yuva Sahakar helps newly formed cooperative societies get easier long-term finance and interest support. The Scheme focuses on supporting newly formed cooperative societies with innovative and value chain–enhancing ideas through financial assistance and incentives. • The scheme is linked with a dedicated Cooperative Startup and Innovation Fund and provides special encouragement to cooperatives in Northeastern Region, Aspirational Districts, and those led by women, SC/ST, and PwD members. • The aim is to encourage young entrepreneurs to establish and manage cooperative enterprises. And to strengthen the cooperative ecosystem by enabling sustainable and scalable projects.

📍 IndiaLoan/CreditMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → ncdc.in

Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF- SC)

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

The Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC) helps SC entrepreneurs get affordable funding to start or grow businesses. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes with a corpus of ₹750 crore, intended for financial assistance to Scheduled Caste (VCF-SC) Entrepreneurs. • It is aimed at providing concessional finance to SC entrepreneurs, who will create wealth and value for society and at the same time will promote profitable businesses. This fund is managed by IFCI Venture Capital Ltd.

📍 IndiaLoan/CreditMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → vcfsc.in

Technology Development-cum-Incubation Centers

Department of Atomic Energy

Technology Development-cum-Incubation Centers provide startups and industries research facilities, and mentoring to turn strong technology ideas into real products and businesses. The aim is to link India’s robust startup ecosystem to the nuclear sector by setting up Technology Development-cum-Incubation Centers for fostering synergy between research facilities and tech-entrepreneurs. • The main objective of Incubation Centres is to foster nucleation, incubation and growth of startups/enterprises based on technologies or available know-how.

📍 IndiaIncubation supportMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → dae.gov.in

Technology Development Fund (TDF)

DRDO, Ministry of Defence

Technology Development Fund (TDF) is a government scheme that gives funding and support to Indian companies and startups to develop defence technologies locally so the country can reduce dependence on imports and strengthen self-reliance. The TDF Scheme has been established to promote self-reliance in defence technology as a part of the 'Make in India' initiative. • The Scheme enlists requirements of Service Headquarters (SHQs) of upgrading products/ systems and futuristic defence technologies as Projects for which eligible stakeholders can apply through their platform.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → tdf.drdo.gov.in

TIDE 2.0 – Technology Incubation & Development of Entrepreneurs

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

TIDE 2.0 helps early-stage tech startups get funding, incubation, and mentoring so they can turn ideas and prototypes into market-ready products. TIDE 2.0 scheme is a fellowship/grant for aspiring entrepreneurs, aiming to create a holistic ecosystem by providing financial and technical support to technology startups by creating necessary linkages.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → msh.meity.gov.in

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme helps new startups get early funding so they can turn ideas into real products and grow, filling the gap when they typically struggle to find initial investment. Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) aims to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialisation. Through this funding support, startups graduate to a level where they will be able to raise investments from angel investors or venture capitalists or seek loans from commercial banks or financial institutions

📍 IndiaEquityMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → seedfund.startupindia.gov.in

Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)

Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)

SVEP helps rural SHG members and their families start small non-farm businesses by giving them local business support and access to capital. Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), the sub-scheme under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) supports members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) or their family members to set-up small enterprises in the non-farm sector. • The ecosystem comprises of a cadre of Community Resource Person - Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EP) who will provide business support services to entrepreneurs.

📍 IndiaMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → svep.nrlm.gov.in

Stand-Up India

Department of Financial Services

Stand-Up India helps SC/ST and women entrepreneurs get bank loans to start a new business for the first time. The Scheme aims to finance Scheduled Caste (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST) and/or women entrepreneurs by facilitating bank loans for setting up a greenfield project enterprise in manufacturing, services, trading sector and activities allied to agriculture. • The objective is to facilitate bank loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore to at least one SC or ST entrepreneur and at least one-woman entrepreneur per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise. • This enterprise may be in manufacturing, services, agri-allied activities or the trading sector.

