AI by HER: The Impact Challenge for Women in AI
By Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
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Quick Answer
Global innovation challenge for women-led teams to demonstrate AI-for-good solutions; top 10 winners receive ₹25 lakh each plus showcase at India-AI Impact Summit.
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹2.5 Cr
- Funding type
- Grant
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 31 October 2025. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The AI by HER: The Impact Challenge for Women in AI is a global innovation challenge inviting women technologists and women-led teams to demonstrate AI solutions tackling large-scale or novel real-world public challenges.
The initiative promotes inclusive innovation, gender equity, and Global South innovation. It aims to showcase scalable AI-for-Good applications at the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi (February 2026).
Key benefits for top entries (up to 30 globally) include:
- Funding Support (Award Money) up to ₹2.5 Crore for 10 winners.
- Immersive Bootcamps (Responsible AI, Investor Readiness & Pitching).
- Exclusive opportunity to Showcase innovations at the India-AI Impact Summit.
- Travel and accommodation covered for up to two members per finalist team for the Summit.
- Access to potential compute and cloud credits.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Overview MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) is the startup-focused initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. It serves as the central coordination platform linking incubation centres, accelerators, investors, and corporates to…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Amount
- Up to ₹2.5 Cr
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Award money of INR 25,00,000 to each of the top 10 winners. Additionally, potential incentives such as cloud and compute credits. Top finalists (up to 30) receive travel and accommodation support to participate in the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to this challenge?
Women-led teams where the core applying team includes at least one woman as technical lead, product lead, or business lead. Applicants may be students, or from universities, research institutions, autonomous bodies, startups, commercial enterprises, or non-profits. Women-led entities where a woman is in a key decision-making role (CEO, CTO, COO) also qualify.
Is the challenge open to people from any country?
Yes, the challenge is open globally.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
