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Startup grants in Karnataka — November 2026
Programmes open to startups in Karnataka, including national schemes any Indian startup can apply to.
18 open · updated 4 Nov 2026
IdeaPrototypeMVPEarly TractionGrowth GlobalGujaratIndiaKarnatakaKeralaMaharashtraTelanganaUttar Pradesh
Competition
Grand Startup Challenge
CARS24 with Startup India & Startup Policy Forum
Closes 10 Nov 2026 (5 days left)
₹1 crore prize pool (12 winners) + deployment
Grant
ELEVATE NxT 2026–27 (DeepTech)
Govt of Karnataka (KITS / Startup Karnataka)
Closes 13 Nov 2026 (8 days left)
Up to ₹1 crore, equity-free
Grant
ELEVATE Minorities 2026
Govt of Karnataka (KITS / Startup Karnataka)
Closes 13 Nov 2026 (8 days left)
Up to ₹50 lakh, equity-free
Competition
UNDP–Generali MSME Insurance Innovation Challenge (India)
UNDP India & Generali Central
Closes 20 Nov 2026
Up to ₹38.7 lakh each (max 3 winners)
Competition
National Startup Awards 6.0 (2026)
DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (Startup India)
Closes 20 Nov 2026
₹25 lakh per category winner
Grant
Grassroot Innovation Programme 2026
Govt of Karnataka (KITS)
Closes 23 Nov 2026
Up to ₹4 lakh per project
Grant
First in the World Challenge Grants 2026
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Closes 30 Nov 2026
Up to ₹8 Cr (staged: ₹1 Cr / ₹4 Cr / ₹8 Cr)
Fellowship
Social Startups Programme (Cohort 1)
Azim Premji Foundation
Closes 31 Dec 2026
₹45K/month for 8 months, then ₹15–20 lakh/yr seed grant for 2 yrs
Grant
NIDHI-PRAYAS
DST (NIDHI) via PRAYAS centres
Rolling — apply any time
Up to ₹10 lakh (prototype)
Scheme
NIDHI Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS)
DST via Technology Business Incubators
Rolling — apply any time
Up to ₹1 crore (seed)
Grant
BIRAC Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG)
BIRAC (Dept of Biotechnology)
Rolling — apply any time
Up to ₹50 lakh
Scheme
RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubation
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Rolling — apply any time
₹5 lakh pre-seed / ₹25 lakh seed
Scheme
iDEX — Innovations for Defence Excellence
Ministry of Defence (DIO)
Rolling — apply any time
Up to ₹1.5 crore (SPARK grant)
Scheme
MSME Innovative Scheme (Incubation)
Ministry of MSME via Host Institutes
Rolling — apply any time
Up to ₹15 lakh per idea
Scheme
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS)
DPIIT / NCGTC
Rolling — apply any time
Collateral-free loans, guarantee cover up to ₹20 crore
Scheme
Technology Development Board — Funding
TDB, Dept of Science & Technology
Rolling — apply any time
Soft loan / equity / grant — varies
Equity Program
100Unicorns Accelerator VC
100Unicorns (formerly 9Unicorns)
Rolling — apply any time
Seed investment — varies
Scheme
Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes (VCF-ST)
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, managed by IFCI Venture Capital Funds
Rolling — apply any time
₹10 lakh – ₹5 Cr per company
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