How do I apply to the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), and how much can I get?
The short answer
SISFS gives DPIIT-recognised startups (incorporated under two years at application) up to INR 20 lakh as a grant for proof-of-concept/prototyping and up to INR 50 lakh as convertible debentures or debt for market entry and scaling. You don't apply to the government directly, you apply through an approved incubator on seedfund.startupindia.gov.in and can pick up to three incubators. It's one of the most accessible early-stage cheques in India, so build a crisp problem-solution-prototype pitch.
Go deeper, your way
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Why we picked it
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.
Why we picked it
This is the single official directory of central and state government schemes for Indian startups, the primary source, not a blog summarising it. If you only bookmark one page for non-dilutive funding, make it this one and filter by your sector, stage, and state.
Aggregates central schemes (Seed Fund, Fund of Funds 2.0, Credit Guarantee Scheme) plus state and ministry-specific programmes in one searchable place.
Links out to the partner desks that actually run the money, BIRAC, Atal Innovation Mission, MeitY Startup Hub, DST NIDHI.
Most listed schemes require DPIIT recognition first, so treat recognition as prerequisite step zero.
Filter by stage and sector rather than scrolling, the wrong-desk application is the most common reason founders get rejected.
