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Startup-specific scheme · Department of Biotechnology / Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

Biotechnology Innovation Fund – Accelerating Entrepreneurs (AcE)

ActiveChecked 3 October 2026

No change found in Oct 2026 checks; terms as per the June 2026 playbook. Confirm the current call/window on the official link before applying.

Amount
Up to ₹7 crore per startup (plus follow-on up to ₹3.5 crore)
Type of support
Equity
Best for
Growth / Scaling
Who can apply
Growth-stage startups, MSMEs
Go to the official portalSource: DPIIT playbook p. 44

The Biotechnology Innovation Fund – Accelerating Entrepreneurs (AcE) provides financial support to biotech startups so they can develop and scale innovative solutions faster and bring them to market.

Who can apply?
  • AcE Fund invests and partners with SEBI-registered Category I and II AIFs in biotech sector.
  • Startups and SMEs in subsectors such as Healthcare, Life Sciences, Pharma, Biopharma, Med-tech, Diagnostics, Industrial-Biotech, Agri-tech, Bio-IT/Services and allied areas.
What do you get?
  • The AcE Fund shall make a maximum capital commitment of up to ₹30 crore or up to 30% of the total aggregate capital commitment amount (i.e. fund corpus) in each Daughter Fund.
  • Ticket size of up to ₹7 crore, with provision of additional follow-on funding up to ₹3.5 crore is provided to an eligible startup.
How to apply

Apply on: https://birac.nic.in/aceFund.php

Objectives

The AcE Fund is a ‘fund of funds’ that aims to partner with fund managers (AcE Fund Partners) and invest in SEBI-registered AIFs (Daughter Funds). AcE Daughter Funds commit investment of 2x BIRAC’s contribution into biotech startups.

Key links

Deadlines, amounts and windows change. Check the official portal before you apply.

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