Startup Karnataka
Department of Electronics, IT, BT & S&T, Government of Karnataka
Government of Karnataka's flagship startup initiative offering grants up to ₹50 lakh through ELEVATE and Idea2PoC.
Startup Karnataka at a glance
| Part of | Department of Electronics, IT, BT & S&T, Government of Karnataka |
|---|---|
| Address | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Programmes | 8 standing programmes |
| Official website | eitbt.karnataka.gov.in/startup/public |
Programs by Startup Karnataka
5 past programs · Filter all programs
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at Startup Karnataka, separate from the funding calls above.
An early-stage funding program that nurtures ideas and innovations to promote innovative endeavors, startups initiated by students or entrepreneurs.
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RGEP aims at supporting 30 innovators identified through a selection process, through a monthly stipend/subsistence grant of ₹25,000 for a period of 12 months, helping them survive the uncertainties during the phase of ideation. It typically concludes with Prototype / Minimum Viable Product (MVP) / Proof of Concept that has business potential. The proposed concept/product/service must not have been introduced to the market in any form. Eligibility criteria includes: Indian citizen (domicile of Karnataka), 3 or 4-year science/engineering degree, not employed, no stake in other startups, 30 or younger, solely dedicated for 12 months. Not received >₹5 lakh cumulatively from central/state govt/private grants. No revenue from any product/service. Idea must be early ideation to early prototype development.
Local Economy Accelerator Program (LEAP)
AcceleratorA ₹1000 crore, 5-year initiative launched by the Government of Karnataka to supercharge regional entrepreneurship, decentralize innovation, and amplify growth across the state's emerging tech clusters.
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LEAP is designed to catalyze over 5 lakh new jobs, deep-tech breakthroughs, and global visibility by empowering six key clusters with targeted funding, grassroots ecosystem-building, and structured acceleration mechanisms. Approved with an outlay of INR 1,000 crore over five years, with an allocation of INR 200 crore for the current financial year. It comprises 16 strategic components including Karnataka Startup Foundry, Fund of Funds, ELEVATE NXT grant, 6 Centers of Excellence, Elevate Beyond Bengaluru, Incubators and Accelerators, Growth Labs, Innovation Labs, Prototype Labs, Innovation Events, Hackathons, Bootcamps, Digital Clinics, Critical Research Fund, Event Participation, and Marketing tools.
Beyond Bengaluru Cluster Seed Fund
Grant schemeA financial support program for early-stage startups established outside Bangalore city, dedicated to emerging technology clusters like Mysuru, Hubballi, and Mangaluru.
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The government provides financial support through this fund to enable startups to scale up in emerging technology clusters like Mysuru, Hubballi, and Mangaluru.
Fund of Funds
Grant schemeA Venture Capital Fund of Rs. 100.00 Crores to support new emerging and broad technology startups in AI, ML, EV, Med-Tech, Robotics, Drones, and other difficult technologies.
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The government provides funds through this Venture Capital Fund of Rs. 100.00 Crores to support new emerging and broad technology startups in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Electric Vehicles, Med-Tech, Robotics, Drones, and other such difficult technologies across all sectors.
Elevate
Grant schemeA program to identify and nurture innovative startups and provide necessary encouragement at various stages through funding or mentorship.
New Age Innovation Network 2.0 (NAIN 2.0)
PlatformA scheme implemented by the department to create a system that promotes innovations in educational institutions.
Vescelate
ProgrammeA program supporting and growing early-stage women entrepreneurs.
Priority Market Access (PMA)
ProgrammeA program promoting the growth of innovators by encouraging their participation in public procurement processes.
Labs & facilities
Equipment and space on campus.
K-Tech Innovation Hubs
CPDMed TBI
Access via IISc
INCeNSE TBI
Access via IISc
TBI at CeNSE
Access via IISc
Manipal Government of Karnataka Bioincubator
Access via Manipal
LEAP Incubators and Accelerators
LEAP Growth Labs
Offering plug-and-play workspaces for emerging ventures.
LEAP Innovation Labs
Planned for establishment across schools and colleges in Beyond Bengaluru regions, nurturing creativity among students by bringing STEM capabilities.
