Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)
DPIIT, Government of India · Seed grant
$24KGrant up to ₹20 lakh for proof of concept/prototype/product trials; separately up to ₹50 lakh as convertible debentures/debt for market entry
Milestone-based seed grant for young Indian tech startups, disbursed through DPIIT-selected incubators.
Key terms
- DPIIT-recognised startup incorporated ≤2 years at application
- Technology must be used in core product, business model, distribution or methodology
- Indian promoters must hold ≥51% at application
- Must not have received >₹10 lakh under other central/state schemes
- Funds routed via an eligible incubator; grant and debt each availed once
Eligibility
- Where
- India
- Stages
- idea, pre-seed
- Max company age
- 2 years
- Needs VC/accelerator backing
- No
- Needs partner referral code
- No
- Must be incorporated
- Yes
- AI focus required
- No
- Students / researchers
- Not eligible
- Nonprofits
- Not eligible
Also required
- Debt/convertible portion is repayable or convertible
How to apply
Get DPIIT recognition, then apply on the SISFS portal to up to three incubators.
- Benefit
- cash
- Equity-free
- Yes
- Decision time
- —
- Credit validity
- —
- Deadline
- Startup applications closed 2026-05-31 (portal notice); no new round announced
- Status
- Paused — next round TBA
Verified 2026-10-23 · source