Here's what Indian student founders can actually apply to right now: grants that are still running, incubators that take any college, free credits you can claim this week, and the fastest route to real investors.
Notice board · Please read carefully
Most "startup grant" lists are outdated. Read these before you fill a single form.
You apply through an approved incubator, so getting into one is often step one.
NIDHI-PRAYAS won't fund apps or e-commerce. Software founders should look at MeitY schemes.
Paperwork, a registered company and months of waiting. And none of them introduce you to investors.
Thousands of dollars in cloud and tools within a week. No pitch, no equity.
Government money · Non-dilutive
Money you don't pay back and don't give equity for. Pick what you're building to see what fits.
For students and individuals (18+) building a physical prototype. No company needed. Not for pure software, apps or e-commerce.
Apply through a PRAYAS Centre. Each one runs its own intake.
nidhi.dst.gov.in ↗For tech startups in AI, IoT, blockchain and robotics. The EIR track takes students validating an idea; the grant track needs a working proof of concept.
Apply through incubators like IIIT-Delhi, IISc and KIIT.
msh.meity.gov.in ↗For tech founders in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, including students at the idea stage.
Note the EIR 3.0 call closed on 3 September 2026. Watch for the next round.
mshportal.meity.gov.in ↗For early-stage biotech in health, agri, climate and bio-based materials. Individuals and startups can apply.
Apply when a call opens, usually twice a year.
birac.nic.in ↗Why it unlocks a 3-year tax holiday (80-IAC), 80% off patent fees and eligibility for many schemes.
Needs a private limited company, LLP or registered partnership.
startupindia.gov.in ↗Amounts and status checked October 2026. Schemes change often, so confirm on the official page before applying.
Grants fund the build. They don't fund the company.
Cohort 01 · 20 seats · applications close October 15.
Mentors · Space · Grant access
Incubators give you mentors, space and access to grants that only flow through them. You don't need to study at an IIT or IIM for these.
About 5 months, mostly online, with two short bootcamps in Bengaluru. Solo founders welcome.
nsrcel.org ↗Tech and deep-tech startups, including outside founders. Also runs the national NIDHI-PRAYAS programme.
sineiitb.org ↗Centres at universities across India, so there's probably one near you. Many are also channels for government grants.
aim.gov.in ↗These mainly support their own students.
The natural first stop for DU students. Online proposal form.
udhmodyadu.in ↗For IIT Madras student founders. BS programme students should check eligibility with Nirmaan.
nirmaan.iitm.ac.in ↗IIT Delhi students and researchers, plus outside deep-tech founders.
fitt-iitd.in ↗Launchpad · Cohort 01 · Startup accelerator
Grants and incubators help you build. Launchpad gets you funded. A fully online accelerator for student founders and early-stage builders across India, backed by a network of 90+ campus chapters.
No registered company or DPIIT recognition needed.
You join a small pod of founders building alongside you.
Sunday Live Labs, mentor office hours and pod check-ins. About 6–8 hours a week.
Sharpen your deck and story until it's investor-ready.
Pitch your startup to real investors.
No pitch · No equity
Most only need a live website and an email on your own domain, so set those up first.
| Program | Worth | Who can get it |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub Student Packeducation.github.com/pack ↗ | Free bundle | Any student. Verify your college email. |
| Azure for Studentsazure.microsoft.com ↗ | $100 | Any student. No credit card needed. |
| AWS Activate Foundersaws.amazon.com/startups ↗ | $1K–$5K | Self-funded startups. Up to $200K with a partner investor or accelerator. |
| Google for Startups Cloudcloud.google.com/startup ↗ | $2,000 | Pre-funded startups. Funded ones can get $200K, or $350K if AI-first. |
| Microsoft for Startupsmicrosoft.com/startups ↗ | Up to $150K | Depends on your stage and funding. |
| Cloudflare for Startupscloudflare.com/forstartups ↗ | $10,000 | Bootstrapped, under $1M raised, with a live site and business email. |
| Notion for Startupsnotion.com/startups ↗ | 3–6 months | Business plan with Notion AI. Needs a company domain email. |
The biggest credit tiers need a partner accelerator or investor behind you.
Your next 30 days
GitHub Student Pack and Azure for Students take minutes.
The only step here with a hard deadline, and the one that puts you in front of investors. Apply now ↗
Then apply to AWS, Google Cloud, Cloudflare and Notion with your new email.
Hardware or deep tech: NIDHI-PRAYAS or BIRAC. Software or AI: TIDE 2.0 and GENESIS.
Start with your own campus, then a national program like NSRCEL.
Do it when you're about to take grant money, then apply for DPIIT recognition.
Launchpad questions
No. You don't need a company or DPIIT recognition to apply.
No. It's open to student founders and early-stage builders across India.
About 6–8 hours a week, built around Sunday Live Labs, mentor office hours and pod check-ins. Everything is online.
A one-time ₹999 application fee. If you're selected, Launchpad takes 2% equity in your venture under a standard founder agreement, with no success fee on anything you raise.
You still get personal written feedback on your application and access to every virtual leader and mentor session during the cohort. Founder pods, 1:1 office hours, investor intros and Demo Day are for the 20 selected founders.
Find your people. Fund your startup.
20 seats. Applications close October 15 at 11:59 PM IST, with no extensions.
The Future Council