📍 IndiaLoan/CreditMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → static.pib.gov.in

Space Technology Adoption Fund (TAF)

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), Department of Space

The Space Technology Adoption Fund (TAF) helps Indian space companies turn early-stage technologies into commercial products by giving funding to support development and market readiness. IN-SPACe aims to foster commercialisation in space system by promoting Indian non-government entities (NGEi) to develop space products which in turn shall lead to scaling up the productionisation to meet the Global and Domestic Space Sector demands. • As part of this endeavor, the Technology Adoption Fund (TAF), a funding scheme designed to promote innovation and drive the commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies in the space sector has been instituted with a total funding of ₹500 crore.

📍 IndiaMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → inspace.gov.in

Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI)

Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

SBIRI supports biotech startups by funding product and process innovation, often with research partners, so they can develop and validate ideas for commercial use. Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) aims to boost innovation focused Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach in the area of Biotechnology. • SBIRI creates an enabling platform for the creation of product and process development and their commercialisation. • It facilitates innovation by enabling collaboration between startups, industry, public institutions, and the Government to promote research and innovation in the Indian biotechnology sector.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → birac.nic.in

Self-Reliant India Fund (SRI Fund)

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

The Self-Reliant India Fund (SRI Fund) helps MSMEs raise equity or quasi- equity capital through government-backed investment funds. The SRI fund has the provision of ₹10,000 crore from Government of India and ₹40,000 crore through Private Equity / Venture Capital Funds. In totality, it will create a provision of ₹50,000 crore equity support to MSMEs, who have the potential and viability to grow and become large units. • SRI Fund is being implemented by NSIC Venture Capital fund Limited (NVCFL), which is an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) of Category II registered with SEBI. SRI fund is oriented to provide the funding support through NVCFL to the Daughter Funds for onward provision to MSMEs as growth capital, in the form of equity or quasi- equity.

📍 IndiaEquityMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → dcmsme.gov.in

Scheme for Scale-up Support to Established Incubation Centres (EICs)

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog

This Scheme helps established incubators expand their space, services, funding support, and infrastructure so they can support more startups. Established Incubation Centres (EICs) are existing incubators who are supported by the AIM to further enhance their incubation capacity. • The aim is to refurbish the existing incubation space, enhance capabilities and capacity, including team, infrastructure, tools and equipment, services, seed funding support, outreach initiatives, training programs and/or other incubation related events.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → aim.gov.in

Scheme for Facilitating Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP)

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

The Scheme for Facilitating Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) helps startups protect their ideas by providing support and cost relief for filing patents, trademarks, and designs, encouraging innovation and safeguarding ownership. To protect and promote Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of Startups and to encourage innovation and creativity among them, a Scheme for facilitating Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) has been launched. • It facilitates startups in filing and processing of their patent, design or trademark application through the assistance of IP Facilitators, whose fee was borne by the Office of the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India.

📍 IndiaMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → dpiit.gov.in

STPI – Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS)

Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) / STPI

NGIS is a government scheme that helps nurture early-stage tech startups by providing incubation support, funding, and mentorship so they can develop strong, scalable business ideas. It is a startup incubation scheme by Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) under MeitY, aimed at strengthening India’s software product startup ecosystem, especially in Tier-II/III cities. It aims to handhold 300 tech startups across 12 STPI incubation locations in Tier-II/III cities.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → startup.stpi.in

SPARSH – Social Innovation Programme for Products Affordable & Relevant to Social Health

Department of Biotechnology (DBT) / BIRAC

The SPARSH programme supports innovators in developing affordable health-related solutions so that essential healthcare products can reach and benefit underserved communities. SPARSH, the social innovation initiative designed biotechnological interventions to address critical societal issues. • SPARSH revolves around nurturing "Social Innovators" within the biotech domain, equipped to identify community needs and gaps, and formulate innovative product developments or services to bridge these disparities.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → birac.nic.in

SAMRIDH – Startup Accelerators of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development & Growth

Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY)

SAMRIDH is a government program that supports startups by funding and accelerating innovative tech products so they can grow faster and succeed in the market. The SAMRIDH scheme supports existing and upcoming Accelerators to select and accelerate potential IT-based startups to scale. • The programme focuses on accelerating the startup by providing customer connect, investor connect, and internationalisation connect services. • The Scheme supports selected Accelerators for extending Accelerator services to startup and provide funding.

