Raise money
Grants & non-dilutive funding
Free money: schemes, grants, and competitions.
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Showing 9 of 21 questions. Clear filters
What exactly is non-dilutive funding, and why should an early founder chase it before raising VC?
Non-dilutive funding is money you get without giving up equity or control, grants, government schemes, competitions, R&D subsidies, and revenue. In...
What is DPIIT / Startup India recognition, and what do I actually get from it?
DPIIT recognition is a free certificate from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade that officially labels your entity a 'star...
What startup grants and competitions can a student in India apply to?
As a student you're in the sweet spot: your college's IIC (Institution's Innovation Council) and MHRD's Innovation Cell run internal grants and Sma...
Can I get a grant or funding before I graduate, without a registered company?
For most government grants the honest answer is no, DPIIT recognition and schemes like SISFS require an incorporated entity (Pvt Ltd, LLP, or regis...
Are there grants, funds, and networks specifically for women founders in India?
Yes, and they're worth prioritising. Start with NITI Aayog's Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) for incubation, mentorship, and funding access, ...
Are startup pitch competitions and grand challenges worth entering for the prize money?
Enter them for the deadline, the deck reps, and the network, not the cheque. Most competition prize money is small and the odds are long, so treati...
How do I get free credits and non-cash support (AWS, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA) that stretch my runway like a grant?
Cloud and tooling credits are the fastest non-dilutive money most founders ignore, and they can be worth lakhs in real burn saved. Apply to AWS Act...
Do I need a registered company, GST, and a separate bank account before I can receive grant money?
For most real grants, yes, and you should sort this before you apply, not after you're approved. Government schemes disburse to a registered entity...
What free money and support exists specifically for first-time and student founders who've never raised anything?
If you've never raised, start with the schemes designed to give you a first push without a track record. Campus incubators and institution innovati...
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