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
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Grants & non-dilutive funding

Free money: schemes, grants, and competitions.

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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... Beginner 2 resources → How do I apply to the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), and how much can I get? SISFS gives DPIIT-recognised startups (incorporated under two years at application) up to INR 20 lakh as a grant for proof-of-concept/prototyping a... Intermediate 2 resources → What tax benefits and exemptions do DPIIT-recognised startups actually get? Two big ones: the Section 80-IAC tax holiday (100% profit deduction for any 3 consecutive years out of your first 10, if approved by the inter-mini... Intermediate 2 resources → How long does a government grant actually take to hit my bank account, and how do I survive the wait? Assume 3 to 9 months from application to first disbursement, and often longer for tranche two, because release is tied to milestones, utilization c... Intermediate 3 resources → When should I stop chasing grants and just raise a round instead? Stop chasing grants the moment the pursuit is costing you more than the money is worth. Grants are worth it when the cash is meaningful relative to... Advanced 3 resources → What is revenue-based financing, and when is it a smarter non-dilutive option than a grant or a round? Revenue-based financing (RBF) is money you repay as a fixed percentage of monthly revenue, so it flexes with your business and takes no equity. In ... Advanced 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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