AP Build Grant — Build with AI: RTIH Startup Sprint
By Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH)
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Quick Answer
₹3–5L equity-free grant + 4-week AI prototype sprint for Andhra Pradesh startups & MSMEs.
- Funding amount
- ₹3 Lakhs – ₹5 Lakhs
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH)
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- Andhra Pradesh
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 14 June 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH). 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 AP Build Grant is the funding leg of the Build with AI: RTIH Startup Sprint, run by the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH) under the Government of Andhra Pradesh. It is aimed at prototype-stage startups and MSMEs based in Andhra Pradesh that have a real operational bottleneck and want to ship a working AI prototype that solves it.
Grant component
Selected teams receive grant support of ₹3–5 lakh to underwrite the cost of building, testing and validating their prototype. The grant is positioned for teams that are past pure ideation and need fuel to put a real product in the hands of users.
Program component
The grant is bundled with a 4-week intensive sprint that runs in hybrid mode — virtual sessions plus in-person time at the RTIH central hub in Amaravati and the regional spoke centres (Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Anantapur). The sprint is execution-focused: domain mentors, technical builders and AI experts work alongside founders to move from a defined bottleneck to a deployable AI prototype in four weeks.
Sectors in focus
AI, HealthTech, Agritech, ClimateTech, DeepTech, Manufacturing, Mobility, EdTech, Drones and Rural Innovation. The sprint particularly favours teams whose AI use-case is anchored to a measurable operational problem rather than a general "AI for X" theme.
Who this is for
Andhra Pradesh-based startups and MSMEs at the idea / pre-prototype to MVP / beta-testing stage. Teams that already have a clear bottleneck statement, a small technical core, and the ability to spend four weeks on focused execution will get the most out of the program.
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
Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH) is the Government of Andhra Pradesh's statewide platform for innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship, set up under the state's Innovation & Startup Policy 2024–2029. Its central hub is at Mayuri Tech Park in Mangalagiri, in the Amaravati…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Amount
- ₹3 Lakhs – ₹5 Lakhs
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
4-week intensive AI sprint with mentor support, access to RTIH's central hub in Amaravati and five regional spoke centres (Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Anantapur), exposure to RTIH's broader incubation pipeline (Catalyst Incubation, Future Founders), and a working AI prototype at the end of the sprint.
- Disbursement
- Milestone Based
- Duration
- 1 months
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Applications are reviewed by the RTIH Build with AI team on three lines: clarity of the operational bottleneck being addressed, feasibility of solving it with an AI prototype in four weeks, and the team's ability to execute. Shortlisted teams may be asked to clarify their problem statement or join a brief call before final selection into the sprint cohort.
Application Process
- 1
Online Application
Submit the Google Form with founder, team, sector, stage and bottleneck details before 14 June 2026.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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
See the questions before you start
Download every question this programme's application form asks, so you can prepare your answers offline before opening the portal.
- 3
Line up your documents
Keep every document from the checklist ready in one folder. Missing docs are the #1 reason applications get bounced.
- 4
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 5
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this open to startups outside Andhra Pradesh?
No. The AP Build Grant is targeted at startups and MSMEs based in Andhra Pradesh, where RTIH has its central hub (Amaravati) and regional spoke centres.
Does RTIH take equity for the grant?
No. The ₹3–5 lakh AP Build Grant is positioned as equity-free prototype funding.
What does the 4-week sprint look like?
It is a hybrid format — virtual mentor sessions plus in-person time at RTIH's hub or spoke centres in Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Tirupati or Anantapur — built around shipping a working AI prototype tied to an operational bottleneck.
The program started on 25 May 2026 — can I still apply?
Yes. The application window stays open until 14 June 2026. Late applications join the in-flight cohort or a subsequent batch depending on RTIH's selection.
Do I need to be working on AI specifically?
Yes — the sprint is anchored on building a working AI prototype, even if the underlying domain is agri, health, climate, mobility, edtech or another sector.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
