Department of Science and Technology (DST) / NSTEDB
Status: active. Provides seed-stage financial assistance to startups incubated at Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Parks (STEPs) / Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization. Funds are channelled to eligible incubators as grant-in-aid, which then disburse seed support to individual startups as grant, loan, or equity/equity-linked instruments.
Seed support of up to Rs 1 crore per startup (grant-in-aid to incubators of up to Rs 10 crore per incubator), disbursed through DST-recognized Technology Business Incubators.