Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)
स्टार्टअप इंडिया सीड फंड योजना
Closed for now
The funder has not said when this reopens.
Two instruments, each available once per startup. (1) Up to Rs. 20 Lakhs as grant for validation of Proof of Concept, prototype development or product trials, disbursed in milestone-based instalments. (2) Up to Rs. 50 Lakhs of investment for market entry, commercialization or scaling up, through convertible debentures or debt or debt-linked instruments, at a rate of interest of not more than the prevailing repo rate. Money is not paid by DPIIT directly: it is disbursed through the selected incubator. Total scheme outlay is INR 945 crore.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India
public · national
Deadline: closed — The scheme originally ran year-round Calls for Applications. As of 14 August 2026 the SISFS portal carries a banner reading 'Final Notice (Extended): Last date for startups to apply under SISFS - 31 May 2026 | Incubators to complete 100% startup selection by - 30 June 2026.' That startup application deadline has passed, so the scheme is not accepting new startup applications at the time of verification. No successor call had been announced on the official site.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
Who can apply
- Under 2 years old
- Stage: idea, pre_seed, seed
- R&D activity required
- Locally registered entity required
A startup, recognized by DPIIT, incorporated not more than 2 years ago at the time of application. Must use technology in its core product/service, business model, distribution model or methodology. Must not have received more than Rs 10 lakh of monetary support under any other Central or State Government scheme (prize money, subsidised workspace, founder allowance, lab or prototyping access excluded). Shareholding by Indian promoters must be at least 51% at the time of application. Preference for social impact, waste management, water management, financial inclusion, education, agriculture, food processing, biotechnology, healthcare, energy, mobility, defence, space, railways, oil and gas, textiles. No mandatory physical incubation. DPIIT recognition is a hard prerequisite: the startup must hold a DPIIT Certificate of Recognition obtained through the National Single Window System (nsws.gov.in) before it can apply. Per the official recognition page the entity must be a Private Limited Company, Registered Partnership Firm, LLP or Cooperative Society, with turnover under INR 200 crore (INR 300 crore for DeepTech) in any previous financial year, and is treated as a startup for up to 10 years (20 years for DeepTech) from incorporation.
How to apply
- Obtain DPIIT Startup Recognition via the National Single Window System. — link
- Register on the SISFS portal and apply to up to three eligible incubators simultaneously, choosing grant and/or debt instrument. — link
- Incubator's Incubator Seed Management Committee (ISMC) evaluates and selects startups.
- Sign the agreement with the incubator; funds released against agreed milestones.
What you will need
- DPIIT Certificate of Recognition
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Business plan / pitch deck
- Shareholding pattern showing at least 51% Indian promoter shareholding
- PAN and bank details
Source. https://seedfund.startupindia.gov.in/faq — checked 2026-08-14
"Up to Rs. 20 Lakhs as grant for validation of Proof of Concept, or prototype development, or product trials ... Up to Rs. 50 Lakhs of investment for market entry, commercialization, or scaling up through convertible debentures or debt or debt-linked instruments ... A startup applicant can avail seed"