We plan to bring eChai across 100 cities in India. The next eChai Startup Demo Day is on 29 August in Bengaluru and Pune. The next after that is on 26 September, all in person. 11 cities confirmed, 374 founders registered. Any city that reaches 20 interested founders is on too. See your city
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Startup Grants India

3 resources from Startup Grants India we point founders to, and the questions each answers.

📄 Article
✓ Link checked India Free Beginner

The clearest single-page explainer of the SISFS mechanics that trip founders up: you never apply to DPIIT directly, you apply to up to three empanelled incubators, and the money splits into a non-dilutive grant (up to 20 lakh for proof of concept or prototype) plus repayable/convertible instruments (up to 50 lakh for scaling). It spells out the 51% Indian shareholding rule, the under-2-years incorporation cap, and the 10 lakh prior-funding ceiling in one place.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS): Programs, Cohorts & Eligibility

From Startup Grants India by Startup Grants India 12 min read

  • Grant up to 20 lakh for proof of concept/prototype/trials, plus up to 50 lakh as convertible debt for scaling
  • You apply through empanelled incubators (up to three in preference order), not to DPIIT directly
  • Hard gates: DPIIT-recognised, incorporated under 2 years, 51% Indian promoter shareholding, and under 10 lakh of prior government funding
Open startupgrantsindia.com
🛠️ Tool
✓ Link checked India Free Beginner

This is a curated, actively maintained list of 448+ Indian and India-open competitions with the prize size, deadline, and stage on every card, so an Anywhere Founder outside the Bengaluru or Delhi loop can scan what is worth entering without a network to hear about them. It surfaces the range honestly, from a 1 to 3 lakh Zepto Nova to the Startup World Cup at up to 9 crore, which makes the point for you: most prizes are small, a few are large and long-odds, and you should pick the two or three that fit your sector.

StartupGrantsIndia: Competitions and Hackathons directory

From Startup Grants India by Nexora Technology browse, filterable

  • One screen shows prize size, deadline, and stage across 448+ programs, so you can build a short list instead of chasing the whole circuit
  • The spread from a few lakh to multi-crore makes the core lesson visible: prize money is rarely a funding strategy
  • It is a private aggregator, not affiliated with any government body, so cross-check the marquee grand challenges on the official Startup India portal before you apply
Open startupgrantsindia.com
🛠️ Tool
✓ Link checked India Free Beginner

Once you know you want a specialized program, this is where you filter for it: a live India directory of accelerators and incubators you can narrow by industry, stage, grant type (equity vs non-dilutive), state, and deadline, each with the actual funding range and closing date. It covers the sector programs that matter for a niche build (deeptech, fintech, agritech, climate, export) with real numbers like the Exim Bank Ubharte Sitaare and NIDHI-SSS entries, so you compare on offer and terms rather than brand name.

Startup Grants India: Accelerator and Incubator Directory by Sector

From Startup Grants India by Startup Grants India browse

  • Filter accelerators and incubators by industry, stage, and grant type, so you find the sector-fit program instead of the famous generalist one
  • Each listing shows funding range, fund type (equity or non-dilutive), and deadline, letting you shortlist on terms, not reputation
  • Covers 148+ equity programs plus grants and competitions in one place, useful for stacking non-dilutive capital with a specialized incubator
Open startupgrantsindia.com
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