📍 IndiaMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → msh.meity.gov.in

Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) Scheme

Department of Science & Technology (DST)

The Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) Scheme provides funding and support to help organizations create and improve new technologies or ideas so they can boost innovation, economic growth, and global competitiveness. DST has launched the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, approved by the Cabinet on 1st July 2025, with a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore. • The initiative aims to catalyze private sector participation in high-impact R&D and strengthen India’s capabilities in strategic technologies and promote technological self-reliance, aligning with the nation’s long-term innovation and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

📍 IndiaEquityMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → rdifund.anrf.gov.in

Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Start-ups and MSMEs (PRISM)

Department of Science & Technology (DST)

The PRISM scheme provides funding and support to individual innovators, startups, and small businesses so they can turn new ideas into useful products and grow their businesses. PRISM (Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Start-ups and MSMEs) Scheme supports individual innovators with financial assistance that helps them build prototypes, develop technologies, and move toward patenting & commercialisation. • DSIR has established a robust mechanism to implement this scheme across the country through TePP Outreach cum Cluster Innovation Centres (TOCICs) in Universities and National research laboratories and PRISM Advisory and Screening Committee PASC at Delhi to receive and evaluate the proposals from innovators for funding.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → dsir.gov.in

Promoting Academic Research Conversion to Enterprise (PACE)

Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

PACE helps academic institutions turn important research into early-stage products and then supports industry partnerships to validate and take those innovations closer to real-world use. The PACE (Promoting Academic Research Conversion to Enterprise) encourages academia to develop technology/product (up to PoC stage) of societal/national importance (under Academic Innovation Research or AIR), and its subsequent validation by an industrial partner (under Contract Research Scheme or CRS.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → birac.nic.in

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)

Ministry of Finance

PMMY helps small businesses and entrepreneurs get collateral-free loans so they can start, run, or expand income-generating activities. MUDRA is a refinancing Institution. It provides loans of up to ₹20 lakh to income generating micro/small business entities engaged in trading, manufacturing, service, activities allied to agriculture, poultry, farming etc.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → mudra.org.in

Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)

PMFME helps small food processing businesses become formal, improve their products, and grow by giving them financial support, training, and access to incubation facilities. The Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme promotes the formalisation of the unorganized microenterprises in the food processing sector through the establishment of Incubation Center based on One District One Product (ODOP). • To support establishment and utilization of Incubation Centers for ODOP and other products to be used on commercial basis • To provide training and capacity building support micro entrepreneurs/ SHGs/FPOs/Cooperatives and groups through Incubation Centers at the training rates prescribed under PMFME Scheme based on National Skill Framework.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → static.pib.gov.in

National SC-ST Hub Scheme

Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises

The National SC-ST Hub Scheme helps SC/ST entrepreneurs start and grow businesses by providing support with funding, training, technology, marketing, and access to government procurement opportunities. The objective of the Scheme is to provide professional support to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs to fulfill the obligations under the Central Government Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises Order 2012, adopt applicable business practices and leverage the Stand-Up India initiatives. The National SC-ST Hub works leverages various sub-schemes of the Government for the benefit of the SC/ST entrepreneurs.

📍 IndiaLoan/CreditMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → scsthub.in

National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber- Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) – Technology Innovation Hubs

Department of Science & Technology (DST)

NM-ICPS Technology Innovation Hubs support people and startups working on advanced technologies by giving them funding and non-financial support to turn ideas into real products and businesses. The Department of Science & Technology (DST) is implementing multi- stakeholder National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical System (NM-ICPS). The Mission works with all the concerned Ministries/ Departments to identify their technology needs, develop solutions and technical support. It aims at development of technology platforms to carry out R&D, Translational Research, Product Development, Incubating & Supporting Startups as well as Commercialization. Under NM-ICPS, 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIH) have been set up across the country.

