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Startup-specific scheme · Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

ClosedChecked 3 October 2026

Closed to new startup applications on 31 May 2026 (final extended deadline); incubators were to finish selections by 30 Jun 2026; disbursal of approved tranches continues. No successor (SISFS 2.0) announced as of late Sep 2026.

Amount
Up to ₹50 lakh
Type of support
Grant, Loan / Credit
Best for
Prototype / PoC, Seed / Early-Stage, Market Access & IP
Who can apply
DPIIT-recognised startups, Early-stage startups
Go to the official portalSource: DPIIT playbook p. 32

The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme helps new startups get early funding so they can turn ideas into real products and grow, filling the gap when they typically struggle to find initial investment.

Who can apply?
  • DPIIT recognised startups.
  • Incorporated not more than 2 years ago at the time of application.
  • Startup must have a business idea to develop a product or a service with market fit, viable commercialisation, and scope of scaling. Startup should be using technology in its core product or service, or business model.
  • Startup should not have received more than ₹10 lakh of monetary support under any other Central or State Government scheme
What do you get?
  • Up to ₹20 lakh as grant for validation of Proof of Concept, or prototype development, or product trials.
  • Up to ₹50 lakh of investment for market entry, commercialisation, or scaling up through convertible debentures or debt or debt-linked instruments
How to apply

Applications closed on 31 May 2026 (final extended deadline); incubators completed selections by 30 Jun 2026 and continue disbursing to selected startups. No successor scheme announced as of early Oct 2026 — see PRAYAS 2.0, PRISM, GENESIS or state seed grants instead.

Objectives

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) aims to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialisation. Through this funding support, startups graduate to a level where they will be able to raise investments from angel investors or venture capitalists or seek loans from commercial banks or financial institutions

Key links

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

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