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, 688 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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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 → 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 → Which incubator or accelerator should I join purely to unlock grant money, and what do they take in return? Choose the incubator by the grants and infrastructure it unlocks, then read the fine print on what it costs you. SISFS money flows only through app... Intermediate 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 → 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... Beginner 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 → 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... Beginner 3 resources →
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