📍 IndiaMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → nmicps.in

National Livestock Mission

Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying

The National Livestock Mission helps startups and institutions in animal husbandry build businesses, improve innovation, and strengthen the livestock value chain from production to market. The National Livestock Mission (NLM) Scheme aims to develop entrepreneurs in the sector of animal husbandry in order to create the forward and backward linkages for the produce available at the unorganized sector with the organized sector.

📍 IndiaMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → nlm.udyamimitra.in

National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations - Technology Business Incubator (NIDHI-TBI)

Department of Science and Technology

NIDHI-TBI supports institutions in setting up incubators so they can help technology-based ideas grow into startups. The initiative aims to convert technology-based innovations into startups by supporting institutions in setting up Technology Business Incubators (TBIs). The initiative provides support for non-recurring and recurring expenses of TBIs.

📍 IndiaMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → nidhi.dst.gov.in

NIDHI – Seed Support Program (SSP)

Department of Science & Technology (DST)

The NIDHI – Seed Support Program (SSP) provides early-stage funding and support to innovators to help them develop and validate their ideas, encouraging the creation of viable startups. NIDHI-Seed Support Program (SSP) aims to provide seed support to deserving incubatee startups, through NIDHI Science & Technology Entrepreneurs Parks (STEPs) and NIDHI Technology Business Incubators (TBIs).

📍 IndiaMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → nidhi.dst.gov.in

NIDHI – Promotion and Acceleration of Young and Aspiring Technology Entrepreneurs (PRAYAS) 2.0

Department of Science & Technology (DST)

The NIDHI PRAYAS 2.0 scheme provides early-stage funding and prototyping support to young innovators, helping them turn their technology ideas into working products and viable startups. The scheme aims to bridge the gap funding in the very early-stage idea/ proof of concept. Building on the outcomes of NIDHI PRAYAS 1.0, the programme has evolved into NIDHI PRAYAS 2.0, with enhanced support for both technology-based and deep-tech innovations. It is a pre- incubation initiative that is implemented through incubators known as the PRAYAS Centres (PCs) and Advance PRAYAS Centres (APCs) (specialized centres to support DeepTech innovations).

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → nidhi-prayas.org

NIDHI – Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR)

Department of Science and Technology (DST)

NIDHI–EIR is a fellowship scheme that gives young people with startup ideas monthly financial support, workspace, and mentoring so they can turn their idea into a business The initiative NIDHI – Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) is executed at selected NIDHI-Technology Business Incubator (TBI) known as Programme Executing Partner (PEP). These approved TBIs then select entrepreneurs under the programme pursuing a promising technology business idea. The objective is to encourage graduating students to take to entrepreneurship by providing support as a fellowship.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → nidhi.dst.gov.in

NIDHI - Inclusive-Technology Business Incubator (i-TBI)

Department of Science and Technology (DST)

NIDHI i-TBI supports institutions in underserved regions to set up incubators so local innovators and startups can get the space, funding, and support needed to build new ventures. The NIDHI i-TBI initiative aims to support institutions in regions where innovation and startup incubation ecosystem is at nascent stages and ‘Inclusive TBI’ can play a vital role in normalizing resources and value creation across the country. The i-TBI would create a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the Host Institute (HI) and nearby geographies.

📍 IndiaGrantMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → nidhi.dst.gov.in

Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research (MAHIR)

Ministry of Power and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

MAHIR supports startups, industry, and research institutions in developing and testing advanced power and clean-energy technologies. The Ministry of Power and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy have launched a National Mission, titled “Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research (MAHIR)”, to identify emerging technologies in the power sector, to facilitate indigenous research, development, and demonstration of said latest and emerging technologies, at scale, for deployment within and outside India.

📍 IndiaMedium

#government#india#startup

Apply → cpri.res.in

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