How much funding does the program provide?

Financial support is limited to up to ₹50,00,000 (Rupees Fifty Lakh only) per pilot project and is restricted to actual expenditure incurred. DoT provides up to 80% of approved eligible expenditure as grant-in-aid; the remaining minimum 20% is contributed by the beneficiary.

Is the program currently accepting applications?

Cycle-based intake — it reopens with each official call. Always confirm the current window with the program authority before preparing an application.

Does the program take equity?

No. The program is listed as equity-free. Funding is provided as grant-in-aid under a cost-sharing model.

Startups recognized by DPIIT or MSMEs registered under Udyam which are Indian-owned and controlled entities, with a working prototype of the proposed solution at TRL 5–8.

Which stages of startups are relevant?

The program supports the pilot/validation stage (pre-commercial deployment) — fitting startups from idea/prototype through early revenue and growth, provided they have a working prototype at TRL 5–8.

Where can the pilot be deployed?

In live telecom networks of TSPs, private/captive networks of industry partners, or Government/institutional test environments, with prior consent of the concerned TSP/industry partner/test-bed authority.

Are industry/TSP partner consent letters required?

The applicant shall submit a clear pilot deployment and testing plan, preferably with a consent letter of an identified industry/TSP partner.

What happens if funds are misused or information is misrepresented?

Any misrepresentation or misuse of funds shall lead to recovery of the disbursed amount and penal action, and IP arising from the pilot remains with the applicant.

Program for Extending Financial Support for Prototyping, Proof-of-Concept (POC) Development, Validation of Products & Solutions and Pilot Projects

By Telecom Centres of Excellence India (TCOE India)

ActiveUp to ₹50LRolling ApplicationsNo equity taken

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Bolt Pro — 1 year through Startup Grants India

Grant providers

Provider

Telecom Centres of Excellence India (TCOE India)

India

Telecom Centres of Excellence India (TCOE India) is a public-private partnership that brings together government, academia and industry to work on India's telecom sector. It positions itself as a think tank for telecom policy, regulation and governance, and works towards the…

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Funder

Department of Telecommunications

New Delhi · Delhi · India

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) operates under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India, serving as the apex body responsible for formulation, implementation, and regulation of telecom policies in India. Located at Sanchar Bhawan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi,…

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Manus Pro — 1 year through Startup Grants India

Application Process

1
Review Guidelines
Download and carefully review the Prototype, PoC & Pilot Funding Guide and other program documents for detailed requirements.
You
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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.

Program templates & documents

Files the program publishes for applicants — download these and apply in the prescribed format.

Sources

Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.

Telecom Centres of Excellence India (TCOE India)Provider

Webinars

Subsidies

Patent Assistance

under Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022

by Department of MSME, Government of Madhya Pradesh

Up to ₹5L

Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022: Investment-Linked Assistance

under Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022

by Department of MSME, Government of Madhya Pradesh

Up to ₹15L

Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022: Margin Money & Interest Subsidy Scheme

under Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022

by Department of MSME, Government of Madhya Pradesh

Up to ₹47L

Punjab Startup Policy: Interest Subsidy Scheme

under Punjab Startup Policy

by Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab

Up to ₹5L

Debt programs

Seed Fund Scheme - Kerala Startup Mission

by Kerala Startup Mission

Up to ₹15L

Bihar Startup Policy 2022 Seed Grant for Validation-Stage Startups

under Bihar Startup Policy 2022

by Department of Industries, Government of Bihar

Up to ₹10L

Scaleup Seed Fund

by Kerala Startup Mission

Up to ₹25L

Soft Loan Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs

by Kerala Startup Mission

Up to ₹15L

The selection process for the program involves a multi-stage evaluation:

Preliminary Screening: TCOE India, acting as the Implementing Agency, conducts an initial screening of all applications. This stage checks for eligibility criteria, completeness of submitted documents, technical relevance of the proposal, and its alignment with the overall program objectives.
Technical Evaluation by Review Committee: Proposals that pass the preliminary screening are then forwarded to a dedicated Review Committee. This committee is co-chaired by the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), and includes representatives from DoT, TEC, LSA units, TSDSI, TSPs, industry experts, and other relevant stakeholders. The committee evaluates proposals based on their technical merit, innovation, feasibility, adherence to TRL 5-8 requirements, readiness for deployment and integration, strategic relevance to national priorities, scalability, commercial potential, and financial viability.
DoT Recommendation and Approval: Only proposals that receive a positive recommendation from the Review Committee are advanced to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). An Empowered Committee within DoT examines these recommended proposals and subsequently forwards its own recommendations to the Competent Authority. Final approval for financial assistance is granted by the Competent Authority on a case-to-case basis, subject to the availability of funds and through the Integrated Finance Division (IFD).
Agreement Execution: Upon receiving approval from DoT, a formal agreement is executed between the successful Grantee (applicant) and TCOE India, outlining the terms and conditions of the financial support and project implementation.

Program for Extending Financial Support for Prototyping, Proof-of-Concept (POC) Development, Validation of Products & Solutions and Pilot Projects

Program for Extending Financial Support for Prototyping, Proof-of-Concept (POC) Development, Validation of Products & Solutions and Pilot Projects

Grant providers

Application Process

How to apply

Program templates & documents

Sources

Webinars

Can Your Startup Win Grants?

Introduction to Grants, Subsidies and Incentives

Grants closing soon

Subsidies

Debt programs

Competitions closing soon

Equity closing soon

Frequently Asked Questions

About this grant

Eligibility

Timelines & Process

Benefits & Funding

Webinars

Can Your Startup Win Grants?

Introduction to Grants, Subsidies and Incentives

Grants closing soon

Subsidies

Debt programs

Competitions closing soon

Equity closing soon

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