LEAP Prototype Labs
Support services
Help offered alongside funding and space.
About Startup Karnataka
Overview
Startup Karnataka is the Government of Karnataka's flagship startup ecosystem brand, executed by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) under the Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T. It is widely regarded as one of India's most active state-level startup programs, having backed hundreds of early-stage technology startups since 2015.
Programs
The marquee initiative is ELEVATE (formerly Idea2PoC) — an annual grant-in-aid challenge that disburses non-dilutive grants of up to ₹50 lakh to innovative, technology-driven startups headquartered in Karnataka. ELEVATE runs multiple tracks each year:
- ELEVATE (General) — open cohort for innovative startups across all sectors
- ELEVATE Unnati — exclusively for SC/ST-led startups
- ELEVATE Shakti — exclusively for women-led startups
- ELEVATE Aspire — Beyond Bengaluru track for startups based outside Bengaluru Urban
- ELEVATE Minorities — for minority-led startups as defined under Karnataka jurisdiction
Startup Karnataka also runs NXT (the next-gen track for deep-tech and emerging sectors), sector-specific accelerators, and the Karnataka Startup Cell that connects founders with government departments and academia.
Funding & Support
Grants are pure grants-in-aid — no equity dilution. Alongside capital, selected startups get incubation support at recognised Karnataka incubators, structured mentoring, market access to government and corporate buyers, and follow-on VC introductions through the Karnataka Government's venture network.
Eligibility
Startups must be registered (Pvt Ltd, LLP, or partnership) in Karnataka, be less than 10 years old, have turnover under ₹100 crore, and be working on innovative products/services. Specific tracks have additional eligibility based on founder demographics or location.
Track Record
Since inception, ELEVATE has funded 600+ startups with grants totalling over ₹150 crore, with portfolio companies going on to raise meaningful follow-on capital from VC investors. Apply through the official portal at eitbt.karnataka.gov.in.
Who Should Apply
Karnataka-incorporated startups with a working prototype or early traction, looking for non-dilutive grant capital plus government ecosystem access.
Who they work with
Stage
Sectors
Tags
Frequently asked questions about Startup Karnataka
What does Startup Karnataka do?
Startup Karnataka is the Government of Karnataka's flagship startup ecosystem brand, executed by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) under the Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T.
Where is Startup Karnataka located?
Startup Karnataka is based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
What programs does Startup Karnataka run?
Startup Karnataka runs Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program (RGEP), Local Economy Accelerator Program (LEAP), Beyond Bengaluru Cluster Seed Fund and Fund of Funds, among others.
What sectors does Startup Karnataka support?
Startup Karnataka works with startups in Deep Tech, AI/ML, Biotech, Cleantech, Agritech and Fintech and other sectors.
What stage of startup does Startup Karnataka support?
Startup Karnataka supports startups at the Ideation, Validation and Early Revenue stages.
What facilities does Startup Karnataka offer?
Startup Karnataka offers K-Tech Innovation Hubs, LEAP Incubators and Accelerators, LEAP Growth Labs, LEAP Innovation Labs and LEAP Prototype Labs. Incubatees also get access to CPDMed TBI, INCeNSE TBI, TBI at CeNSE and Manipal Government of Karnataka Bioincubator through its host institution.
Similar incubators
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Ashraya Hastha Trust
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ACSEL Technology Forum
AI innovation hub running the Avinya accelerator, backed by Karnataka government and IIT alumni
Samsung R&D Institute India (SRI-B & SRI-N)
Samsung's R&D institutes in India offering $50K grants (no equity) to deep-tech mobile startups via Samsung Mobile Advance.
Siemens Healthineers
Global medtech company running the SHIFT Innovation Ecosystem in India to accelerate healthcare startups in diagnostics, digital health, AI, and medical robotics with NASSCOM partnership.
Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management, Mangaluru
Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management, Mangaluru hosts a NIDHI/AIM-recognised technology business incubation centre supporting early-stage startups in Dakshina Kannada.
Recommended grants & schemes
Other open programmes matching Startup Karnataka's focus areas.
