We plan to bring eChai across 100 cities in India. It starts with eChai Startup Demo Day on 26 September, all in person. 13 cities confirmed, 676 founders registered. Any city that reaches 20 interested founders is on too. See your city
Raise money

Grants & non-dilutive funding

Free money: schemes, grants, and competitions.

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What government schemes and grants can an early Indian startup actually get? Beyond the Seed Fund, the real menu is: BIRAC's BIG grant (up to INR 50 lakh, non-dilutive) for biotech/life-sciences, DST's NIDHI-PRAYAS (up to IN... Intermediate 3 resources → 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, ... Beginner 2 resources → How do I write a grant application that actually gets funded? Grant reviewers fund clarity, not hype: state the problem, the specific innovation, why it can't be done cheaply off-the-shelf, and exactly what th... Intermediate 3 resources → BIRAC vs SISFS vs a state grant: which non-dilutive scheme actually fits my startup? Match the scheme to what you're building, not to whichever form you found first. BIRAC (BIG, SEED, LEAP) is the right door for biotech, healthtech,... Intermediate 3 resources → How do I claim R&D and innovation support (patent fee rebates, SIDBI, technology development funds) beyond the headline grants? The headline seed grants get all the attention, but there's a second layer of R&D and IP support that quietly saves you real money. DPIIT-recognise... Advanced 3 resources → I'm building outside the metros. Which grants and schemes actually favor founders in smaller cities and rural India? Being outside the metros is an advantage for several schemes, so use it. State startup policies in Kerala, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and t... Intermediate 3 resources → How do I sell to the government and use GeM, tenders, and public procurement as non-dilutive revenue? Government procurement is non-dilutive money you earn, and DPIIT recognition unlocks real doors here: exemption from prior-experience and turnover ... Advanced 3 resources →
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