Grants & Accelerators Directory

Verified grants, accelerators, and equity-free funding programs for D2C and startup founders in India.

• 100X.VC iSAFE Investment Program

  100X.VC

  India-focused seed fund investing a fixed cheque via an iSAFE note into each selected startup, plus a structured 6-week HomeRun Masterclass in Mumbai.

• Amazon Propel Global Business Accelerator

  Amazon India

  Cohort-based accelerator helping Indian D2C brands sell internationally on Amazon, backed by VC partners including the Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund.

• Atal Innovation Mission — ARISE-ANIC Challenges

  Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog

  Challenge-led applied-research grants for startups and MSMEs solving sector-specific problems posed by partner ministries (Defence, Food Processing, Health, Housing & Urban Affairs) and ISRO.

• Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG)

  BIRAC (Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India)

  Early-stage grant-in-aid to take biotech innovations from idea to proof-of-concept, delivered via BIRAC-accredited incubators (BIRAC-BIGs).

• Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS)

  National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (Government of India)

  Collateral-free credit guarantee that backs working-capital and term loans from banks, NBFCs, and venture debt funds to DPIIT-recognized startups.

• Google for Startups Accelerator: India (AI-First)

  Google

  Equity-free accelerator for Seed-to-Series-A AI-first startups headquartered in India, running a Bengaluru bootcamp through to a Demo Day.

• ELEVATE — Karnataka Startup Grant-in-Aid

  Startup Karnataka (Govt. of Karnataka)

  One-time, milestone-based, non-dilutive Grant-in-Aid for Karnataka-registered startups needing early-stage seed funding, across four tracks (General, Aspire, Unnati, Shakti).

• Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub

  Microsoft

  No-equity-required cloud credits and tooling for software-driven startups: Azure credits, GitHub Enterprise, Microsoft 365, and mentorship, unlocked in tiers as the startup grows.

• NIDHI-PRAYAS Grant

  Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India

  Pre-incubation grant support to convert an idea into a validated, testable prototype, delivered through a network of PRAYAS Centres nationwide.

• Surge by Peak XV Partners

  Peak XV Partners

  Flagship India/Southeast Asia seed accelerator: a 16-week hands-on program combining in-person and online sessions with direct seed investment from Peak XV.

• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

  DPIIT, Government of India

  Government seed funding for proof of concept, prototyping, product trials, and market entry, disbursed through DPIIT-approved incubators.

• T-Fund — Telangana Early-Stage Startup Fund

  T-Hub & Government of Telangana

  Joint T-Hub/Telangana government fund investing in promising early-stage Telangana startups via equity and equity-linked instruments to help them validate markets and scale.

• Villgro India — Impact Incubation & Seed Funding

  Villgro Innovations Foundation

  Impact-first incubation across healthcare, agribusiness, climate action, and gender inclusion, combining hands-on incubation with seed funding (including as an SISFS-partner incubator).

• Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) — Award to Reward

  NITI Aayog

  National platform and cohort-based accelerator for women entrepreneurs, offering mentorship, capital-matching, and periodic cash awards to standout participants.