We plan to bring eChai across 100 cities in India. It starts with eChai Startup Demo Day on 26 September, all in person. 11 cities confirmed, 304 founders registered. Any city that reaches 20 interested founders is on too. See your city
Everything from

Seed Fund Portal (seedfund.startupindia.gov.in)

1 resource from Seed Fund Portal (seedfund.startupindia.gov.in) we point founders to, and the questions each answers.

🛠️ Tool
✓ Link checked India Free Intermediate

SISFS is the most accessible non-dilutive cheque for early Indian startups, and this is where you actually apply. It's genuinely founder-friendly: you apply through incubators, not a government office, and grant money for proof-of-concept has no equity strings.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), Official Portal

From Seed Fund Portal (seedfund.startupindia.gov.in) by DPIIT, Government of India Application portal

  • Up to INR 20 lakh as a grant for proof-of-concept, prototype development, and product trials, this portion is truly non-dilutive.
  • Up to INR 50 lakh via convertible debentures / debt for market entry, commercialisation, and scaling.
  • Eligibility: DPIIT-recognised and incorporated not more than 2 years before applying; you can apply to up to 3 approved incubators.
  • Applications flow through the incubator, so choosing an active incubator with a strong track record is half the battle.
Open seedfund.startupindia.gov.in →
Answers Do I need a registered company, GST, and a separate bank account before I can receive grant money? What free money and support exists specifically for first-time and student founders who've never raised anything? What exactly is non-dilutive funding, and why should an early founder chase it before raising VC? How do I apply to the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), and how much can I get? Can I get a grant or funding before I graduate, without a registered company? How do I write a grant application that actually gets funded?
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